Sword of Sancho IV of Castille Oakeshott Type XII

*Editor's Note: Text below translated by Google from the original Spanish text. Two things are conspicuous about this sword which fly in the face of common sword myths. The first myth is that the mirror polish is an anachronism for medieval European swords, the second is that medieval European swords did not have secondary bevels. This sword is mirror finished, the finish remarkably well preserved in places by the scabbard. This sword also, like so many others which have not been subject to heavy corrosion and restoration has a distinct secondary bevel.

Re : Sword of Sancho IV of Castile
Cultural Context : Christian
Dating: s . XIII
Materials: steel ( sheet) , bronze and wood ( handle)
Hometown: Tomb of Sancho IV at the Cathedral of Toledo
Current Location : Exhibited at the Cathedral of Toledo next to the crown and regalia pillow thereof
Current visibility state : Visible
Dimensions: Sheet: 83 x 5 x 0.5 cm; fist : 8.5 x 3 cm

Notes:

* It was tucked into the coffin as part of the trousseau in 1295 , year of the death of Sancho IV , and found in 1947 by opening the grave at the request of medical de Oliveira Salazar, looking for the remains of King Sancho Capelo Lusitanian dethroned.
* The sword sheathed found beside the king 's mummified in excellent condition , carrying on her head a crown ( Mavit : 000079 )

LEAF :
* With two-edged sword and round toe .
* Inscriptions chiseled in both vaceos (longitudinal grooves wide) - virtually unreadable by the state, but probably are quotes from the Bible, which was customary to put these weapons at the time
* Stresses the fineness of burilado and mirror polishing (where the blade is not oxidized)
* No mark is not seen espadero

GRIP :
* CRUZ : (which protects the hand leaf rival ) made of bronze ; sitdown ; leads ornamentation seems Arabic calligraphy , but it is not.
* FIST : rectangular prism of a dark hardwood inlaid enamel leading to the arms of Castile and Leon .
* POMO : ( Far spherical handle ) bronze ; I lobular formed by a truncated cylinder; profuse and finely carved with motifs that repeat the cross .

POD :
* Two sheets of plain wood unadorned
* Probably back to the sword

perspective:
* The Castilian monarchs had no stable dynastic pantheon to organized in the church of San Lorenzo de El Escorial ( s XVI. ) , To be buried at the Cathedral of Toledo was probably conscious decision of King Sancho IV itself.

For more information on Oakeshott Type XII swords see this extract of Ewart Oakeshott's Records of the Medieval Sword: sword-site.com/thread/127/oakeshott-type-records-medieval-sword

Source: The Crown and the Sword of Sancho IV of Castile by D. Jose María García- Criado Relanzón