+VLFBERHT: name? Brand? Invocation?

[Jim McDougall]

It is remarkable that our forum VIKINGSWORD seldom ever gets topics relating to these weapons, though our administrator was a key figure in the publication of one of the most valuable recent references on these.
"Swords of the Viking Age" (Oakeshott & Pierce & Jones, 2002).

For me, this area is most daunting, with my meager understanding of metallurgy and the complexities of these early medieval histories, and I have been trying for some time to get a basic image of the Viking Age 8th-11th centuries AD. While these swords were produced in Frankish regions (now Germany) it seems they were provided to the Norse and Scandinavian regions to most of the Vikings. Not all of these swords were 'Viking' but they were of the 'Viking Age', as always parameters in these aspects seldom clearly defined.

With my interests in blade markings, one of the most perplexing has been the legendary case of the +Ulfberht marked blades on many of these swords.
There have been varying numbers of examples bearing this marking, as many as 170+ of the several thousand swords of these times. Of these, it seems the number verifiably authentic to determined standard is more to around 40 or more.

What is unique about the Ulfberth blades is not only obviously the mysterious inlaid metal name, but that the strength and character of these blades is phenomenal, with carbon content many times over that of blades made elsewhere in these times. While the ore used to produce the bloomery steel commonly used in other blades was the basis, it seems that the Franks devised a method of secondary smelting in the crucible manner, thus providing the extra time to reach temperatures needed for adequate carbon absorbing. Some suggestions have been that ingots of wootz from the Middle East were the source, as there was strong trade between these regions, but it is more likely they devised an understanding of the crucible methods.

The reason I have attempted to address this is to explain why only an apparent select portion of the otherwise massive numbers of blades produced bear the Ulfberht inlay. I would mention here that there were other, such as INGELRII (later), and the word HILTIPRECHT occurs on the hilts of some swords.

In variation, the Ulfberht seems to have what appears an early version with the cross preceding +ULFBERTH............while later it becomes +VLFBERH+T
why a second cross, and separating the H from the rest?

Often on the reverse of the blade, also pattern welded inlay of geometric figures, and vertical lines occur.

In one noted case, +INGEFLRII+ occurs as well as +VLFBERH+T and the geometrics which include a Jerusalem cross and Greek omegas. It seems this later corresponds with the Christian INNO DOMINE variations.

[Jim McDougall]

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?

[urbanspaceman]

Celts around the North Sea claimed they learned the science of 'Billet Forging' from "The Hidden One": an underworld god.
Noted linguist Kim McCone, who has specialised in Celtic language, notes that the title Celt- is found in the names of several ancient Gauls, such as Celtillus: father of Vercingetorix. He also suggests it meant the people or descendants of "the hidden one", further noting that according to Julius Caesar's Bellum Gallicum (Gallic War), the Gauls claimed descent from an underworld god.
Their skills migrated south, and as early as c.500bCe they were producing superior blades on the Iberian Peninsular using 'Billet Welding'. The Romans gained awareness of it during the Punic Wars. It appears this science later migrated to Britain during the Viking raids and settlements, and continued to be used there until the arrival of the Normans.
Bamburgh Castle holds just such a blade, made locally of multiple strands of billet welded metal dating to c.600Ce and found in the castle grounds. (I know nothing of the blade steel from the period following the Norman occupation of Britain, and I would dearly like to be disabused.)
Jim! the influence of Christianity amongst the Vikings came later, thanks to the scarce enduring brethren here. For many years, what had been a thriving and renowned Christian culture here in Northern England, was mercilessly wiped out without a second thought. The first signs of Christian influence here was when the Vikings were persuaded not to slaughter the children. Consequently, I don't think you can ascribe Christianity to any markings on Viking blades, unless anyone knows otherwise.
nb
Looking at the date of 500bCe for the arrival of billet forging here in Northern Europe, I often wonder how curious it is that at almost exactly the same time Wootz was appearing in Sri Lanka.
Of course, the influence of Deities over there dates back a lot further again.

[Jim McDougall]

Thanks Keith!
What I meant was that the cross on the ULFBERHT word on the blades had NOTHING to do with Christianity in the religious sense. It was entirely a symbolic gesture much in the manner of runes as far as the Vikings perceived. In fact many of the curious geometric etc markings on reverse of many of these blades seem to have derived from Glagolitic and runic symbols.

While the Vikings were not Christianized, Latin, the language of the Church was a lingua francia of the times, so the cross symbol itself was not perceived necessarily as religious, but as noted more an administrative element. If seen magically, or as invocation it was part of talismanic convention rather than religious.

These swords marked Ulfberht were used by many Vikings, but again, not all Scandinavians were Vikings.......these swords were Frankish, virtually none ever made in those countries.

thank you for coming in on this! Your intense research on this history and metallurgy are so valuable, and honestly way outside my pay grade!

[corrado26]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

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

It is true, the name "Eisenhauer" exists in Germany, but also in the USA (Eisenhower). But this word on blades made in Germany is not the name of the manufacturer, but a quality feature. Blades with the Eisenhauer signature can penetrate iron nails without damaging the cutting edge, i.e. there are no notches in the cutting edge after the test.At least this is what I have read on this topic.

[urbanspaceman]

Hi Jim. When it comes to un-resolved markings on blades you are my first port of call and I bow to your encyclopedic knowledge on the subject.
However, I am often bewildered by your detailed responses, so please forgive my questioning your response regarding Christian symbology... I am actually still bewildered - but I haven't had my coffee yet, so I will try again later.

[Lee]

Alan Williams hypothesized that the ULFBERH+T swords may have been made from Asian crucible steel on the basis of high carbon content and microstructure. The popular press then ran with a corruption of that theory - that ULFBERH+T swords were the best - luxury goods of their time - and the other variations were knockoffs.

However, far from being the Viking Super Sword, the +ULFBERH+T inlaid swords were likely from a particular workshop that used higher carbon steel and corrupted the earlier existing +ULFBERHT+ inscription and there may be a metallurgical reason so many are found broken.

For me, Ingo Petri pretty much shot down the Viking super sword concept in 2015 at the Solingen Sword: Form and Thought conference. Here is a more recent paper by him explaining his reasoning: https://www.academia.edu/68589269/VL...nd_manufacture. (The formatting is better if you download the pdf from there.)