12th century AD. An iron sword with two-edged blade, gently tapering profile with shallow tip, shallow fuller, parallel-sided lower guard, short tang and disc pommel with chamfered sides (Oakeshott's Type XI); very long blade with inscription to one face '+ [DOM]INE DN[...]HGTDNE+' and faint traces of another to the reverse; the pommel is not completely circular, but of wheel type; the blade, is of slender proportions, perhaps due to much use and therefore the consequence of a regular honing. See Oakeshott, E. The sword in the Age of the Chivalry, Woodbridge, 1964 (1994); Oakeshott, E. Records of the Medieval Sword, Woodbridge, 1991; Romisch-Germanischen Zentralmuseum Mainz (RGZM), Das Reich der Salier, 1024-1125, Sigmaringen, 1992; Peirce, I., Swords of Viking Age, Woodbridge, 2002; Wagner, T., Worley, J., Holst Blennow, A., Beckholmen, G. Medieval Christian invocation inscriptions on sword blades in Waffen- und Kostümkunde, 2009, 51(1). 1.2 kg, 97.5cm (38 1/2"). From the family collection of a South East London collector; formerly acquired in the 1960s; a metallurgic analytical report, written by Metallurgist Dr. Brian Gilmour of the Research Laboratory for Archaeology and the History of Art, University of Oxford, report number 147322/HM1371 and an academic report by military specialist Dr Raffaele D'Amato. This sword, belongs to the type of 'war sword' and to the category XI of the Oakeshott's classification, as described by him: 'this type is distinguished by having a slender blade, generally long in proportion to the hilt, with a very narrow fuller running to within a few inches of the point.' This type of design offers a distinct contrast with type X. The long, narrow blade of the Type XI typically features edges that run nearly parallel to an adequate point. Many swords of this type are in poor condition, having been found in excavations and as river finds. The thin cross-section typical of Type XI blades tends to result in heavily corroded tips when the swords are found in these environments. Consequently, many existing swords of Type XI feature points, that seem to be rather rounded and almost spatulate, although some well-preserved examples feature well-defined points that are rather acute. The blade's narrow fuller will usually run nearly the entire length of the blade, and will often be poorly defined. Our sword has a good parallel with a sword from Finland (J?ms?), dating from 11th century and excavated (Peirce, 2002, pp.136-137). Our sword, like the Finnish one, was used in battle, as both cutting edges of the blade had several large 'nicks' upon them. Another similar sword in the Victoria and Albert museum in London (Oakeshott, 1964 (1994), p. 35 and pl.4c; Oakeshott, 1991, p.55) and another very fine sword from the Glasgow Museum Reserve Collection. Dated from circa 1100, the latter excavated sword is in poor condition with quite a bit of deep pitting and corrosion on the blade and hilt, but has identical pommel and blade to our specimen. This sword, once in the personal collection of Oakeshott, was particularly important for the date of the type XI. The sword has runes inlaid in white metal upon its blade that are of a distinctly Anglo-Saxon nature. These runes had fallen out of use in Anglo-Saxon culture by circa 900 AD. English manuscripts that are dateable to that period also feature swords with long slender blades and appropriate hilt designs. These illustrations may indicate swords of Type XI so the design may have been in use as early as the 10th century. Most probably our specimen is from a battlefield or, most probably a river find. The piece is in excellent condition. Note the not completely circular pommel, a characteristic which is totally in keeping with this type. The hollow recess where the tang fits inside the pommel could still retain traces of organic material. Most of the lettering of the inscription, once picked out in precious metal, probably silver, are still clearly discernible and the harsh cleansing process probably was responsible for the loss of the main inscription on one side of the blade, and the removal of the inlay. The remaining inscription belongs to the typology of the dicta latina with the meaning of blessing (Wagner, Worley, Holst Blennow, Beckholmen, 2009, pp. 12-13), and could be maybe read 'DOMINE DEUS NOSTER...H GRATIAM TUAM DOMINE NOSTER ETERNE' meaning 'OUR LORD GOD' (H = silent letter)....'YOUR FAVOR OUR ETERNAL LORD'. As with all of the other types, the form of pommel and style of cross varies a good deal within the limits of custom and availability during the period of usage - which in the case of Type XI seems to be between c.1100-1175. This statement however, needs to be taken with the due caution. We don't know what hiterto unknown survivor may rise from earth or river or tomb with a reliable dating context to confound such typology. Or from somebody's collection, for that matter. (in Italic as written by Oakeshott). Oakeshott noted on the blades of the examined XI type swords, inscriptions either in iron (1991, type XI.1) or in silver or latten or gold where the 'handwriting' matches Leppaaho's 11th and early 12th century Viking blades. A blade Xa, in the Wallace Collection (1991, Xa.1) was considered from Oakeshott a perfect example where, having only the form of the sword (not its perfect preservation) to go by, it cannot be pinpointed at all to any certain period between 1050 and 1350. And he concluded: '...All that can be said is that it is a classic Xa, whose hilt is matched exactly by (a) some of Leppaaho's Viking hilts and (b) hilts shown in monumental art between c.1250 and 1350. So it may be with Type XI, though at present (October 1990) I would not date any XI beyond c.1125...' The most famous sword of this type is undoubtedly one housed in the Weltliches Schatzkammer, in Vienna (RGZM, 1992, pp. 245-246). This is the sword formerly used as a ceremonial sword at the coronations of Holy Roman Emperors, and is commonly known as the Sword of St. Maurice. It was previously assigned a firm date of 1198-1215 due to the engraving upon the sword itself as well as enamel work upon its scabbard. However, recent re-examination of the scabbard's embellishment (the scabbard was obviously made to fit the sword specifically) has shown it to be of a style commonly used in the 11th century. This information, again, lends credibility to the belief that the Type XI was in use earlier than previously believed.