This Object is the sword pommel of Pierre de Dreux(1187-1250) which was crafted for the Duke of Richmond and Earl of Wales Pierre de Dreux. Pierre was born into a relatively modest Nobel family who originally planned for him to join the Clergy. However, as a cousin to the French King Phillip II it was decided that Pierre would marry Alix, the Duchess of Brittany. This immediately bolstered his title to Duke of Brittany and placed Pierre in one of the most important positions in all of France. Pierres Pommel dates to the year 1240 and was constructed in preparation for the Seventh Crusade which he would embark upon in 1248. 

The Seventh Crusade lasted from 1248 to 1254 and was launched by Louis IX of France. Due to this The Seventh Crusade is also known as the Crusade of Louis IX to the Holy Land. This crusade held the goal of recapturing the Holy land by first conquering Egypt, the crux of Muslim power in the Near East. King Louis IX believed that once Egypt fell he would be able to easily capture Jerusalem next without Muslim forces from Egypt to reinforce the city. The Seventh Crusade was motivated by Western losses in the Kingdom of Jerusalem, mainly the loss of the Holy city in 1244. Initially, King Louis enjoyed some battlefield success, however, these victories were short lived and by the early 1250s Louis was taken captive and most of his army was defeated. Pierre de Dreux suffered a similar fate and was also taken captive by his Muslim adversaries. While Louis IX would be ransomed and remain in the Holy Land to formulate treaties, Pierre de Dreux was ransomed and sent back to France, a journey that would ultimately take his life.

A sword Pommel is the Knob on the Hilt of a sword which is used to assist a warrior with his sword and balance in Battle, as well as for Decorative Purposes. 


The pommel utilizes crusade period insignia on each face. One side of the pommel showcases Pierre’s family coat of arms which consists of the heraldy symbols of Dreux as well as that of Brittany, a title he obtained through his marriage to his wife Alix, the Dutchess of Brittany. The Alternate side of the pommel houses a typical French crusade marking of the time. This image conains a large Red Cross symbolizing the wielder's Commitment to the crusader cause. This side also features vines used to symbolize life and vitality in battle.


Despite the Inherent Militaistic Nature of the crusades, very few battle used weapons and/or Pommel exisit. Furthermore, even less of these surviving Artifacts can be indisputably attributed to a certain Historical Figure, as this Pommel is with Pierre de Dreux.