12th-13th Century Jinete Swords?

[Jim McDougall]

As expected, Calvert (1907) had nothing specific to Jineta swords, and the illustrations shown are of 'Hispano-Moresque' forms as termed by him . These are also termed Nasrid with reference to the Muslim dynasty of Granada 1232-1492.
This 'jineta' form is typically seen as with downturned quillons, often heavy and elaborate extending along upper part of blade, with pommels spherical or other singular shapes, not lobated.

It seems that the trilobate pommel on this French knights sword may be a holdover from the Frankish swords which of course prevailed through the Viking era, and are seen in variation on most Viking associated hilts. One reference notes that 'Frankish' swords typically had pommels of 3 to 5 rounded lobes in their pommels. While these gave way to the variations of brazil nut, tea-cosy etc of knightly swords of Middle Ages, in the Iberian Peninsula the elaborate Nasrid (jinete) type hilts became familiar.

I looked through "The Archaeology of Weapons" (E.Oakeshott, 1960) and while he thoroughly classified pommel types into what has become the guidelines for descriptions used, this trilobate form is not mentioned.
Type M however has the 5 lobed type listed as 1100-1325, and noted as the last survival of the 'Viking principle' of the lobed pommel (above lower guard).
This of course alludes to the 'Frankish' style noted of 3 to 5 lobes.

I read through "Two Swords from Gibraltar", David Nicolle (Gladius XXII, 2002, pp.147-200) which decscribes two swords of 12th c. found in "Martins Cave" by an archaeologist in 1867. These are noted as representative of the Islamic swords of Andalusian and Maghribi warriors of the 12th c. and both have hilts with spherical pommels and only slightly downturned quillons.

While Berber mercenaries brought their styles of arms and tactics to the Andalusian peninsula in the 11th and 12th centuries these precluded the defined 'jineta' styles etc. which apparently fully evolved much later.

The Nasrid swords with elaborate hilts and significant downturned quillons are actually derived from Ottoman and Mamluk sword hilts of 13th 14th c.

This tri lobed hilt on the French sword we are discussing does seem to be somewhat of an anomaly, as I went through the entire volume of line illustrations in the comprehensive "Arms and Armour of the Crusading era 1050-1350" David Nicolle, 1988, and cannot find any corresponding example.

As far as comparison to Nasrid (jinete) forms, the only thing close is the sword of St.Ferdinand of 13th c. which has a pommel which is somewhat trilobate in what has been termed a maple leaf shape. (see attached, #601).

With the description by Helmut Nickel, my only suggestion toward the comparison to Chinese influence would be the trilobate patterns seen in Tibetan swords' pommels, which could only tenuously compare to this triple SPHERE pattern. I cannot say I am familiar with any such type pommel in Chinese hilts, however the 'three' element is important in most of the major religion dogma.

[anoakenstaff]

Thank you very much for these resources! I really appreciate your help, I'll definitely grab the few I missed.

I have indeed read the Gibraltar paper. It is a great read.

As for Jean's sword: I would loathe to disagree with you, especially as I obviously respect your much greater knowledge, and especially as I am a fledgling researcher myself. However, I would like to raise some points of consideration, if I may.

I believe Helmut dismisses the possibility of the sword being European or Islamic far too quickly. Firstly, more to the point of jinetes and pre-jinete Islamic swords, and as Nicolle notes*- small guards with trilobate pommels are found in quite a number of Iberian depictions, Islamic or otherwise. Besides just the Andalusian example shown, trilobate pommels themselves apparently appear to a frequency enough in Spain for Oakeshott to note them in his typology as 'of a Spanish type' (type L). You might find more examples of Spanish triloabtes in, for example, BL Additional 11695 Beatus of Liebana (available on ManuscriptMiniatures).

(Though here I have to make a note that the pommel of the trefoil shape shows over and over again in other parts of Europe too, mainly France. I'll attach a particularly good example of a fleur-de-lis pommel from folio 024r of the KBR Ms.9961-62 Peterborough Psalter.)

The Met paper also claims that the wrapping of the hilt is atypical for European swords. This much is true. However, it does not appear that it is unprecedented. Besides the fact that the double-looping style does not appear on any of the (small number of) Chinese swords I have seen, it is actually found in Europe. I know of at least three examples, the most clear and relevant one being the effigy of a knight in San Lorenzo Maggiore, near 1300. You'll probably find him as 'Naples Knight A' on EffigiesandBrasses.com.

("As such they (small, curved guards) probably reflected Islamic Andalusian rather than Christian northern Spanish military styles, particularly as they are mostly on swords whose scabbards are carried on baldrics rather than sword-belts. In these manuscripts, however, the down-turned quillons are often associated with the clover-leaf or trilobate pommel rather than the spherical pommel of the Gibraltar sword.")

[midelburgo]

I remember vaguely the thread on that french sword.

The most informative paper on those swords is the article in Gladius by Nicolle on the two found in Gibraltar.

One of these battle swords is at Seville archeological museum.

In 2020, the Madrid National Arqueological Museum was able to mount an exposition on Spanish muslime metalwork, and it included four of the "pretty" XVth century ginetas.

From time to time a new sword in arqueological context appears in the newspapers, but you never heard again about it. Such was a case in 2025.

I remember some 12 years ago, a private person appeared with a war gineta XII-XIII century in the Esgrima Antigua forum. We tried he would report it to the authorities instead of selling it to a collector. I got some pictures, but we never heard anything anymore. I see now they must be in a backup disk.

About the belt-baldrick, this is something you see in Spanish medieval representations, and it has been commented by Ada Bruhm- Hoffmeyer in one of his volumes (The Sword in Spain, I , II).

There is an extant survivor, the sword of Sancho IV in Toledo cathedral. The belt is long enough and has eyelets, either to carry it as a belt or as a baldrick. This was usual for both moors or christians in Spain. I believe Oakeshot wrote on this sword.

[anoakenstaff]

Thank you very much, this is very interesting information.

Could I please ask if you could expand on the belt-baldric? What does Hoffmeyer say? I can't seem to find the books you mentioned there anywhere, sorry!

[TVV]

This is a very interesting thread. The jineta hilts are most likely derived from earlier Islamic hilts, with down turned quillons. However, these quillons are always parallel to the blade, which is quite different from the sword on the effigy. The only exception is the falchion in Paris. The pommels are also quite different, either round or spherical in form, with a spike.

There are however swords with a similar guard in this thread:
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...t=24397&page=2

[midelburgo]

There are two basic types of jinetas swords, the nazari ones from XVth century, and the battle jinetas, from XII-XIII centuries.

The two described by Nicolle are of the second type.

There are a few others.

One at Alava Armoury, another at Sevilla, in 2024 another one was found in Valencia, in relic condition.

A sword found at Sanguesa (bottom) is a sort of intermediate type.

[Jim McDougall]

Anoakenstaff, great topic and thread!!! and great entries which really give perspective on this subject, thank you guys!

Looking forward to the sword with hilts alluding to fluer-de lis!!!
While the origins of the fluer de lis as a state symbol in France are a bit clouded historically, it is indeed tempting as to the possible contemporary intent of the trilobate hilt and quillons representing that, it is of course speculative at this point.

Glad you're here! You are clearly well versed in this topic which is not often touched on here lately.