Joyeuse was, in medieval legend, the sword wielded by Charlemagne the Great as his personal weapon and is one of the most famous swords in history. Charlemagne is among the best-known and most influential figures of the Early Middle Ages and reigned some 1,200 years ago.
Joyeuse, meaning “joyful” in French, was forged (according to legend) by the famous blacksmith Galas, and took three years to complete. The sword was described as having magical powers ᴀssociated with it. It was said to have been so bright that it could outshine the sun and blind its wielder’s enemies in battle, and any person who wielded the legendary sword could not be poisoned. The Emperor Charlemagne, coming back from Spain was said to have set up camp in the region and acquired the sword.
There are no historical records to say what happened to the sword Joyeuse after the death of Charlemagne. However, in 1270AD, a sword identified as Joyeuse was used at the coronation ceremony of French King Philip the Bold. Joyeuse is the only known sword to have served as the coronation sword of the Kings of France. It is possible that it was first used for the coronation of Philippe Auguste in 1179, and it was used for the last time in 1824 (Charles X).
Today, the Joyeuse is preserved as a composite of various parts added over the centuries of use. With some of the ornaments on the pommel dating to the 10th and 11th centuries, this sword is one of the oldest surviving examples of French regalia. The coronation sword of the Kings of France entered the collections of the Louvre Museum in Paris following the French Revolution and can be found there to this day.
