Sword of honour of captain pierre anguier (1715-1787)

Race warfare, a strategy that reached its apogee in the 17th century, was an official activity decided by the King: civilian captains were authorised by royal letters of marque to attack enemy ships during a conflict. Their main target was the merchant navy, in order to destabilise the opposing country's trade. These captains - known as "privateers" - were primarily after the enemy's cargo or a ransom. They sailed on small but fast ships, such as chébecs or brigs. Fighting was rare, often by surprise and, after a heavy firefight, ended with boarding by grappling hook.

As a reward for their services, the king might award victorious privateers property, titles of nobility or prestigious weapons. Swords of honour made of precious metal, fashioned and decorated by a goldsmith, were objects of glory worn at any official meeting at sea or on land. Captain Anguier's sword bears the mark of two craftsmen, Gaspard Certain in Dunkirk and Charles le Bastier in Paris, as well as a rich engraved decoration. The pommel is decorated with a radiant sun on each side and the hilt with a chiselled sail bearing the inscriptions "VIRTUTIS NAUTICAE" and "PRAEMIUM", meaning "reward".

Prior to this acquisition in 2012, the Musée National de la Marine did not hold any weapons of honour: there are very few weapons that can be proven to have belonged to privateers, and swords of naval honour are extremely rare, with only three known examples to date.