Map of the geographic distribution of the England Runestones in southern Scandinavia and northernmost Germany (modern administrative borders and cities are shown)
The England runestones (Swedish: Englandsstenarna) are a group of about 30 runestones in Scandinavia which refer to Viking Age voyages to England.[1] They constitute one of the largest groups of runestones that mention voyages to other countries, and they are comparable in number only to the approximately 30 Greece Runestones[2] and the 26 Ingvar Runestones, of which the latter refer to a Viking expedition to the Caspian Sea region. They were engraved in Old Norse with the Younger Futhark.
The Anglo-Saxon rulers paid large sums, Danegelds, to Scandinavian Vikings who arrived to the English shores during the 990s and the first decades of the 11th century. Some runestones relate of these Danegelds, such as the Yttergärde runestone, U 344, which tells of Ulf of Borresta who received the danegeld three times, and the last one he received from Canute the Great. Canute sent home most of the Vikings who had helped him conquer England, but he kept a strong bodyguard, the Thingmen, and its members are also mentioned on several runestones.[3]
The vast majority of the runestones, 27, were raised in modern-day Sweden and 17 in the Swedish provinces around lake Mälaren. In contrast, modern-day Denmark has no such runestones, but there is a runestone in Scania which mentions London. There is also a runestone in Norway and a Swedish one in Schleswig, Germany.
Some Vikings, such as Guðvér did not only attack England, but also Saxony, as reported by the Grinda Runestone Sö 166 in Södermanland:[1]
Grjótgarðr (and) Einriði, the sons
made (the stone) in memory of (their) able father.
Below follows a presentation of the England Runestones based on information collected from the Rundata project, organized according to location. The transcriptions from runic inscriptions into standardized Old Norse are in the Swedish and Danish dialect to facilitate comparison with the inscriptions, while the English translation provided by Rundata give the names in standard dialect (the Icelandic and Norwegian dialect).
Uppland
There are eight runestones in Uppland that mention voyages to England. Several of them were raised in memory of men who had partaken in the Danegeld in England.
U 194
U 194
This secluded runestone is located in a grove near Väsby, Uppland, Sweden. It was raised by a Viking in commemoration of his receiving one danegeld in England. It is classified as being carved in runestone style Pr3 and, together with U 344, it has been said to be the earliest example of an Urnes style inscription in Uppland.[5] The runic text follows a common rule to only carve a single rune for two consecutive letters, even when the letters were at the end of one word and the beginning of a second word.[6] When the text shown as Latin characters, the transliterated runes are doubled and separate words are shown. For U 194 has three examples where this occurred, þinoftiʀ is transliterated as þino| |oftiʀ, tuknuts as tuk| |knuts, and anklanti as a| |anklanti.
al|i|
Ali/Alli
|l|it
let
raisa
ræisa
stain
stæin
þino|
þenna
|oftiʀ
æftiʀ
sik
sik
sialfan
sialfan.
'
hon
Hann
tuk|
tok
|knuts
Knuts
kialt
giald
a|
a
|anklanti
Ænglandi.
'
kuþ
Guð
hialbi
hialpi
hons
hans
ant
and.
al|i| |l|it raisa stain þino| |oftiʀ sik sialfan ' hon tuk| |knuts kialt a| |anklanti ' kuþ hialbi hons ant
Ali/Alli let ræisa stæin þenna æftiʀ sik sialfan. {} Hann tok Knuts giald a Ænglandi. {} Guð hialpi hans and.
"Áli/Alli had this stone raised in memory of himself. He took Knútr's payment in England. May God help his spirit."[7]
This runestone is one of the Lingsberg Runestones and was part of a paired monument with U 240. It is located on the courtyard of the estate Lingsberg in Uppland. It was raised by the grandchildren of Ulfríkr in commemoration of his receiving two danegelds in England. It is carved in runestone style Pr3.
n
En
tan
Dan
auk
ok
huskarl
Huskarl
'
auk
ok
sua(i)n
Svæinn
'
l(i)tu
letu
rita
retta
stin
stæin
aftiʀ
æftiʀ
'
ulfrik
Ulfrik,
'
faþurfaþur
faðurfaður
sino
sinn.
'
hon
Hann
hafþi
hafði
o|
a
|onklanti
Ænglandi
tuh
tu
kialt|
giald
|takit
takit.
+
kuþ
Guð
hialbi
hialpi
þiʀa
þæiʀa
kiþka
fæðga
salu|
salu
|uk|
ok
|kuþs
Guðs
muþ(i)
moðiʀ.
n tan auk huskarl ' auk sua(i)n ' l(i)tu rita stin aftiʀ ' ulfrik ' faþurfaþur sino ' hon hafþi o| |onklanti tuh kialt| |takit + kuþ hialbi þiʀa kiþka salu| |uk| |kuþs muþ(i)
En Dan ok Huskarl {} ok Svæinn {} letu retta stæin æftiʀ {} Ulfrik, {} faðurfaður sinn. {} Hann hafði a Ænglandi tu giald takit. {} Guð hialpi þæiʀa fæðga salu ok Guðs moðiʀ.
"And Danr and Húskarl and Sveinn had the stone erected in memory of Ulfríkr, their father's father. He had taken two payments in England. May God and God's mother help the souls of the father and son."[8]
U 344
U 344
The runestone U 344, in the style Pr3, was found in 1868, at Yttergärde, by Richard Dybeck,[9] but it is today raised at the church of Orkesta, see Orkesta Runestones. Together with U 194, it is considered to be the earliest example of the Urnes style in Uppland.[5]
The runes are written from right to left with the orientation of the runes going in the same direction, but the last words outside the runic band have the usual left-right orientation.[9] It can be dated to the first half of the 11th century because of its use of the ansuz rune for the a and æ phonemes, and because of its lack of dotted runes.[10]
This stone is notable because it commemorates that the VikingUlf of Borresta had taken three danegelds in England.[9] The first one was with Skagul Toste in 991,[11] the second one with Thorkel the High in 1012[11] and the last one with Canute the Great in 1018.[11] Since there were many years between the danegelds, it is likely that Ulfr returned to Sweden after each danegeld to live as a wealthy magnate.[12][13]
En Ulfʀ hafiʀ a Ænglandi {} þry giald takit. Þet vas fyrsta þet's Tosti ga[l]t. {} Þa [galt] Þorkætill. {} Þa galt Knutr.
"And Ulfr has taken three payments in England. That was the first that Tosti paid. Then Þorketill paid. Then Knútr paid."[14]
U 539
Side C of U 539
This runestone is located at the church of Husby-Sjuhundra. It is one of the older runestones as it is in the style RAK. It is raised in memory of Sveinn who intended to go to England but died en route in Jutland. Omeljan Pritsak comments that Sveinn probably died in the Limfjord, Jutland, as the fjord was usually the starting point for campaigns against England.[15] Jansson dates Svein's death to 1015, when Canute the Great's great invasion fleet had been assembled in the Limfjord, a fleet that had many young warriors from Uppland.[16] When the fleet departed for England, Sveinn was no longer aboard.[16]
The hope that God and God's mother would treat the man better than he deserved is an expression that appears on several runestones, and it is not understood as an expression of his having a bad character but it is a request that he should be favoured in the afterlife.[17]
A
tiarfʀ
Diarfʀ
×
uki
ok
×
urika
Orøkia
×
uk
ok
'
uiki
Vigi
×
uk
ok
×
iukiʀ
Iogæiʀʀ
×
uk
ok
×
kiʀialmʀ
Gæiʀhialmʀ,
×
þiʀ
þæiʀ
bryþr
brøðr
×
aliʀ
alliʀ
×
litu
letu
×
risa
ræisa
×
tiarfʀ × uki × urika × uk ' uiki × uk × iukiʀ × uk × kiʀialmʀ × þiʀ bryþr × aliʀ × litu × risa ×
Diarfʀ {} ok {} Orøkia {} ok {} Vigi {} ok {} Iogæiʀʀ {} ok {} Gæiʀhialmʀ, {} þæiʀ brøðr {} alliʀ {} letu {} ræisa {}
"Djarfr and Órœkja and Vígi and Jógeirr and Geirhjalmr, all of these brothers had"
B
stin
stæin
þina
þenna
×
iftiʀ
æftiʀ
×
suin
Svæin,
×
bruþur
broður
×
sin
sinn.
×
saʀ
Saʀ
×
uarþ
varð
×
tuþr
dauðr
a
a
×
iut(l)ati
Iutlandi.
×
on
Hann
skulti
skuldi
stin þina × iftiʀ × suin × bruþur × sin × saʀ × uarþ × tuþr a × iut(l)ati × on skulti
stæin þenna {} æftiʀ {} Svæin, {} broður {} sinn. {} Saʀ {} varð {} dauðr a {} Iutlandi. {} Hann skuldi
"this stone raised in memory of Sveinn, their brother. He died in Jútland. He meant to"
C
fara
fara
×
til
til
×
iklanþs
Ænglands.
×
kuþ
Guð
×
ialbi
hialpi
×
(o)ns
hans
×
at
and
uk
ok
salu
salu
×
uk|
ok
×|
kus
Guðs
muþiʀ
moðiʀ
×
betr
bætr
×
þan
þan
an
hann
karþi
gærði
til
til.
fara × til × iklanþs × kuþ × ialbi × (o)ns × at uk salu × uk| ×| kus muþiʀ × betr × þan an karþi til
fara {} til {} Ænglands. {} Guð {} hialpi {} hans {} and ok salu {} ok {} Guðs moðiʀ {} bætr {} þan hann gærði til.
"travel to England. May God and God's mother help his spirit and soul better than he deserved."[18]
U 616
U 616
This runestone is located at Tång, and it is raised in memory of a man who died in battle in England. It is classified as being carved in runestone style Pr1, but the runemaster is considered to have had little experience in the craft. The runic text contains a bind rune, which is a ligature combining two runes, for an a-rune and a l-rune, which may have been done simply to save space.[19]
fir--(r)iui
<fir--riui>
:
lit
let
rita
retta
*
kuml
kuml
:
yfitiʀr
æftiʀ
:
fnþur
faður
:
sih
sinn
:
baosa
Bosa(?)/Bausa(?)
:
auk
ok
:
boruþur
broður
:
kuru-
<kuru->.
*
kuþ
Guð
hi=a=l-...
hial[pi]
*
ul
<ul>
kuru
<kuru>
-ial
[f]ioll
uti
uti
*
a|
a
|akla--
Ængla[ndi].
fir--(r)iui: lit rita * kuml: yfitiʀr: fnþur: sih: baosa: auk: boruþur: kuru- * kuþ hi=a=l-... * ul kuru -ial uti * a| |akla--
<fir--riui> {} let retta {} kuml {} æftiʀ {} faður {} sinn {} Bosa(?)/Bausa(?) {} ok {} broður {} <kuru->. {} Guð hial[pi] {} <ul><kuru> [f]ioll uti {} a Ængla[ndi].
"<fir--riui> had the monument erected in memory of his father Bósi(?)/Bausi(?) and (his) brother <kuru->. May God help <ul><kuru> fell abroad in England."[20]
U 812
U 812
This runestone is carved in runestone style Pr2 and was raised at the church of Hjälsta. It was raised in memory of a man's father who died in England. Based on its size and runic text, it has been suggested that U 812 was once part of a coupled monument located in a cemetery, but that the runestone with the first half of the overall text has been lost.[21] Other pairs of runestones that may have formed a coupled monument in a cemetery are U 49 and U 50 in Lovö and Sö Fv1948;282 and Sö 134 in Ludgo.[21]
×
faþur
faður
×
sin
sinn.
×
saʀ
Saʀ
×
uarþ
varð
×
tauþr
dauðr
×
o
a
eg×loti
Ænglandi.
×
× faþur × sin × saʀ × uarþ × tauþr × o eg×loti ×
{} faður {} sinn. {} Saʀ {} varð {} dauðr {} a Ænglandi. {}
This stone is located in the wall of the church of Gamla Uppsala. It is carved in runestone style Pr2 and made of sandstone. It was made by a man who called himself "traveller to England" in memory of his father.
"Sigviðr, traveller to England, raised this stone in memory of Védjarfr, (his) father ... ... ..."[23]
U 1181
U 1181
This fragmented runestone is classified as being carved in the runestone style Fp and is located at Lilla Runhällen. It was raised by a man who had travelled to England in memory of himself.
"... had (the stone) cut ... (in memory of) himself, traveller to England, grandfather of <kunu-s>."[24]
Södermanland
There are six known runestones in Södermanland that mention men who had travelled to England.
Sö 46
Sö 46
This runestone was found in Hormesta, and it is one of the older runestones as it is classified as being carved in runestone style RAK, which is considered to be the oldest style. It is raised by two men in memory of their brother who died in England.
Æskell {} ok {} Gnauðimandr(?) {} ræistu {} stæin {} þannsi {} at {} broður {} sinn {} Sværra(?), {} es {} varð {} dauðr {} a {} Ænglandi. Kumbl {} giærðu {} þatsi {} Kætill [ok] Stakkʀ.
"Áskell and Gnauðimaðr(?) raised this stone in memory of their brother Sverri(?), who died in England. Ketill and Stakkr made this monument."[25]
Sö 55
Sö 55
This runestone in Bjudby was raised by a man in memory of his son Hefnir who went to England and back, and instead of having a warrior's death overseas, he died at home. Due to the use of the ansuz rune for the o phoneme, Erik Brate argues that Hefnir participated in a late 11th-century expedition to England.[26] He suggests that Hefnir was part of the invasion force sent to England by Sweyn Estridsson, in 1069, and which was intended to defeat William the Conqueror's Normans.[27] The invasion had been planned for two years, but William the conqueror bought off the commander of the force who was Sweyn Estridsson's brother Asbjörn.[27] The inscription is in runestone style Pr2 and was carved by two runemasters whose names are normalized as Slóði and Brúni. Brúni's signature is also on Sö178 at Gripsholm Castle.
Þorstæinn le[t ræi]sa {} stæin {} þenna {} [æftiʀ] sik {} sialfan {} ok {} sun {} sinn {} Hæfni. {} Vaʀ til {} Ænglands {} ungʀ {} drængʀ {} farinn, {} varð {} þa {} hæima {} at {} harmi dauðr. Guð hialpi {} sialu {} þæiʀa. Bruni {} ok {} Sloði {} þæiʀ [rist]u stæin þenna.
"Þorsteinn had this stone raised in memory of himself and his son Hefnir. The young valiant man travelled to England; then died grievously at home. May God help their souls. Brúni and Slóði, they carved this stone."[28]
This runestone has disappeared, but it was located at the church of Tumbo. It is classified as possibly being in runestone style Pr4. The inscription has been attributed based on stylistic analysis to the runemaster Näsbjörn, and what little remained of the stone when it was discovered said that a man drowned in England.
This runestone is located at the church of Råby. Like the Kolsta Runestone, it is raised in memory of a man who died in the assembly retinue (þingalið) in England.[15]
:
aybirn
Øybiorn
:
raisþi
ræisþi
:
stain
stæin
:
þansi
þannsi
:
at
at
:
karþi
Skærði.
:
han
Hann
uarþ
varð
:
tauþr
dauðr
:
o|
a
|oklati
Ænglandi
i
i
liþi
liði.
: aybirn: raisþi: stain: þansi: at: karþi: han uarþ: tauþr: o| |oklati i liþi
{} Øybiorn {} ræisþi {} stæin {} þannsi {} at {} Skærði. {} Hann varð {} dauðr {} a Ænglandi i liði.
"Eybjǫrn raised this stone in memory of Skerðir. He died in the retinue in England."[30]
Sö 166
Sö 166
This runestone which is located in Grinda is in the style RAK. It is raised in memory of a father who divided up gold in England and attacked some towns in northern Germany. According to Omeljan Pritsak, the gold which was divided was part of the danegeld,[31] and Erik Brate argues that it was the same expedition as the one mentioned on the Berga Runestone.[32]
"Grjótgarðr (and) Einriði, the sons made (the stone) in memory of (their) able father. Guðvér was in the west; divided (up) payment in England; manfully attacked townships in Saxony."[33]
Sö 207
Sö 207
This runestone is located at the church of Överselö. It is made of sandstone and carved in runestone style Fp. It is in memory of a father who travelled to England.
kuþr...
Guð...
...
...
(f)aþur
faður
sin
sinn.
*
fur
For
*
hfila
hæfila
*
hn
hann
*
til
til
*
iklans
Ænglands.
*
kuþ
Guð
halbi
hialpi
*
sil
sal
hns
hans.
kuþr... ... (f)aþur sin * fur * hfila * hn * til * iklans * kuþ halbi * sil hns
Guð... ... faður sinn. {} For {} hæfila {} hann {} til {} Ænglands. {} Guð hialpi {} sal hans.
"Guð-... ... his father. He competently travelled to England. May God help his soul."[34]
Västmanland
In Västmanland, there are three runestones that refer to voyages to England.
Vs 5
Vs 5
This runestone is located in the garden of the farm Vändle and it is tentatively categorized as being carved in runestone style Fp. It is raised in memory of a man who travelled to England.
<kra-hni-> {} let {} ræisa {} s[tæin] ... {} vas {} farinn {} til {} Ængla[nd]s. {} Do i {} Spiallbuða {} ... {} Hialpi {} Guð {} se[lu hans] ... Siggi {} hiogg {} [r]u[naʀ].
"<kra-hni-> had the stone raised ... travelled to England, died in Spjallboði's ... May God help his soul ... Siggi cut the runes."[35]
Vs 9
The runestone Vs 9
This runestone is located near the bridge of Saltängsbron and it is in the style Pr3. It is in memory of a man who died in England.
×
kisl
Gisl
×
lit
let
×
kera
gærva
×
buru
bro
×
eftʀ
æftiʀ
×
osl
Asl/ǫsl,
×
sun
sun
×
sin
sinn.
×
han
Hann
u(a)[rþ]
varð
×
tyþr
dauðr
×
a
a
eklati
Ænglandi.
×
kuþ
Guð
ialbi
hialpi
×
has
hans
×
ont
and
auk
ok
×
selu
selu.
× kisl × lit × kera × buru × eftʀ × osl × sun × sin × han u(a)[rþ] × tyþr × a eklati × kuþ ialbi × has × ont auk × selu
{} Gisl {} let {} gærva {} bro {} æftiʀ {} Asl/ǫsl, {} sun {} sinn. {} Hann varð {} dauðr {} a Ænglandi. {} Guð hialpi {} hans {} and ok {} selu.
"Gísl had the bridge made in memory of Ásl/ǫsl, his son. He died in England. May God help his spirit and soul."[36]
Vs 18
The runestone Vs 18
This runestone is located in Berga and is classified as being carved in runestone style Fp. It was carved by the same runemaster as the Ingvar runestone Vs 19. Similar to the inscription on U 194, the runic text has an example where a single rune was used for two consecutive letters with one at the end of one word and the other at the start of a second word.[6] The runemaster on both Vs 18 and Vs 19 used the same runes trekuþan which were transliterated to show two letters and separate words as trek| |kuþan. Vs 18 and Vs 19 were also sponsored by the same person, Gunnvaldr.
(k)hunaltr
Gunnaldr
*
liet
let
resa
ræisa
*
sthin
stæin
*
þensa
þennsa
*
iftir
æftiʀ
*
kerfast
Gæiʀfast,
*
sun
sun
sen
sinn,
*
trek|
dræng
|kuþan
goðan,
*
auk
ok
*
uas
vas
farin
farinn
*
til
til
eklans
Ænglands.
*
hiolbi
Hialpi
*
kuþ
Guð
*
salu
salu
*
hans
hans.
(k)hunaltr * liet resa * sthin * þensa * iftir * kerfast * sun sen * trek| |kuþan * auk * uas farin * til eklans * hiolbi * kuþ * salu * hans
Gunnaldr {} let ræisa {} stæin {} þennsa {} æftiʀ {} Gæiʀfast, {} sun sinn, {} dræng goðan, {} ok {} vas farinn {} til Ænglands. {} Hialpi {} Guð {} salu {} hans.
"Gunnvaldr had this stone raised in memory of Geirfastr, his son, a good valiant man. And (he) had travelled to England. May God help his soul."[37]
Gästrikland
In Gästrikland, there is only one runestone that mentions a voyage to England.
Gs 8
Gs 8
This is a fragment that remains of a runestone. It was found in 1927 in Västra Hästbo near the church of Torsåker, and today it is almost hidden behind a pillar inside the church. It is in sandstone and it is one of the older runestones as it is carved in runestone style RAK. This the classification for inscriptions with runic band ends which do not have any attached serpent or beast heads. The runic text indicates that it was raised in memory of a man who went to England. The last word has a bind rune that combines a k-rune and u-rune, but it has been suggested that this was done to correct an error made when carving the text.[38]
Asmundr ... ... Hann {} vas {} vestr {} {[ut a]} Ængla[n]di ...
"Ásmundr ... ... He was abroad in the west in England ..."[39]
Östergötland
In Östergötland, there are two runestones that mention men who travelled to England, and both men died there.
Ög 104
Ög 104
This runestone is located in Gillberga. It is in the style Fp and it is raised in memory of a brother who died in England. The stone is located near an ancient road and was raised to its current position in 1866.
"Rauðr raised this stone in memory of Tóki, his brother, a very good valiant man, who was killed in England."[40]
Ög Fv1950;341
Ög Fv1950;341
This runestone is dated to around 1025, and was raised in memory of a father who died in England. It was discovered in 1950 lying with the text downwards on the property of the farm Kallerstad, only 200 metres from Ög113. It was probably found in its original location since a road used to pass the stone. The stone had been broken into two pieces, but was reassembled and raised outside of the county museum of Linköping. The stone is in greyish red granite and it is 3.95 m tall (2.98 above soil) and 1.43 m wide, and the surface is quite weathered. The name Vígfastr is otherwise unattested on runestones and also the name Helga was quite rare.[41] It is carved in runestone style Fp.[42]
The Rundata designation for this Östergötland inscription, ÖgFv1950;341, refers to the year and page number of the issue of Fornvännen in which the runestone was first described.
...[b]ior[n] {} ok {} As[b]iorn {} þæiʀ {} ræistu {} stæin {} þasi {} æft[i]ʀ {} Vigfast, {} faður {} sinn, {} es vas {} dauðr {} a {} Ænglandi, {} sun {} Hælgu.
"...-bjǫrn and Ásbjǫrn, they raised this stone in memory of Vígfastr, their father, Helga's son. He died in England."[42]
Småland
In Småland, there are five or six runestones that mention voyages to England. One of them (Sm77) mentions a man who was a marshal (stallari) in England.
Sm 5
Sides B and C of Sm 5
This runestone is located in Transjö. It is one of the older stones as it is in the style RAK. The runes are unusual as the m-runes are dotted () and the k-runes have a stroke to the left instead of to the right. The stone was raised in memory of a son who died in England named Ketill, who was described as being óníðingr. Óníðingr, which with the ó- prefix means the opposite of the Old Norse pejorative word níðingr, was used to describe a man as being virtuous and is translated in the Rundata database as "unvillainous." It is used as a descriptive term on inscriptions Sö 189 in Åkerby, Sm 37 in Rörbro, Sm 147 in Vasta Ed, and DR 68 in Århus, and appears as a name or part of a name on inscriptions Ög 77 in Hovgården, Ög 217 in Oppeby, Sm 2 in Aringsås, and Sm 131 in Hjortholmen.[43] The text on Sm 5, Sm 37, and Ög 77 use the same exact phrase manna mæstr oniðingʀ or "most unvillainous of men" to describe the deceased,[43] and DR 68 uses a variant of this phrase.[44]
{} manna {} mæstr oniðingʀ, {} eʀ a {} Ænglandi {} aldri {} tyndi.
"the most unvillainous of men, who forfeited his life in England."[45]
Sm 27
Sm 27
This runestone is raised on the cemetery of the church of Berga. It is classified as being in runestone style RAK and it is consequently one of the older runestones. It is raised in memory of a man who died in England.
"Þórðr raised this/these(?) monument(s) ... met his end in England."[46]
Sm 29
Sm 29
This runestone is located in Ingelstad. It is carved in runestone style RAK and is consequently one of the older runestones. It was raised in memory of a father who died in England.
"... raised the stone in memory of Þorgeirr, his father. He met his end in England."[47]
Sm 77
Sm 77
This runestone is located in Sävsjö, and it is raised by Vrái in memory of a brother who died in England. Later, Vrái would also receive a memorial, the nearby Komstad Runestone which tells that Vrái had been the marshall (stallari) of an earl Hakon,[48] who was probably the earl Håkon Eiriksson.[16][31]
{} Vrai {} satti {} stæin {} þannsi {} æftiʀ {} Gunna, {} broður {} sinn. {} Hann {} vaʀ dauðr {} a {} Ænglandi.
"Vrái placed this stone in memory of Gunni, his brother. He died in England."[49]
Sm 101
Sm 101
The Nävelsjö runestone is located at the estate of Nöbbelesholm, and it is raised in memory of a father who died in England and was buried by his brother in Bath, Somerset.
This runestone is located in Västanåker and is classified as being carved in runestone style RAK. It was raised as a memorial to a son who died in England.
...
...
risti
ræisti
×
stin
stæin
×
iftiʀ
æftiʀ
×
kurmar
Guðmar(?),
×
sun
sun
×
sin
sinn.
+
iaʀ
Eʀ
×
uaʀ
vaʀ
+
trbin
drepinn
×
a
a
×
iklanti
Ænglandi.
×
... risti × stin × iftiʀ × kurmar × sun × sin + iaʀ × uaʀ + trbin × a × iklanti ×
... ræisti {} stæin {} æftiʀ {} Guðmar(?), {} sun {} sinn. {} Eʀ {} vaʀ {} drepinn {} a {} Ænglandi. {}
"... raised the stone in memory of Guðmarr(?), his son, who was killed in England."[52]
Vg 187
Vg 187
This runestone is located at the church of Vist. It is carved in runestone style RAK and it is thus one of the older runestones. It was raised in memory of a brother who died in England.
+
giʀi
Gæiʀi
*
sati
satti
*
stin
stæin
*
þana
þenna
*
eftiʀ
æftiʀ
*
kuþa
Guða,
*
bruþur
broður
*
sin
sinn.
*
eʀ
Eʀ
*
a
a
ok*lanti
Ænglandi
*
altri
aldri
*
tynþi
tynði.
×
+ giʀi * sati * stin * þana * eftiʀ * kuþa * bruþur * sin * eʀ * a ok*lanti * altri * tynþi ×
{} Gæiʀi {} satti {} stæin {} þenna {} æftiʀ {} Guða, {} broður {} sinn. {} Eʀ {} a Ænglandi {} aldri {} tynði. {}
"Geiri placed this stone in memory of Guði, his brother, who forfeited his life in England."[53]
Scania
DR 337
Both sides of DR 337
This runestone is located in Valleberga at "runestone hill" in Lund. It is one of the older runestones as it is classified as being carved in runestone style RAK.
A
:
suin
Swen
:
auk
ok
:
þurgutr
Þorgotr/Þorgundr
:
kiaurþu
gærþu
:
kubl
kumbl
:
þisi
þæssi
¶
eftiʀ
æftiʀ
:
mana
Manna
¶
auk
ok
*
suina
Swena.
: suin: auk: þurgutr: kiaurþu: kubl: þisi ¶ eftiʀ: mana ¶ auk * suina
{} Swen {} ok {} Þorgotr/Þorgundr {} gærþu {} kumbl {} þæssi {} æftiʀ {} Manna {} ok {} Swena.
"Sveinn and Þorgautr/Þorgunn made this monument in memory of Manni and Sveini."
"May God well help their souls. And they lie in London."[54]
Germany
DR 6
Runestone DR 6; the inscriptions are ordered C, B, A
This runestone is located in Schleswig Cathedral. The ornamentation shows that it was made by a Swede. It was made in memory of a man who lay dead in a location called Skía in Old Norse in England. According to Omeljan Pritsak, Skía was probably Shoebury in Essex or Skidby in Yorkshire.[55]
It is possible that it was made in memory of a Viking warrior who died in service of king Canute the Great,[59] and the creature on the stone may represent Sleipnir, Odin's eight-legged horse.[60]
:
k-na
G[i]nna(?)/G[í]na(?)
:
let
lét
:
legia
leggja
:
st¶in
stein
:
þensi
þenna
:
auk
ok
:
tuki
Tóki.
:
: k-na: let: legia: st¶in: þensi: auk: tuki:
{} G[i]nna(?)/G[í]na(?) {} lét {} leggja {} stein {} þenna {} ok {} Tóki. {}
"Ginna(?)/Gína(?) had this stone laid and (i.e. with) Tóki."
Norway
N 184
N 184
This runestone is located in Galteland in Aust-Agder. It is an older runestone as it is classified as being in runestone style RAK. It was raised in memory of a son who died in service with the army of Canute the Great when he attacked England.
arn×[stin]
Arnsteinn
×
risti
reisti
×
stin
stein
×
þi[na]
þenna
×
iftir
eptir
×
bior
Bjór,
×
[s]un
son
×
sin
sinn.
×
[sa
Sá
×
uar]
varð
tuþr
dauðr
×
i
í
liþi
liði,
×
þ[(o)s
þá's
×
knutr
Knútr
soti
sótti
×
iklot
England.
+]
¶
×
in
Einn
is
er
ko[þ]
Guð.
arn×[stin] × risti × stin × þi[na] × iftir × bior × [s]un × sin × [sa × uar] tuþr × i liþi × þ[(o)s × knutr soti × iklot +] ¶ × in is ko[þ]
Arnsteinn {} reisti {} stein {} þenna {} eptir {} Bjór, {} son {} sinn. {} Sá {} varð dauðr {} í liði, {} þá's {} Knútr sótti {} England. {} {} {} Einn er Guð.
"Arnsteinn raised this stone in memory of Bjórr his son who died in the retinue when Knútr attacked England. God is one."[61]
↑ Simon Keynes: The Burial of King Æthelred the Unready at St Paul’s. W: The English and Their Legacy, 900-1200. Essays in Honour of Ann Williams. edited by David Roffe. Woodbridge: Boydell Press, 2012, s. 141-142. ISBN978-1-84383-794-7.
Jansson, Sven B. F. (1980). Runstenar. STF, Stockholm. ISBN91-7156-015-7
Jansson, Sven B. F. (1987), Runes in Sweden, Gidlunds, ISBN917844067X
MacLeod, Mindy (2002). Bind-Runes: An Investigation of Ligatures in Runic Epigraphy. Uppsala Universitet. ISBN91-506-1534-3.
Naumann, Hans-Peter (1994). ""Hann var manna mestr oniðingr": Zer Poetizität Metrischer Runeninschriften". In Hoops, Johannes; Beck, Heinrich (eds.). Reallexikon der Germanischen Altertumskunde (in German). Berlin: Walter de Gruyter. pp.490–502. ISBN3-11-012978-7.
Peterson, Lena. Nordisk Runnamslexikon at the Swedish Institute for Linguistics and Heritage (Institutet för språk och folkminnen).
Pritsak, Omeljan. (1981). The Origin of Rus'. Cambridge, Mass.: Distributed by Harvard University Press for the Harvard Ukrainian Research Institute. ISBN0-674-64465-4
The Funbo runestones constitute a group of four runestones originally from Funbo in the province of Uppland, Sweden, which were raised by members of the same family during the eleventh century.
The Färentuna runestones are 11th century runestones labelled U 20, U 21, and U 22 in the Rundata catalog that are located in Färentuna, Uppland, Sweden. Runestones U 20 and U 21 were registered separately although they come from the same original runestone and consequently are called U 20/21. The runestone U 20/U 21 is probably most interesting as it, together with the Hillersjö stone and the Snottsta and Vreta stones, tells the story of the family of Gerlög and Inga. All of the Färentuna runestones are inscribed in the younger futhark.
The Snottsta and Vreta stones are individual runestones known as U 329, U 330, U 331 and U 332. They are found on the homesteads of Snottsta and Vreta, and they tell in Old Norse with the younger futhark about the family story of Gerlög and Inga in 11th century Uppland, Sweden, together with the Hillersjö stone and the runestone U 20/21.
At Broby bro in Uppland, Sweden there are six runestones. U 139, U 140 and U 151 still stand by the road, but U 135, U 136 and U 137 have been moved a distance away from the road.
The Jarlabanke Runestones is the name of about 20 runestones written in Old Norse with the Younger Futhark rune script in the 11th century, in Uppland, Sweden.
The Hakon Jarl runestones are Swedish runestones from the time of Canute the Great.
The Ingvar runestones is the name of around 26 Varangian Runestones that were raised in commemoration of those who died in the Swedish Viking expedition to the Caspian Sea of Ingvar the Far-Travelled.
The Orkesta Runestones are a set of 11th-century runestones engraved in Old Norse with the Younger Futhark alphabet that are located at the church of Orkesta, northeast of Stockholm in Sweden.
The Lingsberg Runestones are two 11th-century runestones, listed as U 240 and U 241 in the Rundata catalog, and one fragment, U 242, that are engraved in Old Norse using the younger futhark. They are at the Lingsberg farm about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) east of Vallentuna, which is about 24 kilometres (15 mi) north of the center of Stockholm, Stockholm County, Sweden, which was part of the former province of Uppland.
The Greece runestones are about 30 runestones containing information related to voyages made by Norsemen to the Byzantine Empire. They were made during the Viking Age until about 1100 and were engraved in the Old Norse language with Scandinavian runes. All the stones have been found in modern-day Sweden, the majority in Uppland and Södermanland. Most were inscribed in memory of members of the Varangian Guard who never returned home, but a few inscriptions mention men who returned with wealth, and a boulder in Ed was engraved on the orders of a former officer of the Guard.
The Tillinge Runestone, designated as U 785 under Rundata, is a Viking Age memorial runestone that was found at the church of Tillinge in Uppland, Sweden.
The Risbyle Runestones are two runestones found near the western shore of Lake Vallentunasjön in Uppland, Sweden, dating from the Viking Age.
The Varangian Runestones are runestones in Scandinavia that mention voyages to the East or the Eastern route, or to more specific eastern locations such as Garðaríki in Eastern Europe.
The Viking runestones are runestones that mention Scandinavians who participated in Viking expeditions. This article treats the runestone that refer to people who took part in voyages abroad, in western Europe, and stones that mention men who were Viking warriors and/or died while travelling in the West. However, it is likely that all of them do not mention men who took part in pillaging. The inscriptions were all engraved in Old Norse with the Younger Futhark. The runestones are unevenly distributed in Scandinavia: Denmark has 250 runestones, Norway has 50 while Iceland has none. Sweden has as many as between 1,700 and 2,500 depending on definition. The Swedish district of Uppland has the highest concentration with as many as 1,196 inscriptions in stone, whereas Södermanland is second with 391.
The Baltic area runestones are Viking runestones in memory of men who took part in peaceful or warlike expeditions across the Baltic Sea, where Finland and the Baltic states are presently located.
The Gällsta Runestones from the 11th century commemorate four generations of the same family in Viking Age Sweden. There are three runestones and a raised stone which is only inscribed with a cross. The runestones are located at the northern outskirts of Stockholm, just northwest of the lake Vallentunasjön, around which is found the world's greatest concentration of runestones. All the Gällsta Runestones are attributed to Öpir, the most productive of all the old runemasters.
Uppland Runic Inscription 1145, or U 1145 in the Rundata catalog, is a Viking Age memorial runestone that is located near the town of Tierp in Uppland, Sweden.
The Södermanland Runic Inscription 49 is a Viking Age runestone engraved in Old Norse with the Younger Futhark runic alphabet. The style of the runestone is a categorized as Fp. It is located in Ene in Nyköping Municipality.
The Södermanland Runic Inscription 333 is a Viking Age runestone engraved in Old Norse with the Younger Futhark runic alphabet. It is located at the abandoned Ärja Church in Strängnäs Municipality. The style of the runestone is a categorized as Fp.
The Uppland Runic Inscription 258 is a Viking Age runestone engraved in Old Norse with the Younger Futhark runic alphabet. It is in granite and located at Fresta Church in Upplands Väsby Municipality.
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