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Jim McDougall · Yesterday, 07:22 PM

The exact nature of the Ulfberht word has been a matter of notable consternation for probably as long as these blades have been known. Naturally the 'occams razor' solution would be it was an esteemed bladesmith in the Frankish regions.

The cross that precedes the 'name' of course suggests the Christian cross, which as well known often became well known on blades in various contexts of later periods.
It seems that in these early times, the Church was in effect the source (armory) for the warfare and weaponry, and often individuals earned their keep as workers, smiths etc. The bishops and abbots of the abbeys were of course the quartermasters for weapons, and just as they typically affixed the CROSS to their names on signed documents, this convention applied to markings on sword blades.
Rather than religious connotation, it was more of a symbol of ecclesiastical or monastic authority.

This leads to the suggestion often posed, that ULFBERTH was perhaps an overlord or controlling figure in the shop(s) producing these unique blades.

While this is tempting, the fact that these blades appear to have been produced for centuries!
So this of course goes to the later phenomenon of later times with the use of renowned bladesmiths in Toledo of the 16th century, whose names and markings were used spuriously (interestingly in Germany) for over a century later than their life.

Of these, most intriguing is ANDREA FERARA, actually a smith in Belluno, Italy of 16th century, whose name became literally a trademark on German blades made destined for Scotland. To the Scots, while indeed a personal name....it had key meaning toward quality..
ANDREA lent well to 'Andrew' the patron saint of Scotland =strong, true
FERARA= obviously Lat. for iron
Thus an eponym for strong steel.

Similarly, in Germany, the word EISENHAUER on blades, was taken to be a makers name, however , EISEN= iron, HAUER= cutter

Returning to the Ulfberht blades:

"...the name of the sword sayd the lady, is Excalibur, that is as muche to say, it cuts stele"
Sir Thomas Mallory, "Le Morte d' Arthur"
1485

This seems to derive from earlier Latin chronicle c. 1136 by Geoffrey of Monmouth, "Historia Regum Britanniae", where the sword of King Arthur is Latinized as 'CALIBURNUS'...alluding to Greek word 'chalyps' =steel.
Other linguistic suggestions, the Breton word caledfwich, from Welsh works 10-12th c. with the term collectively used for swords.
caled = hard; fwich, bwich_= cleft, breach

So could ULFBERHT be toward a quality or brand type association.......?

The 'name' ulfberht apparently became a well known surname in these regions, with etymology ULF=wolf; BERHT= bright, shining.

These terms come from Norse and Old Saxon. In Norway, King Haakon represented himself as a wolf, just as fearsome warriors (berserks) idealized the wolf in Skaldic poems . Did this symbolism extend to such invocation to the sword, imbuing the power and strength of the fearsome wolf (warrior)?
Could the ULF metaphor have carried further in the lore of these regions from the ULFBERHT blades as named....to the graphic symbol of the Passau wolf? used in this migratory town on the Danube known for its assemblage of mercenary warriors in later times?

Yesterday, 07:22 PM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,477	THE QUESTION The exact nature of the Ulfberht word has been a matter of notable consternation for probably as long as these blades have been known. Naturally the 'occams razor' solution would be it was an esteemed bladesmith in the Frankish regions. The cross that precedes the 'name' of course suggests the Christian cross, which as well known often became well known on blades in various contexts of later periods. It seems that in these early times, the Church was in effect the source (armory) for the warfare and weaponry, and often individuals earned their keep as workers, smiths etc. The bishops and abbots of the abbeys were of course the quartermasters for weapons, and just as they typically affixed the CROSS to their names on signed documents, this convention applied to markings on sword blades. Rather than religious connotation, it was more of a symbol of ecclesiastical or monastic authority. This leads to the suggestion often posed, that ULFBERTH was perhaps an overlord or controlling figure in the shop(s) producing these unique blades. While this is tempting, the fact that these blades appear to have been produced for centuries! So this of course goes to the later phenomenon of later times with the use of renowned bladesmiths in Toledo of the 16th century, whose names and markings were used spuriously (interestingly in Germany) for over a century later than their life. Of these, most intriguing is ANDREA FERARA, actually a smith in Belluno, Italy of 16th century, whose name became literally a trademark on German blades made destined for Scotland. To the Scots, while indeed a personal name....it had key meaning toward quality.. ANDREA lent well to 'Andrew' the patron saint of Scotland =strong, true FERARA= obviously Lat. for iron Thus an eponym for strong steel. Similarly, in Germany, the word EISENHAUER on blades, was taken to be a makers name, however , EISEN= iron, HAUER= cutter Returning to the Ulfberht blades: "...the name of the sword sayd the lady, is Excalibur, that is as muche to say, it cuts stele" Sir Thomas Mallory, "Le Morte d' Arthur" 1485 This seems to derive from earlier Latin chronicle c. 1136 by Geoffrey of Monmouth, "Historia Regum Britanniae", where the sword of King Arthur is Latinized as 'CALIBURNUS'...alluding to Greek word 'chalyps' =steel. Other linguistic suggestions, the Breton word caledfwich, from Welsh works 10-12th c. with the term collectively used for swords. caled = hard; fwich, bwich_= cleft, breach So could ULFBERHT be toward a quality or brand type association.......? The 'name' ulfberht apparently became a well known surname in these regions, with etymology ULF=wolf; BERHT= bright, shining. These terms come from Norse and Old Saxon. In Norway, King Haakon represented himself as a wolf, just as fearsome warriors (berserks) idealized the wolf in Skaldic poems . Did this symbolism extend to such invocation to the sword, imbuing the power and strength of the fearsome wolf (warrior)? Could the ULF metaphor have carried further in the lore of these regions from the ULFBERHT blades as named....to the graphic symbol of the Passau wolf? used in this migratory town on the Danube known for its assemblage of mercenary warriors in later times?