Walloon sword ? - Battle of Øksnebjerg 1535, Funen, Denmark. -- myArmoury.com

Niels Just Rasmussen

The battle of Øksnebjerg [older spelling Øxnebjerg] took place 6 km from the town Assens the 11th of June 1535.

Øksnebjerg is actually two hills of 85 and 73 meters, so a place of strategic importance.
It was the place of a critical battle of Grevens Fejde (The Counts Feud) 1534-36 where forces lead by Johan Rantzau won over forces lead by Johann von Hoya (who was killed in the battle).
More history will follow in the next post.

In 1830 a well preserved sword from that battle was found during road construction.
It is at Koldinghus Castle.

It seems to be a Walloon sword with guards perpendicular to the blade and not folded downwards as on a Pappenheimer Rapier. The sword is 88cm long.
According to folklore it belonged to ex-Archbishop Gustav Trolle, but even if this is total speculation it is likely that some high-ranking person in the losing army under von Hoya owned this weapon.
It actually has two bishops chiseled into the blade (the primary cause of ownership speculation, but most likely a weapon carried by the losing catholic supporting forces).

Here is a link with some info in Danish about the weapon and some pictures with hilt details:
Source: https://www.kulturarv.dk/mussam/VisGenstand.action?genstandId=3894007

The sword is interesting with having one open ring and another semi-covered (like walloon and pappenheimer style).

Niels Just Rasmussen · Posted: Wed 20 May, 2015 9:53 am Post subject:

In 1523 Frederik af Holsten (Frederik I) had taken over the throne of Denmark and Norway from his nephew Christian II.
When he died in 1533 Denmark was thrown into a civil war between those who wanted Christian II back as King and those he wanted the son of Frederik I - Hertug (Duke) Christian (later King Christian III).
It was also a religious war as Christian II was Catholic and Duke Christian Lutheran.

It was known as "Grevens Fejde" and was fought from 1534-1536.

Christian II was supported by Lübeck (mostly for baltic control rather than religious reasons). The Lübeck forces were lead by Count (Danish = Greve, thus the name Grevens Fejde - "The Counts Feud") Christoffer of Oldenburg. He was a grandchild of Danish King Christian I and thus a second cousin to both Christian II and Christian III.
As he landed in Zealand in june 1534 - and was supported by the towns København (Copenhagen) and Malmø - he got control over Zealand, Funen and Scania and was elected Governor of these areas in the name of Christian II.

Duke Christian had his base in Jutland, Slesvig and Holsten, where he was crowned as King Christian III in july 1534.
North Jutland supported Christian II and a peasant army lead by Skipper Clement attacked and took Aalborg. They then crushed a Juttish army of noblemen at Svenstrup oct. 1534.
The leading commander of Christian III's forces was Johan Rantzau, the governor of Slesvig/Holsten. He lead troops north and took Aalborg by storm. Skipper Clement escaped wounded but was later caught (and executed in 1536).

In 1534 Lübeck got into war with Sweden, so the Swedish King Gustav Vasa got allied with Christian III and attacked the Lübeck + Christian II supporting Danish forces in Halland (north of Scania). Lübeck sought support from Albrecht VII of Mecklenburg, who send Graf Johann VII von Hoya with troops to Scania.
Gustav Vasa send more troops into Halland and Scania and the Danish noblemen of Scania chose to support Gustav Vasa rather than the Lübeck forces, all except Tyge Krabbe in Helsingborg Castle.
Lübeck troops and Danish forces from Malmø lead by Borgmester (Mayor) Jørgen Kock arrived at Helsingborg and was in position in front of the town when in in jan. 1535 the Swedish forces and the Danish noblemen of Scania arrived.
Tyge Krabbe then suddenly changed side and directed his cannons to shoot at the Lübeck/Malmø troops and let in the Swedish forces, that totally burned down Helsingborg town.
Christoffer of Oldenburg and Johann von Hoya then hunted down Danish noblemen on Zealand as payment for the treachery of the Scanian noblemen. Their estates were burned and they were send to Mecklenburg as hostages.

Christian III forces lead by Johan Rantzau managed in secrecy to get via Als to Funen and besieged the Lübeck forces at Assens. Johann von Hoya countered with a relief force and the two armies fought at Øksnebjerg in jun 1535. This was a decisive battle were Johann Rantzau won and Johann von Hoya was killed in the battle and the Swedish (former Archbishop of Uppsala) Gustav Trolle was taken prisoner. As catholic he naturally fought against Gustav Vasa and Christian III and for Christian II and his Lübeck allies.

Christian III then got some naval assistance from his brother-in-law Duke Albrecht of Prussia (before converting to Lutheranism he was the last Grandmaster of the Teutonic Order), so a combined Danish-Swedish-Prussian fleet lead by the Dane Peder Skram was able to push the main Lübeck fleet into Copenhagen harbour and destroying another Lübeck fleet at Svendborgsund.
Christian III then himself lead his forces from Funen to Zealand and put Copenhagen under siege july 1535.

In feb 1536 Lübeck sought peace and they recognized Christian III as Danish King.
Malmø capitulated in apr. 1536, but Copenhagen under Borgmester (Mayor) Ambrosius Bogbinder and the fortress Varberg (probably lead by Markus Mejer from Lübeck) in Halland still resisted.
They were hoping for an intervention by Kurfürst Friedrich II, der Weise, von der Pfalz, that was married to Dorethea, the sister of Christian II. His intervention in the Danish war was supported by Habsburg Emperor Karl V.
The Dutch was ordered to prepare a fleet, but then war break out between the Emperor and the French under King François I.

Varberg got conquered and then finally in july 1536 Copenhagen capitulated ended the long siege before the Dutch relief navy was ready. The Copenhagen population was given amnesty and Duke Albrecht of Mecklenburg and Count Christoffer of Oldenburg were allowed to leave the town with their men.

Christian III was now King of Denmark and Norway and the Lutheran Reformation was launched the 30th october 1536.

Sean Flynt · Posted: Wed 20 May, 2015 10:18 am Post subject:

At a glance, I'd say that sword post-dates the battle by about 100 years.

Niels Just Rasmussen · Posted: Wed 20 May, 2015 10:26 am Post subject:

Roger Hooper · Posted: Wed 20 May, 2015 10:31 am Post subject:

I agree with Sean, that looks like a 17th century campaign sword, and had nothing to do with anything that happened in 1535. It may have some similarities to a Pappenheimer, but Pappenheimers don't have thumb rings, and their side rings are typically tilted. The Walloon name has been used to cover a whole bunch of variations made between 1620 and 1700. Those curlicues where the sidebars meet the side rings echo many Mortuary swords.

This reply is in response to the first post.

Niels Just Rasmussen · Posted: Wed 20 May, 2015 10:52 am Post subject:

Roger Hooper · Posted: Wed 20 May, 2015 11:49 am Post subject:

Niels, if you want to see some photos of original Walloons, go to this thread

Niels Just Rasmussen · Posted: Wed 20 May, 2015 11:59 am Post subject:

It seems very likely now that the weapon must be from the 1600's as I found a Swedish rapier that looks a bit like the Øxnebjerg Sword.

This Swedish sword sold at an auction in Denmark has both an open ring and a semi-closed ring and it also have a flattened pommel and it is dated from the 1600's. So that is the closest I get from doing an internet search....

Source: http://193.238.185.184/images/1836530?size=large&index=1

More images (and bigger) of the sword:
Source: Source: http://www.lauritz.com/en/auction/swedish-rapier/i1836530/

Gustav II Adolf also carried this sword at Lützen (1632), though with more Pappenheimer style ring-guards it also shows a flattened pommel.
Source: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/attachment.php?...&stc=1

So is this flat pommel something special for Scandinavia?

Stephen Wheatley · Posted: Wed 20 May, 2015 3:27 pm Post subject: Oxnebjerg sword

Yes, it looks like a complex variant of the Swedish/Netherlands hilt of the type widely used in the thirty years war. Beautiful swords. I think the originals were made in Holland then imitated in Gustav Adolf's new factories, not that many pictures of them around, Stockholm's Armeemuseum has a few and the Legermuseum in the Netherlands, I'd love to see more photos of them myself.

Roger Hooper · Posted: Wed 20 May, 2015 5:06 pm Post subject:

Here is a photo that I found of early 17th century Swedish cut and thrust swords

Radovan Geist · Posted: Wed 20 May, 2015 11:40 pm Post subject:

Niels Just Rasmussen · Posted: Thu 21 May, 2015 10:23 am Post subject:

Thanks for your inputs, Stephen, Roger and Radovan.

So very interesting with the info that Gustav II Adolf made Swedish copies of the Dutch "originals". Since they were also used in Germany it seems to be a popular sword for Northern Europe, though still fairly unusual with the flat pommel compared to the bulk of the examples found around Europe.
So they are cavalry swords ? or was used both by infantry and cavalry?

What makes the Øksnebjerg Sword weird is that it has bishops showing it is a “catholic" sword. No Dane nor Swede would ever run around with a papist weapon around the Thirty Years War (unless they had a death wish).
Since catholic forces only occupied Jutland in the Thirty Years War - after Christian IV defeat to Count Tilly at Lutter am Barenberge (1626) - I can't figure out how such a sword could end in the ground on Funen.

A possibility is that when the Swedes occupied Denmark in 1658-1659 (taking all except Copenhagen) they were driven from Funen by a combined Danish-Austrian-Polish/Lithuanian force after their defeat at Nyborg 1659.
An Austrian or Polish-Lithuanian officer might have carried this weapon -> someone retrieved the weapon and buried it at the Old Øxnebjerg battlefield of 1535. [It's unlikely, but still best guess]
But as Øxnebjerg is on the western part of Funen and the battle with the Swedes took part on the Eastern Part of Funen is still not a satisfying explanation - the Danish-Austrian-Polish/Lithuanian forces landed at Kerteminde also in the eastern part of Funen, so there were no fighting or any Swedish troops in the western part.

I think the Bishops-on-the-sword "question" - and being found on the 1535 battlefield - is the reason why the sword got attributed to Grevens Fejde as catholic forces were present there and then.

Then we have Dutch, German, Swedish and perhaps Danish examples of this type - have we any Austrian or Polish/Lithuanian examples, that could support the catholic ownership hypothesis?

J.T. Aliaga · Posted: Thu 21 May, 2015 11:43 am Post subject:

Perhaps not bishops depicted but Saints?

Anyhow, I was raised Catholic but I thought some Protestant & Lutheran bishops wore mitres.

Mark Millman · **On Wednesday 20 May 2015, you wrote:**

Dear Niels,

Stephen Wheatley · Posted: Fri 22 May, 2015 8:34 am Post subject:

Found these on Herman Historica and elsewhere. Most dealers ascribe a Dutch origin although in ''European Swords and Daggers in the Tower of Londo''; - HMSO 1974 - Author Richard Dufty; there's one of these with a gilt representation of what looks very like Gustav Adolf on the shell but with a catholic inscription on the undoubtedly German blade. Unfortunately I cant upload the scan. The last sword illustrated is an English shell-hilt for comparison. Often the complex Swedish hilts approach Walloon - sword construction with the side bar evolving into globular rather than flat guards but still with the characteristic pierced shells. I'll have to get over to Stockholm and seek some out unless some of our Swedish members can do it!

Kjell Magnusson · Posted: Sat 23 May, 2015 1:46 am Post subject:

Niels Just Rasmussen · Posted: Sat 23 May, 2015 4:35 am Post subject:

Niels Just Rasmussen · **On Wednesday 20 May 2015, you wrote:**

Niels Just Rasmussen · Posted: Sat 23 May, 2015 6:23 am Post subject:

So went through the pictures of the other swords in the Koldinghus collection. A bit over 200 swords, where the bulk of them are military swords from the 1800's.
It seems though that no expert in older swords has really dealt with this collection (at least not from the info attached to each sword), so I found some others that could be late 1500~1600 dated as examples of possibly Danish sword types of this period.

So here is one called a “middle age rapier" - that is pretty unspecific:
Source: https://www.kulturarv.dk/mussam/VisGenstand.action?genstandId=3915579

It looks a bit like the latest model Tessak (Type F) issued by King Christian IV to Norway (as seen from the other side, that the Arma Dania picture ? - see source just below here)
The tessak being the first officially army issued military swords for Denmark/Norway. As Christian IV mostly relied on foreign mercenaries to fight wars around Denmark, the Norwegian peasant militia didn't have money to supply themselves with swords, so they had to get a cheap offer from the crown.
Source: https://www.arma-dania.dk/public/timeline/_AD_blankvaben_view.php?editid1=226
Tessaks were issued to Norway from 1589 to 1617 (and even if you have models A-F - and a G; no picture - there were a lot of individual variations of the swords). They were bought from Germany and "Central Europe".

This sword was from the private collection of King Frederik VII (1848-1863) and is called a cavalry rapier from around 1600.
Source: https://www.kulturarv.dk/mussam/VisGenstand.action?genstandId=2068765
Has one closed ring and a round pommel and is basket hilted or what you should call it.
Again without being an expert it does look 1600's to me.

This sword was found in a bog at Gamst (Gamst Mose) west of Kolding. It is said to be from the time of Frederik II (1559-1588). It has an two bronze inscriptions made in niello technique: One side PETER MVNSTER and the other ME FECIT SOLINGEN.
Source: https://www.kulturarv.dk/mussam/VisGenstand.action?genstandId=3901011
This sword had two open rings and a crude basket hilt.
As Solingen is very famous - it should be possible to get a date from the sword-smith Peter Munster in some record.

This sword, just said to be from the time of Christian IV (1588-1648).
Source: https://www.kulturarv.dk/mussam/VisGenstand.action?genstandId=2071701
Again two open rings and a fairly crude basket hilt.

Let me know if some of them are special surprising or typical (whatever) for the time period. Big Grin

Lastly a sword that is said to be a "cavalry sword" with Ulfklinge (whatever an Ulf-blade is - maybe they mean Passau wolf marking?), iron guard and brass pommel.
Source: https://www.kulturarv.dk/mussam/VisGenstand.action?genstandId=2070278
Is equipped a very old style looking brass pommel. Maybe it is just a sword that is made to look old without being so.

EDIT: This seem definitely to be a later weapon. Typical rapier style from late 1600's to mid 1700's also issued in the Danish army.

Niels Just Rasmussen · Posted: Sat 23 May, 2015 6:53 am Post subject:

Found a Tessak from Horsens Museum that actually have two rings, one uncovered and one covered, so it do seem to be deliberate: It doesn't really fit any of the Models A-F. They have good info on this sword.
Total Length: 118 cm
Grip: 9 cm
Blade length: 104,5 cm
Pommel: 6*6 cm
Guard: 25 cm slightly turned downwards towards the blade.
Ricasso: 6 cm
Double edged with a thin "blood groove" of 18 cm.

Source: https://www.kulturarv.dk/mussam/VisGenstand.action?genstandId=726701

Found some more information about the Tessak at the Norwegian weapon site:
Source: http://norskevaapen.no/?p=1776
It seems that they were produced somewhere in perhaps Southern Germany and Bohemia in great quantities, but are only really found in great quantities in Switzerland and Norway (and some in Denmark). 400-500 of the 8000 swords brought to Norway still exists.
The Tessak's were earlier mislabeled as "Sinclair Sabers" as they were thought to come from Scottish mercenaries fighting in Norway in 1612.

Also according to the Norwegian site the "Schwedendegen" was made in huge quantities in Germany (likely Passau and Solingen) in 1630-40's.
Called "Schwedendegen" if double edge and "Svensksabel" (Swedish Saber) if single edged.
So named after Sweden, they are in fact German!
Source: http://norskevaapen.no/?p=1846

So the Swedish army used a sword made from a Dutch model turned Gustavian (Swedish), while the Danes and Norwegians used a German model called "Schweden-degen" of the Swedish model of the Dutch model?!
Damn that is complicated Laughing Out Loud

- and maybe the Danes/Norwegian could have made changes to the German model.

So here is what the Danish auction house (from a Norwegian collection) calls a Norwegian/Swedish Schwedendegen ? [how is that possible - either it is Danish/Norwegian or Swedish/Finnish], but again it is an example with one open ring and one covered. So it seems that this is a "Scandinavian" model.
Source: http://www.bruun-rasmussen.dk/search.do?pg=1&...ode=detail

Also found a Swedish example again with one covered and one open ring from Norrbottens Museum.
It has the Passau wolf mark on the blade and the marking 1414 (clearly not the year, but this marking must give us some production date), but according to experts the sword is NOT made in Passau, but in Solingen.
Source: http://www.norrbottensmuseum.se/arkiv-samling...vaerd.aspx
They say the type was introduced in 1650 - which can clearly not be the case, since this type was in use in the Thirty Years War by Swedish forces.
It must mean that the specifically German model of "Schweden-degen" produced in Passau and/or Solingen came to Scandinavia in 1650's.