Item number: M439

Year: AD 1856-1975

The results after XRF testing

Material: Gold and Enamel

Size: 57.7 x 16.5 x 4.1 mm

Weight: 2.6 g

Provenance: Denarius 2025

This is a miniature of the Knight class of the Royal Order of the Sword (Kungliga Svärdsorden), founded in AD 1748 by the Swedish king Frederick I. The miniature version was intended to be worn with civilian formal dress (such as evening tailcoat) rather than military uniform.

The obverse and reverse are both formed as a white-enamelled Maltese Cross of diagonal (saltirewise) arrangement, executed in gold (silver for Knights of the Second Class). The eight points of the Maltese Cross are fitted with spherical finials, although variants without these finials are also known. In each of the four angles between the arms of the cross is a gold crown. The suspension consists of a Swedish royal crown placed above a pair of crossed blue-enamelled swords; on the reverse, the crossed swords are omitted. The central medallion on the obverse is blue, charged with an upright sword, surrounded on the left, lower, and right sides by three Swedish golden crowns. The reverse medallion likewise bears an upright sword, encircled at the point by a laurel wreath, above which runs the legend “PRO PATRIA,” meaning “For the Fatherland.”

At the top of the royal crown suspension, a cross-shaped orb is fitted to connect the insignia to the ribbon ring. The ribbon is yellow, edged on both sides with blue stripes set slightly in from the borders, corresponding to the colours of the national flag and symbolising Sweden. The Knight class of the Royal Order of the Sword is worn as a breast decoration, suspended from the ribbon on the left side of the chest.

As the third order of merit of the kingdom (the two higher orders being the Royal Order of the Seraphim and the Order of the Polar Star), it was specifically conferred upon professional military officers in recognition of distinguished service. At the time of its foundation, the Order comprised only two classes, Commander and Knight; in later periods it was expanded to a total of five classes. (Refer to the table for details)

During the Russo-Swedish War beginning in AD 1788, King Gustav III instituted a special wartime grade known as the Knight Grand Cross, awarded only in wartime to senior officers whose actions exerted a decisive influence on the course of the war. This grade corresponded in insignia to the Commander Grand Cross, except that the star was modified to display an upright, upward-pointing sword. In AD 1814, a Second Class of the Knight Grand Cross was added, distinguished by a star bearing crossed swords.

In AD 1850, King Oscar I introduced additional decorations within the system of the Order of the Sword, namely the Sword Badge (Svärdstecknet) and the Sword Medal (Svärdsmedaljen), intended respectively for non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel. The Sword Badge follows the design of the Royal Order of the Sword, but with enamel applied only to the central medallion. The Sword Medal is a circular medal, bearing the crowned sword motif derived from the central device of the Royal Order of the Sword.

Gustav III reigned from AD 1771 to 1792. In AD 1772, he brought the aristocracy-dominated “Age of Liberty” to an end through a coup d’état, re-establishing royal authority and pursuing reforms inspired by Enlightenment thought. During his reign, he improved the judicial system, curtailed the use of torture, and promoted religious tolerance, while also providing strong patronage to the arts and culture—particularly theatre and opera—thereby fostering a flourishing cultural life in Sweden. His centralising policies and foreign wars, however, provoked strong opposition among segments of the nobility, culminating in his assassination at a masquerade ball in AD 1792.

物件編號: M439

年代: 公元 1856-1975 年

XRF分析結果:

材質: 黃金、琺瑯

尺寸: 57.7 x 16.5 x 4.1 mm

重量: 2.6 g

來源: 第納里烏斯 2025

這是一枚騎士級皇家佩劍勳章(Kungliga Svärdsorden)的迷你版，由瑞典國王弗雷德里克一世創立於公元1748年。迷你版則是用以著非軍服正裝(例如燕尾服)時配戴。

勳章正背面均為金質(騎士二級為銀質)白色琺瑯對角的馬爾他十字(Maltese Cross)，呈斜十字(saltirewise)排列。馬爾他十字的八個芒尖飾以球型珠飾，另有無珠飾的版本。十字的四個角隅間各飾以金冠。勳章頂飾為交叉藍琺瑯雙劍之上的瑞典王冠，背面無雙劍。正面中央圓章為藍底，上有直立之劍，左、下、右側環列三頂瑞典金冠；背面圓章亦為直立之劍，劍尖周圍環以月桂花環，上方並環列銘文「PRO PATRIA」，意為「為了祖國」。

王冠頂飾頂端十字圓球扣連綬帶環。綬帶為黃色，兩側飾以與邊緣稍微相隔的藍色條紋，與國旗同配色，象徵瑞典。騎士級皇家佩劍勳章為綬章，以綬帶佩於左胸前。

作為王國的三等榮譽(前兩級為：皇家六翼天使勳章、北極星勳章)專門授予有功的職業軍人。該勳章創建之初，僅有指揮官級和騎士級兩個等級。時至今日，勳章已擴充為五個等級。(見表格)

此外，於公元1788年起的俄瑞戰爭時期，國王古斯塔夫三世另設戰時勳位，稱為「大十字騎士級」，僅在戰時授予對戰爭產生重大影響的高級軍官。勳章同指揮官大十字級，但星章改為直立上指的劍。公元1814年增設二等大十字騎士級，其星章為交錯的雙劍。

公元1850年，國王奧斯卡一世於佩劍勳章體系中增設功績勳章，劍勳徽章(Svärdstecknet)與劍勳獎章(Svärdsmedaljen)，分別授予士官與士兵。 劍勳徽章設計同皇家佩劍勳章，但僅有中央圓盤部分填有琺瑯。劍勳獎章則為圓形獎牌，圖樣為皇家佩劍勳章中央的劍冠。

古斯塔夫三世(Gustav III)，公元1771至1792年在位。公元1772年，他透過政變結束貴族主導的「自由時代」，重新集中王權，並以啟蒙思想為指導推動改革。在位期間，他改善司法制度、限制酷刑、提倡宗教寬容，同時大力扶植藝術與文化，特別是戲劇與歌劇，使瑞典文化生活蓬勃發展。然而，其集權政策與對外戰爭引發部分貴族強烈反彈，最終於公元1792年在化裝舞會中遭刺身亡。