A sword of state is a sword, used as part of the regalia, symbolizing the power of a monarch to use the might of the state against its enemies, and his duty to preserve thus right and peace.
It is known to be used in following monarchies:
Reichsschwert of the Holy Roman Empire, see Imperial Sword
Kingdom of Denmark, see Danish crown regalia
Joyeuse, used for the sacre of the king of France. Reputed to be the sword of Charlemagne.
Kingdom of Hungary
Kingdom of Bohemia (Czech Republic) – Sword of Saint Wenceslas
Kingdom of England, later Great Britain, yet later United Kingdom see Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom
Kingdom of the Netherlands, see Dutch Royal Regalia (made in 1840 for enthronements)
Kingdom of Scotland, see Honours of Scotland
Kingdom of Sweden, see Swedish Royal Regalia, where it is the oldest of the Vasa regalia
Kingdom of Poland – Szczerbiec
Kingdom of Mysore – Chikka Devaraja Wodeyar, ending with the Krishnaraja Wodeyar II
Kingdom of Thailand or Siam- the Sword of Victory, one of the five Regalia of Thailand.
The former Kingdom of the Isle of Man (now a British Crown dependency), bearing the triskelion symbol, annually used on Tynwald Day
The Kingdom of Georgia
Shangfang Baojian (simplified Chinese: 尚方宝剑; traditional Chinese: 尚方寶劍) of Chinese dynasties from Han dynasty to Ming dynasty
The Eodo of Taejo of Joseon Dynasty, Korea
The Sword of Osman, given to Sultans of the Ottoman Empire;
Kusanagi, kept by the Emperor of Japan;
In the former sultanate of the Maldives, being invested on the Monarch in a traditional gong ceremony
Also in the Malay world, notably in
the sultanate of Perak, where it gave the name to a 'national' order of knighthood
Sarawak (on Borneo)
By analogy, it can even be used in republics, as in the Senate of the state of South Carolina in the United States of America.
