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The Cinqueda, also known as Cinquedea, Anelace or bull tongue dagger, is a short sword-like weapon (dagger) originating from the late 15th and early 16th century in the Venetian area around Ferrara, and later widely spread in Renaissance Italy. It is believed to derive its form from the Roman parazonium.
The Cinqueda was often worn instead of a knife or a larger sword. In art from that time, the weapon is sometimes depicted horizontally at the hips or buttocks, so it could be drawn sideways from the back.
Unlike most other daggers, the Cinqueda could deliver powerful chopping blows due to its unique shape and size. This made it not only a thrusting weapon but also suitable for cutting blows.
Construction
The name Cinqueda refers to the width of the blade at the grip: about five fingers wide. This is relatively wide given the short length of the weapon, usually between 45 and 55 cm. From the grip, the blade quickly tapers, giving it a triangular shape.
Because the blade was relatively heavy compared to other short swords, deep fullers were sometimes added to reduce the weight. These grooves reduce the weight of the blade without negatively affecting the properties of the blade.
The Cinqueda was often richly decorated with typical Renaissance decorations, executed with techniques such as ageminatura and damascening. The decoration often also covered the grip and crossguard, which could be made of metal, wood, or ivory. The crossguard had a typical medieval shape.
History of the cinqueda
The use of the Cinqueda was likely primarily ceremonial and intended to impress at courts and ceremonies. It combines the functions of both dagger and sword, making it an effective deterrent and fully usable if necessary. The symbolism of the Cinqueda may also be derived from the symbolic value that the parazonium had among the Romans.
Thanks to its wide distribution at the Italian courts, the Cinqueda is now well represented in museums and collections, both in Italy and worldwide. Important collections can be found in the Museo Stibbert in Florence, the Museo Civico Medievale in Bologna, the Armeria Reale in Turin, the Museo Correr in Venice, and the Museo Archeologico dell’Alto Mugello in Palazzuolo sul Senio.
A particularly famous example is the Cinqueda of Cesare Borgia, decorated by Ercole dei Fedeli, which is preserved in the Casa Caetani in Rome.
