12th-14th century AD. A well-balanced long double-edged sword of Oakeshott's Type XI, the blade showing evidence of use on the battlefield; one side of the blade with two Latin crosses flanking inscription 'M PATER FIT JUS ET' in brass inlay, the other side with 'BENEDICATIND' with curlicues and flanked by Latin crosses; long curved crossguard and tapering grip, plain walnut pommel with slightly curving lower edge. See Oakeshott, E., The Sword in the Age of Chivalry, London, 1964 (1997); Walther, I.F. & Siebert Insel G., Codex Manesse, Die Miniaturen der GroBen Heidelberger Liederhandschrift, Frankfurt am Main, 1988; Wagner, T., Worley, J., Holst Blennow, A., Beckholmen, G. Medieval Christian invocation inscriptions on sword blades in Waffen und Kostümkunde, Wien, 2009, 51(1): 11-52; Marek, L., The Blessing of Swords. A new look into inscriptions of the Benedictus, in Acta Militaria Mediaevalia, tom X, 2014, pp. 9-20. 1.4 kg, 94cm (37"). Property of an East Anglian collector; formerly acquired on the European art market in the 1990s; accompanied by an academic report by military specialist Dr. Raffaele D’Amato. The inscription, nomina sacra, on the blade is typical for swords of 11th-13th century. During that time, they were usually written in full length 'M(IHI) PATER FIT JUS ET BENEDICAT I(N) N(OMINE) D(EI)' meaning 'Father let it happen to me according to Justice and bless me in the name of God'. Fine condition.