A medieval sword found in the River Witham in Lincolnshire, England has left historians puzzled due to an unusual inscription on its blade. The combination of letters inlaid in gold thread cannot be attributed to any known language. The sword, weighing 1.2 kilograms and measuring 96 centimeters in length, dates back to the 13th century and is believed to have been forged in Germany. It is currently on display at the British Library as part of the Magna Carta exhibition and is part of the British Museum’s collection. The inscription on the blade, +NDXOXCHWDRGHDXORVI+, has left historians baffled as its meaning remains unclear.
Historian Julian Harrison has turned to the public for help in deciphering the inscription. While it was common for blades to be marked with inscriptions during the medieval period, they were usually dedications to God or the sword’s owner. The inscription on the sword from Lincolnshire is different, as the meaning of the letters is unknown. Some speculate that it may be a religious invocation due to the unknown language. Harrison’s website features the sword and a request for assistance in deciphering the inscription.
Medievalist doctoral student Marc van Hasselt from the University of Utrecht provided a crucial clue in the search for the sword’s meaning. He examined a sword found in Alphen, the Netherlands, whose inscription is similar to the one on the sword from Lincolnshire. Van Hasselt suspects that the inscription may be a mark of the smith who made the sword, as they were known to create “magical” swords for the elite. He believes that the inscription is likely in Latin and has a religious meaning, as Latin was the international language of the time and was used in religious inscriptions. The letters “XOX” and “OXO” may represent the Holy Trinity. The letters “NDXOX” on the sword from Witham could be read as “Nostrum Dominus” (our Lord), followed by the abbreviation for the Holy Trinity. Comparing the letter sequence to the sword found in the Netherlands, historians believe that the inscription on the sword from Witham may be dedicated to a saint.
