Albion Museum Collection – The Soborg Sword

The Sorg, a 12th Century knightly Danish Sword is one of Albions Museum Line Collection Swords - These are recreations of specific, fine historical swords in the worlds museums. These recreations are founded on Albions sword expert Peter Johnssons hands-on research and analyzation of the originals.

The Sorg was named for the castle grounds at which is was excavated. It is now in the National Museum of Copenhagen. It was likely created around 1100 - 1175. It is regarded as a weapon that was masterfully made with a clear understanding of function and a fine sense of form and proportions. (quote from Albion).

The exact meaning of the fuller inscriptions if not known, but there are clues. TIoSEToMAoT may be an abbreviation for a notable religious character or a Saint - the MA may be Mater or Maria. SctSPETRNuS is likely a reference or invocation to Saint Peter.

This would have, no doubt been a very expensive sword to create as the inscriptions and blade quality indicate, but its owner did not make a gaudy weapon emphasizing his wealth, but a relatively simple, elegant sword that belies a adherence to duty and to the defense of the Church.

Sorg Castle was once the strongest castle in Denmark - the Catholic Church and the Danish Kings had a tumultuous history, and both of these major powers warily built castles to guard their interests. Archbishop Eskil lorded over Sorg and its lands during the time period that the Sorg sword was forged. That this austere sword, heavily inscribed with religious references was found here is not surprising. It is likely that the blade could have once belonged to a man-at-arms in the service of the Archbishop.

Albions recreation of this sword has a blade that has been hand ground to shape and tempered for the right mix of flexibility and edge retention and finished to a satin polish. The crossguard and pommel are of steel and the grip is wood covered with tight leather over cord.