Sabre of Hetman Mazepa Showcased in London’s Royal Armouries
The sabre of Hetman Ivan Mazepa, dating back to the late 17th century, is now on display at the Royal Armouries in the Tower of London, marking the first time this artifact of Ukrainian heritage has been featured in such a prominent international institution.
The Gaze reports this, referring to Suspilne.
The exhibition, which runs from July 18 to August 3, was inaugurated with a special appearance by British actor and writer Sir Stephen Fry.
Organized by the Ukrainian cultural platform UKRAINE WOW in partnership with the Royal Armouries, the Chernihiv Regional Historical Museum named after Vasyl Tarnovsky, and Ajax Systems, the exhibition casts new light on Mazepa’s legacy as a military leader, patron of the arts, and symbol of Ukrainian sovereignty.
“We are proud to present this unique historical artifact in one of the oldest museums in the world,” said UKRAINE WOW co-founders Yaroslava Hres and Yuliia Solovey. “For centuries, Russia tried to tarnish Hetman Mazepa’s name. Today, he is finally receiving the recognition he deserves.”
The sabre, traditionally attributed to Hetman Mazepa, was preserved in the Chernihiv museum’s collection.
According to director Maksym Blakytniy, it exemplifies the fusion of Ukrainian and Eastern weaponry styles and was originally gifted by Mazepa to a loyal officer, Osavul Savych. It was later acquired by Ukrainian collector Vasyl Tarnovsky.
“The exhibition of Hetman Mazepa’s sabre in the Tower of London is a symbolic gesture that restores Ukraine’s voice and rightful place in European history,” Blakytniy stated.
The event was also timed to coincide with the high-profile boxing match between Ukrainian champion Oleksandr Usyk and British boxer Daniel Dubois, scheduled for July 19 at Wembley Stadium.
Usyk is expected to highlight the sabre as a representation of Ukrainian resilience and heritage – just as he did after his 2024 victory over Tyson Fury, when he raised Mazepa’s sabre in the ring.
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