It was recently brought to my attention (through an ARMA article) that the famous fencing master Salvator Fabris served as a fencing master at the court of Denmark, and that early sources show him to have lived in Sweden. Apparently, though, he came to Sweden, not as a fencing master but as a hired assassin – hired by King Sigismund of Poland and Sweden to take the life of the King’s uncle, Duke Karl, subsequently King Karl IX of Sweden, during a theatrical performance at a banquet given by Sigismund. After the meal a number of costumed Italians, of whom Salvator Fabris was one, performed a play with drawn swords. The plan had been to murder Duke Karl during the performance, but he had been warned that an attempt on his life was imminent, and did not come to the banquet.The incident supposedly occurred in the winter of 1594.
King Sigismund was the son of the Swedish King John III who had employed Scottish mercenaries to murder his brother Eric XIV in a similiar sword dance back in 1574.
The Swedish book "Scots in Sweden" published as part of an exhibition by The Nordiska Museet & The Swedish Institute Stockholm refers to the Scottish plot to kill the Swedish King...
The Scots "had a leading role in Charles de Mornay’s conspiracy to replace the Swedish King Eric XIV on the throne. For six years Eric XIV had been kept imprisoned by his brother and successor, and the risk of his being liberated by his followers had been a continual and predominant problem for John III. Twice during the previous autumn, apparently, Archibald Ruthven and Gilbert Balfour — experienced in such matters since the murder of Lord Darnley — had plotted the murder of the King, under the supervision of Charles de Mornay.
On the first occasion certain Scottish captains were to rush to the King’s bedchamber and the minutes of the trial inform us that he was saved only by chance. On the second occasion it was planned that the murder should take place in grand style at the farewell banquet that was held at Stockholm Castle, after payment had finally been made and the departure of the Scottish force to Livonia agreed. A Scottish sword dance was a natural feature of the festivities and gave the conspirators their chance to bare weapons. The murder was to be the climax of the dance — but de Mornay’s nerve failed him at the decisive moment and he never gave the agreed sign".
Charles de Mornay was led to the block in Stockholm in September 1574. Many of the Scottish conspiritors where to follow him later.
I wonder if King Sigismund remembered the Scottish sword dancing plot and revived it with Salvator?
Louie
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