 Historical accounts related to the early history of the Polish coronation sword are scant and often mixed with legend . The earliest known use of the name " Szczerbiec " appeared in the Chronicle of Greater Poland at the turn of the 14th century . According to this source , the sword was given to King Boleslaus the Brave ( reigned 992 – 1025 ) by an angel ; Polish kings were supposed to always carry it in battle to triumph over their enemies . During Boleslaus 's invasion of Kievan Rus ' , he hit it against the Golden Gate of Kiev while capturing the city . It was the notch that appeared on the edge of the blade which gave the sword its name . This account , written three centuries after the events it describes , is implausible not only because of the customary reference to the sword 's supernatural origin ( compare Excalibur ) , but also because Boleslaus 's intervention in the Kievan succession crisis took place in 1018 , or about 19 years before the actual construction of the Golden Gate in 1037 . 
