The Secret History of the Carolingian Sword
When picturing a great warrior exiting their longship, the weapon they wield almost definitely includes the famous Viking sword, but this author is aware of a unique fact. The greatest weapons of the Viking raiders were often not Scandinavian at all, but instead, they were Carolingian swords manufactured by the metallurgists of Charlemagne’s Frankish Empire. Due to the extreme performance of these weapons in battle, they generated a massive black market. So in this article, we will explore the history, construction, and attraction of these pieces to present-day collectors. What are Carolingian Swords? The Carolingian sword is a specific single-handed weapon style that dominated the European battlefields from the 8th to 11th centuries. The sword's name came from the name of the royal family that directed the Franks. When compared to swords of their era, they were far superior and made great innovations when creating these weapons. The Weapons Ban that Sparked a Black Market...