Hussar Saber, 1792-1793 « la Légion De Saint-george »

Special feature of the blackened iron scabbard with two bail rings as well as the brass guard punched with remains of black color that originally covered the saber entirely. Hallmark of the crowned K of the Klinghental factory on the guard as well as on the blade, marked "KLINGHENTAL" on the back. Hallmark of the crowned B for F. Bisch, first class controller The Legion of Saint-George The Knight Saint Georges, first black colonel of the French army, the black hussar, the first known French senior officer of color to take charge as a colonel of the "Free Cavalry Legion of the Americans and the South" The military commitment of the "Knight Saint-George" during the Revolution The flight of King Louis XVI in June 1791 precipitated Joseph Bologne de Saint-George into the Revolution. He enlisted in the National Guard on July 25, where he received the rank of captain. The succession of revolutionary events led France into war. In April 1792, war was declared on the Emperor of Austria. The French armies were in difficulty. In Paris, on September 14, 1792, a decree created a "Free Legion of Cavalry of the Americans and the South". Saint-George took charge as colonel and it was quickly called the "Saint-George Legion". The legion then became the 13th regiment of horse hunters. Colonel Saint-George joined Alexandre Dumas, future general and father of the writer, as lieutenant-colonel.