Curved saber of San Martín facts for kids
The curved saber of San Martín is a very important historical sword. It belonged to José de San Martín, a famous general who helped several South American countries become independent. This special saber is a symbol of his bravery and the fight for freedom.
The Saber's Journey
San Martín got this curved saber when he was in London. This was after he left Spain and before he sailed to South America. Later, San Martín gave similar curved sabers to his cavalry soldiers, known as the Mounted Grenadiers. He thought these swords were perfect for cavalry charges, where soldiers on horseback would rush at the enemy.
After San Martín moved to Europe, the saber stayed in Mendoza, Argentina. A family friend kept it safe. Later, San Martín asked his son-in-law, Mariano Balcarce, to send the sword to him in Europe. San Martín kept the saber with him until he passed away on August 17, 1850.
A Special Gift
Before he died, San Martín decided to leave his saber to Governor Juan Manuel de Rosas. Mariano Balcarce wrote a letter to share this news. In his will, San Martín wrote:
The saber that has been with me throughout the War of Independence of South America will be given to General Juan Manuel de Rosas. This is to show how satisfied I was as an Argentine to see how strongly he defended the honor of the Republic against unfair foreign demands.
Rosas, in turn, left the sword to his friend Juan Nepomuceno Terrero. After Terrero's death, it was passed to his wife, and then to their children in order of age. So, the sword eventually went to Maximo Terrero and Manuela Rosas after Juan Terrero had passed away.
In 1896, Adolfo Carranza, who was the director of the National Historical Museum, asked the Terrero family to donate San Martín's saber. They agreed. The saber was sent back from London to Buenos Aires. It arrived on March 4, 1897, and was placed in the National History Museum.
The Saber is Stolen
The sword stayed at the museum until August 2, 1963. On that day, some young people who supported a political movement called Peronist Youth stole it. Luckily, the saber was found a few days later. It was then temporarily kept safe by the Mounted Grenadiers Regiment. Later, it was returned to the museum.
The sword was stolen again on August 19, 1965. Once more, it was recovered quickly. After this second theft, the Mounted Grenadiers Regiment was given permanent responsibility for keeping the saber safe. A special, protected display case, called a screened gazebo, was built for it. The City of Buenos Aires donated this special display. The curved saber has been kept there ever since.
See also
In Spanish: Sable corvo de San Martín para niños
