The Schiavona was a Renaissance sword that became popular in Italy during the 16th and 17th centuries, stemming from the 16th-century sword of the Balkan mercenaries who formed the bodyguard of the Doge of Venice.
It became popular among the armies of those who traded with Italy during the 17th century and was the weapon of choice for many heavy cavalry. It was popular among mercenary soldiers and wealthy civilians alike; examples decorated with gilding and precious stones were imported by the upper classes to be worn as a combination of fashion accessory and defensive weapon.

The name came from the fact that the guard consisted largely of the "schiavoni", istrian and dalmatian slavs. Word "schiavoni" means "slavs" in venetian dialect and "schiavona" properly means "slavic woman", but it was also used to call these kind of basket-hilted swords.

The Schiavona was widely recognisable for its "cat's-head pommel" and distinctive handguard made up of many leaf-shaped brass or iron bars that were attached to the cross-bar and knucklebow, rather than the pommel.
Classified as a true broadsword, this war sword had a wider blade than its contemporary civilian rapiers. It was basket hilted (often with an imbedded quillon for an upper guard) and its blade was double edged.

This sword was useful for both cut and thrust, and the metal-cage guard was able to protect entirely the hand of the one who wielded it, as well as guaranteeing the possibility of striking with the fist if the opponent had approached too much.