Introduction
The following list of swords is not comprehensive and only represents those currently known to the author. They have been categorised using Wheelers typology.
Wheeler's Viking Sword Typology
Viking Age swords found in Britain
Type I
Petersen Types M & Q. 850AD? to 1025AD
No Picture
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Cumbria, Rampside Churchyard
- Current Location- Municipal Museum, Barrow-in-Furness
- Blade-
- Hilt- Petersen type M
- Bibliography- [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:p.18]
- Comments- Found before 1909
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No Picture
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Cumbria, Ormside, Appleby-in-Westmoreland
- Current Location- Tullie House Museum
- Blade- Total length 35.5”, blade length 31”.
- Hilt- Petersen type M
- Bibliography- [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:p.18]
- Comments-
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No Picture
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Yorkshire, York, Clifford Street
- Current Location- Yorkshire Museum
- Blade- none
- Hilt- Petersen type M?. Only the undecorated guard of whale bone survives.
- Bibliography- [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:p.96] [ROESDAHL 1981:p.114 YAB30]
- Comments-
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No Picture
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Isle of Man, Balladoyne Churchyard, St. Johns
- Current Location- Manx Museum (Unknown find Date)
- Blade-
- Hilt- Petersen type M
- Bibliography- [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:p.26]
- Comments- Length 32” although possibly about 4” of the blade is missing. Part of the wooden grip remains.
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London, River Thames, Waterloo Bridge
- Current Location- London Museum A 3670
- Blade-
- Hilt- Classed by Wheeler as a type I and by Bjorn as a type H. Missing pommel. The guards are striped with brass inlay.
- Bibliography- [WHEELER 1927:p.36] [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:p.78]
- Comments- Was originally in the Laking collection.
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London River Thames, ‘near London’
- Current Location- London Museum A 17923
- Blade-
- Hilt- Petersen type M
- Bibliography- [WHEELER 1927:p.36] [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:p.78]
- Comments- wooden handle covered in linen.
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Type II Norwegian
Petersen Types B, C & H. 750AD to 960AD
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Herts, River Lea, Enfield
- Current Location Prince Ladislaus Odescalchi Collection, Rome.
- Blade-
- Hilt- Petersen type C
- Bibliography- [LAKING 1920:p.16] [WHEELER 1927:p.34, 53] [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:p.12,60] [OAKESHOTT 1960:p135] [WILSON 1965:p52(no.7)]
- Comments- from a possible boat burial
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No Picture
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London, River Thames, Vauxhall
- Current Location- ?
- Blade-
- Hilt- Petersen type H
- Bibliography- [WHEELER 1927:p.37] [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:p.81]
- Comments-
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No Picture
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London, River Thames, Mortlake
- Current Location- ?
- Blade- single-edged
- Hilt- none
- Bibliography- [OAKESHOTT 1960:p135]
- Comments- Oakeshott suggests that this blade may have belonged to a type II sword.
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Type III Danish
Petersen Types R, S & T. 800AD? to 900AD?
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Isle of Man Cronk Moar
- Current Location-
- Blade-
- Hilt- Petersen type S
- Bibliography- [BERSU and WILSON 1966:p.72]
- Comments- found with remains of scabbard
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London
- Current Location-
- Blade- None
- Hilt- Petersen type R. Only the pommel of the sword survives
- Bibliography- [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:p.78] [WHEELER 1927:p.53]
- Comments-
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London, River Thames, Temple Church
- Current Location-
- Blade-
- Hilt- Petersen type S
- Bibliography- [PEIRCE 2002:p.104] [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:p.77,80]
- Comments- also known as “Earl of Pembroke Sword”
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London, Chertsey
- Current Location-
- Blade-
- Hilt- Petersen type S
- Bibliography- [PEIRCE 2002:p.98][1]
- Comments-
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Type IV Frankish
Petersen Types K & O. 790AD to 950AD
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Cumbria, Hesket-in-Forest
- Current Location-
- Blade-
- Hilt- Petersen type O
- Bibliography- [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:p.19]
- Comments-
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Berkshire, River Kennet at Reading
- Current Location- ?
- Blade- Point missing 25.5” long
- Hilt- Petersen type O or K? Rivet hole hence cap missing.
- Bibliography- [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:p.58]
- Comments- Remaining fragments of oak grip. Part of an oak? scabbard is also still attached to the blade.
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London, River Thames, Kew
- Current Location- British Museum 1891, 0905 3
- Blade- Total length 753mm, blade length 630mm. blade engraved with makers mark, INGELRll. On the reverse engraved with SITANBI or IBNATIS (?)
- Hilt- Classed as a Petersen type O by Peirce and as Peteren type Q on the British Museum web site. Missing pommel
- Bibliography- [PEIRCE 2002:p.90] [2]
- Comments- Remains of wooden sheath on sword blade.
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London, Fetter Lane
- Current Location- ?
- Blade- None
- Hilt- Gilt silver pommel with nielloed engraved pattern
- Bibliography- [OAKESHOTT 1960:p.136][3]
- Comments- the BM website dates this pommel to the late C8th.
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Type V English
Petersen Types L. 850AD to 975AD
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Ecclefechan in Dumfriesshire
- Current Location-
- Blade-
- Hilt- Petersen type L
- Bibliography- [WHEELER 1927: p.35]
- Comments-
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Hurbuck, Durham
- Current Location- British Museum
- Blade-
- Hilt- Petersen type L
- Bibliography- [WHEELER 1927:p.35][PEIRCE 2002:p.76]
- Comments-
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Yorkshire, Gilling West
- Current Location-
- Blade-
- Hilt- Petersen type L
- Bibliography- [THOMPSON 2004:p.109] [ROESDAHL 1981:p.44] [WATKIN 1986:p.93-99]
- Comments-
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Yorkshire, Wensley Churchyard
- Current Location-
- Blade-
- Hilt- Petersen type L
- Bibliography- [THOMPSON 2004:p.110] [DAVIDSON 1962:p54] [WILSON 1965: no.9]
- Comments-
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Yorkshire, Bedale
- Current Location- British Museum
- Blade-
- Hilt- Petersen type L
- Bibliography- [WHEELER 1927:p.35]
- Comments-
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Isle of Man, Ballaugh
- Current Location-
- Blade-
- Hilt- Petersen type L
- Bibliography- [WHEELER 1927:p.35][BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:p.22][WILSON 2008:p.54]
- Comments-
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Isle of Man, St. Maughold
- Current Location-
- Blade-
- Hilt- Petersen type L
- Bibliography- [WHEELER 1927:p.35][BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:p.23]
- Comments- missing pommel
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Nottingham
- Current Location-
- Blade-
- Hilt- Petersen type L
- Bibliography- [WHEELER 1927:p.35]
- Comments- Wheeler identifies this sword as probably being this type but states that the sword is damaged.
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Cambridgeshire, Hauxton Mill
- Current Location-
- Blade-
- Hilt- Petersen type L
- Bibliography- [WHEELER 1927:p.35]
- Comments-
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Norfolk, River Wensum, Norwich
- Current Location- British Museum (54, 11-7, 12)
- Blade-
- Hilt- Petersen type L
- Bibliography- [WHEELER 1927:p.35][MARGESEN 1997:p.10-11] [WILSON 1965: no.8]
- Comments- Unknown find date. Presented to the BM in 1854.
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Norfolk, Gooderstone
- Current Location-
- Blade-
- Hilt- Petersen type L
- Bibliography- [WILSON 1965: no.3]
- Comments-
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Norfolk, Santon Downham
- Current Location-
- Blade-
- Hilt- Petersen type L
- Bibliography- [WHEELER 1927:p.35][BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:p.12,13]
- Comments-
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Suffolk, Kersey
- Current Location-
- Blade-
- Hilt- Petersen type L
- Bibliography- [WILSON 1965: no.5]
- Comments-
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Oxford, Abingdon
- Current Location-
- Blade-
- Hilt- Petersen type L
- Bibliography- [THOMPSON 2004:p.112][WILSON 1965:p52(no.1)]
- Comments-
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Oxford, Wallingford Bridge
- Current Location- Ashmolean Museum
- Blade-
- Hilt- Petersen type L
- Bibliography- [WHEELER 1927:p.35][THOMPSON 2004:p.113]
- Comments-
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London, River Thames, Westminster
- Current Location- Ashmolean Museum
- Blade-
- Hilt- Petersen type L
- Bibliography- [WHEELER 1927:p.35][LAKING 1920:fig.15c] [DAVIDSON 1962:p54] [WILSON 1965:p.52 (no.x)]
- Comments-
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London, River Thames, Windsor
- Current Location- British Museum
- Blade-
- Hilt- Petersen type L
- Bibliography- [WHEELER 1927:p.35]
- Comments-
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London, River Thames
- Current Location- British Museum
- Blade-
- Hilt- Petersen type L
- Bibliography- [WHEELER 1927:p.35]
- Comments-
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Unprovenanced
- Current Location-
- Blade-
- Hilt- Petersen type L
- Bibliography- [WILSON 1965: no.13]
- Comments-
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Type VI Danish
Petersen Types L 'variant' 900AD? to 1050AD?
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Yorkshire, York, Camphill
- Current Location-
- Blade-
- Hilt- Petersen type L
- Bibliography- [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:p.15]
- Comments- missing pommel
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Lincs, River Witham, Lincoln
- Current Location- British Museum
- Blade-
- Hilt- Petersen type L
- Bibliography- [PEIRCE 2002:p.77] [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:p.71] [DAVIDSON 1962:p.56] [OAKESHOTT 1960:p.134] [4]
- Comments- missing pommel
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Norfolk, Mileham
- Current Location-
- Blade-
- Hilt-
- Bibliography- [WILSON 1965: no.7]
- Comments-
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London, River Thames, Staines
- Current Location-
- Blade-
- Hilt- Petersen type L
- Bibliography- [WHEELER 1927:p.37]
- Comments-
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London, River Thames, Shifford
- Current Location-
- Blade-
- Hilt- Petersen type L
- Bibliography- [THOMPSON 2004:p.114] [DAVIDSON 1962:p.56]
- Comments-
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London, River Thames, Brentford
- Current Location-
- Blade-
- Hilt-
- Bibliography- [WHEELER 1927:p.37] [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:p.78] [WILSON 1965:p52(no.3)]
- Comments-
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London, River Thames, off the Temple
- Current Location-
- Blade-
- Hilt-
- Bibliography- [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:p.78,80] [DAVIDSON 1962:p.56]
- Comments-
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London, River Thames, Kings Reach
- Current Location-
- Blade-
- Hilt- Petersen type L
- Bibliography- [PEIRCE 2002:p.80]
- Comments-
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London, River Thames, Vauxhall, Wandsworth Reach
- Current Location-
- Blade-
- Hilt-
- Bibliography- [LAKING 1920:fig.15d] [WHEELER 1927:p.37] [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:p.78] [WILSON 1965:p.52 (no.20)]
- Comments- Wilson quotes Laking fig.15d as being from Vauxhall. The tip of the sword is from another find from Putney Reach.
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Type VII
Petersen Types U, V & X (early style) 850AD to 1000AD?
Petersen Type U, V
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Isle of Man, Ballateare
- Current Location-
- Blade-
- Hilt- Petersen type V
- Bibliography- [BERSU and WILSON 1966:p.52][5]
- Comments- found with remains of scabbard
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Cambs, River Nene
- Current Location-
- Blade-
- Hilt-
- Bibliography- [DAVIDSON 1962:p56]
- Comments-
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Herts, River Lea, Hertford
- Current Location- Stolen from Hertford Museum
- Blade-
- Hilt-
- Bibliography- [ADAMS 1974:p.155-158]
- Comments-
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Herts, River Lea, Edmonton
- Current Location-
- Blade-
- Hilt- Petersen type U
- Bibliography- [PIERCE 2002:p.110] [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:p.60] [WILSON 1965:p52(no.6)]
- Comments-
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Petersen Type X
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Cumbria, Workington, Lake District
- Current Location-
- Blade-
- Hilt- Petersen type W or X
- Bibliography- [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:p.21-22]
- Comments-
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Isle of Man, Knoc-y-doonee
- Current Location-
- Blade-
- Hilt- Petersen type X
- Bibliography- [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:p.23]
- Comments-
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York
- Current Location-
- Blade-
- Hilt- Petersen type X
- Bibliography- [ROESDAHL 1981:p.65 D15] YM 551.45.48 [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:p.93]
- Comments-
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York
- Current Location-
- Blade-
- Hilt- Petersen type X
- Bibliography- [ROESDAHL 1981:p.65 D15] [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:p.93]
- Comments-
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Notts, Nottingham
- Current Location-
- Blade-
- Hilt- Petersen type X
- Bibliography- [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:p.15-16] Referred to in [ROESDAHL 1981:p.65 D15]
- Comments-
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Notts, Fardon Church, Newark
- Current Location-
- Blade-
- Hilt- Petersen type X
- Bibliography- [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:p.71]
- Comments-
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Type VIII
Brazil Nut 950AD to 1300AD?
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London, Battersea
- Current Location-
- Blade-
- Hilt- Tea Cosy pommel
- Bibliography- DAVIDSON 1962:p.57] [WISON 1965:p32-33 no.1]
- Comments-
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Type IX
Brazil Nut 1000AD to 1300AD?
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Cawood
- Current Location-
- Blade-
- Hilt-
- Bibliography- [6] [7]
- Comments-
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Other Types
Viking Age swords not covered by Wheeler
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Reading
- Current Location-
- Blade-
- Hilt- Pommel missing. Hilt and guard decorated in gripping beasts.
- Bibliography- [EAST nd:p.2]
- Comments- Rediscovered after 150 years after being considered lost. Made between c.750AD but probably buried just after 800AD.
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Cambridgeshire, Raven’s Willow nr. Peterbourgh
- Current Location-
- Blade-
- Hilt- Petersen type N
- Bibliography- [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:p.61,63-64]
- Comments- Later half of C9th
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Isle of Man, St John’s Kirk German
- Current Location-
- Blade-
- Hilt- Petersen type P?
- Bibliography- [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:p.25-26]
- Comments- fragment of sword with pommel and guard
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Lincolnshire, Canwich Common, Lincoln
- Current Location-
- Blade- Illegible script
- Hilt- Petersen type Q? Pommel not of Q style
- Bibliography- [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:p.98-99]
- Comments- pommel not of Q form
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Berkshire, Tilehurst station
- Current Location- Reading Museum
- Blade-
- Hilt- Petersen type Y
- Bibliography- [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:p.58]
- Comments-
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Unknown Types
Swords so far unidentified
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Lancs, Claughton Hall
- Current Location- Now missing
- Blade-
- Hilt-
- Bibliography- [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:p.18]
- Comments-
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Lancs, Witherslack
- Current Location-
- Blade-
- Hilt-
- Bibliography- [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:p.74]
- Comments-
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Nottingham
- Current Location-
- Blade- None
- Hilt- Only a pommel
- Bibliography- [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:p.15]
- Comments-
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London, River Thames
- Current Location- Tullie House Museum, Carlisle
- Blade-
- Hilt-
- Bibliography- [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:p.81]
- Comments-
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London, River Thames, Vauxhall
- Current Location-
- Blade-
- Hilt- 3 lobed pommel
- Bibliography- [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:p.81]
- Comments-
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London, River Thames, Vauxhall
- Current Location- Unknown
- Blade-
- Hilt-
- Bibliography- [WHEELER 1927:p.53]
- Comments- Wheeler only mentions ‘Information from Mr G. F. Lawrence’
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See Also
Swords
References
<nocite>
ADAMS1974
BERSU1966
BJORN1940
DAVIDSON1962
LAKING1920
MARGESEN1997
OAKESHOTT1960
PEIRCE2002
ROESDAHL1981
THOMPSON2004
WATKIN1986
WILSON1965
WILSON2008
WHEELER1927
</nocite>
<biblio force=false>#Template:Bib</biblio>