A Viking broadsword looted during the battle of Stamford Bridge in 1066 is to auction at Christie's London this summer with an estimate of £80,000-120,000 ($136,873-205,309).

The lot is thought to have been taken by a member of the de Bohun family, who would later carry the ancestral sword during the first war of Scottish independence in the 14th century.   

The battle of Stamford Bridge pitted the English under Harold II against an invading Norwegian force led by Harald Hardrada

Dernagh O'Leary, a spokesperson for Christie's, told the BBC: "Whilst it cannot be proved, it is not at all inconceivable that the blade of the present sword was captured or taken as a trophy by de Bohun at Hastings and was later remounted to become a family sword.

"The present sword, whilst not being a war sword, would have served as a clear badge of identity with its gold and enamelled coat of arms on the pommel and eminently more practical as a side arm around camp when not mounted and armed for battle.

"It is therefore entirely possible that this sword was present at Bannockburn in June 1314, if not actually on the field of battle."

The lot is incredibly rare, its age and history making it one of the most significant British artefacts to come to auction in recent years.

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