The Ulfberht Sword - export hit of the Frankish Empire

Next to lance and axe, the sword was the main weapon of the early medieval warrior. Many swords from the 8th to 11th century have the name Ulfberht engraved in the blade. The brand name refers to Western European blacksmiths and is a seal of quality, comparable to the current term Solingen for high-quality steel products. Such swords were the weapons of the highest quality of their time and were very sought-after throughout Europe. To avoid having to fight against their own weapons, the Frankish ruler even imposed an export ban on Ulfberht swords. Nevertheless, most finds come from Scandinavia where Vikings used them as grave goods.