Executioner’s sword used to behead Oldenbarnevelt, anonymous, 1600 - 1625
forging, l c.110cm × w c.22.6cm More details
While this is certainly an executioner’s sword, it is highly doubtful whether it was used to behead Johan van Oldenbarnevelt. The provenance of this murderous weapon goes back no further than the 18th century. It was in the possession of the poet Frans Greenwood around 1745. He probably had his own verse engraved on it, dedicated to ‘the innocent hero, poor wretched Oldenbarnevelt’.
