England Runestones

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Main article: Viking Runestones.

Runestones that mention expeditions outside of Scandinavia
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The England Runestones are 30 runestones that refer to Viking Age voyages to England. They constitute one of the largest group of runestones that mention voyages to other countries, and they are comparable in number only to the c. 30 Greece Runestones^[1] and the 26 Ingvar Runestones, of which the latter refer to a Viking expedition to the Middle East. They were engraved in Old Norse with the Younger Futhark.

Though the Scandinavians who raided England were usually indiscriminately called Danes, the vast majority of the runestones, 27, were raised in modern-day Sweden and 17 in the oldest Swedish provinces around lake Mälaren. In contrast, modern-day Denmark has no such runestones, but there is one presumably Danish runestone in Scania that mentions London. There is also an England runestone in Norway and a Swedish one in Schleswig, Germany.

Below follows a presentation of the runestones based on the Rundata project. The transcriptions into Old Norse are mostly in the Swedish and Danish dialect to facilitate comparison with the inscriptions, while the English translation provided by Rundata gives the names in the de facto standard dialect (the Icelandic and Norwegian dialect):

Contents 1 Uppland 1.1 U 194 1.1.1 Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters 1.1.2 Transcription into Old Norse 1.1.3 Translation in English 1.2 U 241 1.2.1 Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters 1.2.2 Transcription into Old Norse 1.2.3 Translation in English 1.3 U 344 1.3.1 Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters 1.3.2 Transcription into Old Norse 1.3.3 Translation in English 1.4 U 539 1.4.1 Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters 1.4.2 Transcription into Old Norse 1.4.3 Translation in English 1.5 U 616 1.5.1 Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters 1.5.2 Transcription into Old Norse 1.5.3 Translation in English 1.6 U 812 1.6.1 Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters 1.6.2 Transcription into Old Norse 1.6.3 Translation in English 1.7 U 978 1.7.1 Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters 1.7.2 Transcription into Old Norse 1.7.3 Translation in English 1.8 U 1181 1.8.1 Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters 1.8.2 Transcription into Old Norse 1.8.3 Translation in English 2 Södermanland 2.1 Sö 46 2.1.1 Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters 2.1.2 Transcription into Old Norse 2.1.3 Translation in English 2.2 Sö 55 2.2.1 Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters 2.2.2 Transcription into Old Norse 2.2.3 Translation in English 2.3 Sö 83 2.3.1 Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters 2.3.2 Transcription into Old Norse 2.3.3 Translation in English 2.4 Sö 160 2.4.1 Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters 2.4.2 Transcription into Old Norse 2.4.3 Translation in English 2.5 Sö 166 2.5.1 Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters 2.5.2 Transcription into Old Norse 2.5.3 Translation in English 2.6 Sö 207 2.6.1 Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters 2.6.2 Transcription into Old Norse 2.6.3 Translation in English 3 Västmanland 3.1 Vs 5 3.1.1 Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters 3.1.2 Transcription into Old Norse 3.1.3 Translation in English 3.2 Vs 9 3.2.1 Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters 3.2.2 Transcription into Old Norse 3.2.3 Translation in English 3.3 Vs 18 3.3.1 Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters 3.3.2 Transcription into Old Norse 3.3.3 Translation in English 4 Gästrikland 4.1 Gs 8 4.1.1 Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters 4.1.2 Transcription into Old Norse 4.1.3 Translation in English 5 Östergötland 5.1 Ög 104 5.1.1 Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters 5.1.2 Transcription into Old Norse 5.1.3 Translation in English 5.2 Ög Fv1950;341 5.2.1 Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters 5.2.2 Transcription into Old Norse 5.2.3 Translation in English 6 Småland 6.1 Sm 5 6.1.1 Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters 6.1.2 Transcription into Old Norse 6.1.3 Translation in English 6.2 Sm 27 6.2.1 Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters 6.2.2 Transcription into Old Norse 6.2.3 Translation in English 6.3 Sm 29 6.3.1 Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters 6.3.2 Transcription into Old Norse 6.3.3 Translation in English 6.4 Sm 77 6.4.1 Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters 6.4.2 Transcription into Old Norse 6.4.3 Translation in English 6.5 Sm 101 6.5.1 Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters 6.5.2 Transcription into Old Norse 6.5.3 Translation in English 6.6 Sm 104 6.6.1 Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters 6.6.2 Transcription into Old Norse 6.6.3 Translation in English 7 Västergötland 7.1 Vg 20 7.1.1 Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters 7.1.2 Transcription into Old Norse 7.1.3 Translation in English 7.2 Vg 187 7.2.1 Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters 7.2.2 Transcription into Old Norse 7.2.3 Translation in English 8 Scania 8.1 DR 337 8.1.1 Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters 8.1.2 Transcription into Old Norse 8.1.3 Translation in English 9 Germany 9.1 DR 6 9.1.1 Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters 9.1.2 Transcription into Old Norse 9.1.3 Translation in English 10 Norway 10.1 N 184 10.1.1 Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters 10.1.2 Transcription into Old Norse 10.1.3 Translation in English 11 Notes 12 Sources 13 External links

[edit] Uppland

[edit] 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 in style Pr3 and together with U 344, it is considered to be the earliest example of the Urnes style in Uppland.^[2]

[edit] Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters

al|i| |l|it raisa stain þino| |oftiR sik sialfan ' hon tuk| |knuts kialt a| |anklanti ' kuþ hialbi hons ant

[edit] Transcription into Old Norse

Ali/Alli let ræisa stæin þenna æftiR sik sialfan. Hann tok Knuts giald a Ænglandi. Guð hialpi hans and.

[edit] Translation in English

Áli/Alli had this stone raised in memory of himself. He took Knútr's payment in England. May God help his spirit.

[edit] U 241

This runestone is one of the Lingsberg Runestones. It is located on the courtyard of the estate Lingsberg in Uppland, Sweden. It was raised by the grandchildren of Ulfríkr in commemoration of his receiving two danegelds in England. It is in the style Pr3.

[edit] Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters

n tan auk huskarl ' auk sua(i)n ' l(i)tu rita stin aftiR ' ulfrik ' faþurfaþur sino ' hon hafþi o| |onklanti tuh kialt| |takit + kuþ hialbi þiRa kiþka salu| |uk| |kuþs muþ(i)

[edit] Transcription into Old Norse

En Dan ok Huskarl ok Svæinn letu retta stæin æftiR Ulfrik, faðurfaður sinn. Hann hafði a Ænglandi tu giald takit. Guð hialpi þæiRa fæðga salu ok Guðs moðiR.

[edit] Translation in English

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.

[edit] U 344

The runestone U 344, in the style Pr3, was found in 1868, at Yttergärde, by Richard Dybeck,^[3] 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.^[2]

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.^[3] 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 phomenes, and because of its lack of dotted runes.^[4]

This stone is notable because it commemorates that the Viking Ulf of Borresta had taken three danegelds in England.^[3] The first one was with Skagul Toste in 991,^[5] the second one with Thorkel the High in 1012^[5] and the last one with Canute the Great in 1018.^[5] Since there were many years between the danegelds, it is likely that Ulfr returned to Sweden after each danegeld to live as as a wealthy magnate.^[6] It is a remarkable feat in itself to summarize his adventurous life in so few unsentimental words.^[6][7]

[edit] Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters

in ulfr hafiR o| |onklati ' þru kialt| |takat þit uas fursta þis tusti ka-t ' þ(a) ---- (þ)urktil ' þa kalt knutr

[edit] Transcription into Old Norse

En UlfR hafiR a Ænglandi þry giald takit. Þet vas fyrsta þet's Tosti ga[l]t. Þa [galt] Þorkætill. Þa galt Knutr.

[edit] Translation in English

And Ulfr has taken three payments in England. That was the first that Tosti paid. Then Þorketill paid. Then Knútr paid.

[edit] 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 on 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.^[8] 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.^[9] When the fleet departed for England, Sveinn was no longer aboard.^[9]

The hope that God and God's mother would treat the man better than he deserved is not understood as an expression of his having a bad character but a request that he should be favoured in the afterlife.

[edit] Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters

• A tiarfR × uki × urika × uk ' uiki × uk × iukiR × uk × kiRialmR × þiR bryþr × aliR × litu × risa ×
• B stin þina × iftiR × suin × bruþur × sin × saR × uarþ × tuþr a × iut(l)ati × on skulti
• C fara × til × iklanþs × kuþ × ialbi × (o)ns × at uk salu × uk| ×| kus muþiR × betr × þan an karþi til

[edit] Transcription into Old Norse

• A DiarfR ok Orøkia ok Vigi ok IogæiRR ok GæiRhialmR, þæiR brøðr alliR letu ræisa
• B stæin þenna æftiR Svæin, broður sinn. SaR varð dauðr a Iutlandi. Hann skuldi
• C fara til Ænglands. Guð hialpi hans and ok salu ok Guðs moðiR bætr þan hann gærði til.

[edit] Translation in English

• A Djarfr and Órœkja and Vígi and Jógeirr and Geirhjalmr, all of these brothers had
• B this stone raised in memory of Sveinn, their brother. He died in Jútland. He meant to
• C travel to England. May God and God's mother help his spirit and soul better than he deserved.

[edit] 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 in the style Pr1, but the runemaster is considered to have had little experience in the craft.

[edit] Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters

fir--(r)iui : lit rita * kuml : yfitiRr : fnþur : sih : baosa : auk : boruþur : kuru- * kuþ hi=a=l-... * ul kuru -ial uti * a| |akla--

[edit] Transcription into Old Norse

<fir--riui> let retta kuml æftiR faður sinn Bosa(?)/Bausa(?) ok broður <kuru->. Guð hial[pi] <ul> <kuru> [f]ioll uti a Ængla[ndi].

[edit] Translation in English

<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.

[edit] U 812

This runestone in the style Pr2 is raised at the church of Hjälsta. It is raised in memory of a man's father who died in England.

[edit] Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters

× faþur × sin × saR × uarþ × tauþr × o eg×loti ×

[edit] Transcription into Old Norse

faður sinn. SaR varð dauðr a Ænglandi.

[edit] Translation in English

his father. He died in England.

[edit] U 978

This stone is located in the wall of the church of Gamla Uppsala. It is in the style Pr2 and it is made of sandstone. It was made by a man who called himself "traveller to England" in memory of his father.

[edit] Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters

sihuiþr ...-i + stain + þina + iklats+fari + iftir + uitarf + faþ(u)(r) [+ -... ...sia]... ...ku---

[edit] Transcription into Old Norse

Sigviðr [ræist]i stæin þenna Ænglandsfari æftiR Vidiarf, faður ... ... ...

[edit] Translation in English

Sigviðr, traveller to England, raised this stone in memory of Védjarfr, (his) father ... ... ...

[edit] U 1181

This fragmented runestone in style Fp is located at Lilla Runhällen and it was raised by a man who had travelled to England in memory of himself.

[edit] Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters

...-(i) × lit × (a)kua ... ...[k × sa](l)fan × ek-...ns*fari ' a(f)i × kunu-s *

[edit] Transcription into Old Norse

... let haggva ... [si]k sialfan, Æng[la]ndsfari, afi <kunu-s>.

[edit] Translation in English

... had (the stone) cut ... (in memory of) himself, traveller to England, grandfather of <kunu-s>.

[edit] Södermanland

[edit] Sö 46

This runestone was found in Hormesta, and it is one of the older runestone being in style RAK. It is raised by two men in memory of their brother who died in England.

[edit] Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters

iskil : auk : knauþimanr : raistu : stain : þansi : at : bruþur : sin : suera : as : uarþ : tauþr * o * eklanti kuml * kiarþu : þatsi : [kitil slakR]

[edit] Transcription into Old Norse

Æskell ok Gnauðimandr(?) ræistu stæin þannsi at broður sinn Sværra(?), es varð dauðr a Ænglandi. Kumbl giærðu þatsi Kætill [ok] StakkR.

[edit] Translation in English

Áskell and Gnauðimaðr(?) raised this stone in memory of their brother Sverri(?), who died in England. Ketill and Stakkr made this monument.

[edit] Sö 55

This runestone in Bjudby is style Pr2 and it is 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.^[10] 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.^[11] 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.^[11]

[edit] Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters

þorstain (l)(i)... ...sa : stain : þena : ... sik : sialfan : auk : sun : sin : hefni : uaR til : enklans : ukr : trenkr : farin : uarþ : þa * haima : at : harmi tauþr kuþ hialbi : sialu : þaima bruni : auk : sloþi : þaiR ...(u) stan þena

[edit] Transcription into Old Norse

Þorstæinn le[t ræi]sa stæin þenna [æftiR] sik sialfan ok sun sinn Hæfni. VaR til Ænglands ungR drængR farinn, varð þa hæima at harmi dauðr. Guð hialpi sialu þæiRa. Bruni ok Sloði þæiR [rist]u stæin þenna.

[edit] Translation in English

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.

[edit] Sö 83

This runestone has disappeared but it was located at the church of Tumbo and it was possibly in style Pr4. It was made by the runemaster Näsbjörn, and what little remained of the stone when it was discovered said that a man drowned in England.

[edit] Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters

[...an : truknaþi : i eklans : han...]

[edit] Transcription into Old Norse

[H]ann drunknaði i Ænglands ...

[edit] Translation in English

He drowned in England's ...

[edit] Sö 160

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.^[12]

[edit] Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters

: aybirn : raisþi : stain : þansi : at : karþi : han uarþ : tauþr : o| |oklati i liþi

[edit] Transcription into Old Norse

Øybiorn ræisþi stæin þannsi at Skærði. Hann varð dauðr a Ænglandi i liði.

[edit] Translation in English

Eybjôrn raised this stone in memory of Skerðir. He died in the retinue in England.

[edit] Sö 166

This runestone which is located in Grinda is in the style RAK and is consequently one of the older runestones. 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,^[13] and Erik Brate argues that it was the same expedition as the one mentioned on the Berga Runestone.^[14]

[edit] Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters

: kriutkarþr : ainriþi : suniR : kiarþu : at : faþur : snialan : kuþuiR : uaR uastr : a : aklati : kialti : skifti : burkiR : a : sahks:lanti : suti : kaula

[edit] Transcription into Old Norse

Griutgarðr, Æinriði, syniR, giærðu at faður sniallan. GuðveR vaR vestr a Ænglandi, gialdi skifti, borgiR a Saxlandi sotti karla.

[edit] Translation in English

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.

[edit] Sö 207

This runestone is located at the church of Överselö. It is in sandstone and in the style Fp. It is in memory of a father who travelled to England.

[edit] Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters

kuþr... ... (f)aþur sin * fur * hfila * hn * til * iklans * kuþ halbi * sil hns

[edit] Transcription into Old Norse

Guð... ... faður sinn. For hæfila hann til Ænglands. Guð hialpi sal hans.

[edit] Translation in English

Guð-... ... his father. He competently travelled to England. May God help his soul.

[edit] Västmanland

[edit] Vs 5

This runestone is located in the garden of the farm Vändle and it is tentatively categorized as being in style Fp. It is raised in memory of a man who travelled to England.

[edit] Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters

[kra-hni- × lit × resa × s... ...] + uas × farin + til + ekla-s [× (t)u i × sbelbuþa × --s(a)þu × helb]i × kuþ [× se... ... ... sigi * iuk × -u...]

[edit] Transcription into Old Norse

<kra-hni-> let ræisa s[tæin] ... vas farinn til Ængla[nd]s. Do i Spiallbuða ... Hialpi Guð se[lu hans] ... Siggi hiogg [r]u[naR].

[edit] Translation in English

<kra-hni-> had the stone raised ... travelled to England, died in Spjallboði's ... May God help his soul ... Siggi cut the runes.

[edit] 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.

[edit] Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters

× kisl × lit × kera × buru × eftR × osl × sun × sin × han u(a)[rþ] × tyþr × a eklati × kuþ ialbi × has × ont auk × selu

[edit] Transcription into Old Norse

Gisl let gærva bro æftiR Asl/Ôsl, sun sinn. Hann varð dauðr a Ænglandi. Guð hialpi hans and ok selu.

[edit] Translation in English

Gísl had the bridge made in memory of Ásl/Ôsl, his son. He died in England. May God help his spirit and soul.

[edit] Vs 18

This runestone is located in Berga and it is in the style Fp. It is made by the same runemaster as Ingvar runestone Vs 19.

[edit] Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters

(k)hunaltr * liet resa * sthin * þensa * iftir * kerfast * sun sen * trek| |kuþan * auk * uas farin * til eklans * hiolbi * kuþ * salu * hans

[edit] Transcription into Old Norse

Gunnaldr let ræisa stæin þennsa æftiR GæiRfast, sun sinn, dræng goðan, ok vas farinn til Ænglands. Hialpi Guð salu hans.

[edit] Translation in English

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.

[edit] Gästrikland

[edit] Gs 8

This is a fragment that remains of a runestone. It was found 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 in the style RAK. It was raised in memory of a man who went to England.

[edit] Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters

asmuntr -... ...faþ-... han : uas : uist : --- ikla-ti ...k=uust--

[edit] Transcription into Old Norse

Asmundr ... ... Hann vas vestr [ut a] Ængla[n]di ...

[edit] Translation in English

Ásmundr ... ... He was abroad in the west in England ...

[edit] Östergötland

[edit] 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.

[edit] Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters

: ruþr : risti : stin : þinsi : iftiR : tuk- : bruþur : sin : saR : uarþ : trbin : a : ilati : triR : arþa : kuþr :

[edit] Transcription into Old Norse

Rauðr ræisti stæin þennsi æftiR Tok[a], broður sinn, saR varð drepinn a Ænglandi, drængR harða goðr.

[edit] Translation in English

Rauðr raised this stone in memory of Tóki, his brother, a very good valiant man, who was killed in England.

[edit] Ög Fv1950;341

This runestone was found on the property of the farm Kallerstad, only 200 metres from Ög 113, but it is presently raised outside of the county museum of Linköping. It is raised in memory of a father who died in England.

[edit] Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters

...-iur- : auk : as-iurn : þiR : ristu : stin : þasi : eft-R : uikfast : faþur : sin : es uas : tuþr : o : eklati : sun : helgu

[edit] Transcription into Old Norse

...[b]ior[n] ok As[b]iorn þæiR ræistu stæin þasi æft[i]R Vigfast, faður sinn, es vas dauðr a Ænglandi, sun Hælgu.

[edit] Translation in English

...-bjôrn and Ásbjôrn, they raised this stone in memory of Vígfastr, their father, Helga's son. He died in England.

[edit] Småland

[edit] 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. It is raised in memory of a son who died in England.

[edit] Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters

• A : kotr : sati : sten : þana : eftR : ketil :
• B : sun : sin : han : faR :
• C : mana : mesr o:niþikR : eR a : eklati : ali : tunþi

[edit] Transcription into Old Norse

• A Gautr satti stæin þenna æftiR Kætil,
• B sun sinn. Hann vaR
• C manna mæstr oniðingR, eR a Ænglandi aldri tyndi.

[edit] Translation in English

• A Gautr placed this stone in memory of Ketill
• B his son. He was
• C the most unvillainous of men, who forfeited his life in England.

[edit] Sm 27

This runestone is raised on the cemetery of the church of Berga. It is in the style RAK and it is consequently one of the older runestones. It is raised in memory of a man who died in England.

[edit] Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters

--rþr * ris(t)i * kuml * þe... ... ...-aþis * o * eklanti *

[edit] Transcription into Old Norse

[Þo]rðr ræisti kumbl þe[ssi]/þe[tta] ... [ænd]aðis a Ænglandi.

[edit] Translation in English

Þórðr raised this/these(?) monument(s) ... met his end in England.

[edit] Sm 29

This runestone is located in Ingelstad. It is in the style RAK and it is consequently one of the older runestones. It was raised in memory of a father who died in England.

[edit] Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters

...r rsþi * stin * iftiR * þur--(R) * fa-ur * sin * saR * etaþis * o * -klanti *

[edit] Transcription into Old Norse

... ræisþi stæin æftiR Þor[gæi]R, fa[ð]ur sinn. SaR ændaðis a [Æ]nglandi.

[edit] Translation in English

... raised the stone in memory of Þorgeirr, his father. He met his end in England.

[edit] 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,^[15] who was probably the earl Håkon Eiriksson.^[13][16]

[edit] Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters

: urai : sati : stin : þonsi : eftiR : kuna : bruþur : sin : han : uaR tauþr : o : iklati

[edit] Transcription into Old Norse

Vrai satti stæin þannsi æftiR Gunna, broður sinn. Hann vaR dauðr a Ænglandi.

[edit] Translation in English

Vrái placed this stone in memory of Gunni, his brother. He died in England.

[edit] Sm 101

This 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.

[edit] Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters

: kun(t)(k)el : sati : sten : þansi : eftiR : kunar : faþur : sin : sun : hruþa : halgi : lagþi : han : i : sten:þr : bruþur : sin : a : haklati : i : baþum

[edit] Transcription into Old Norse

Gunnkell satti stæin þannsi æftiR Gunnar, faður sinn, sun Hroða. Hælgi lagði hann i stæinþro, broður sinn, a Ænglandi i Baðum.

[edit] Translation in English

Gunnkell placed this stone in memory of Gunnarr, his father, Hróði's son. Helgi, his brother, laid him in a stone coffin in Bath in England.

[edit] Sm 104

This fragment of a runestone is located in the porch of the church of Vetlanda and what remains appears to say "in the west in England".

[edit] Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters

...(l)ika : uastr * a * i...-ti

[edit] Transcription into Old Norse

... vestr a Æ[nglan]di(?).

[edit] Translation in English

... in the west in England(?).

[edit] Västergötland

[edit] Vg 20

This runestone is located in Västanåker, and it is in the style RAK. It is raised in memory of a son who died in England.

[edit] Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters

... risti × stin × iftiR × kurmar × sun × sin + iaR × uaR + trbin × a × iklanti ×

[edit] Transcription into Old Norse

... ræisti stæin æftiR Guðmar(?), sun sinn. ER vaR drepinn a Ænglandi.

[edit] Translation in English

... raised the stone in memory of Guðmarr(?), his son, who was killed in England.

[edit] Vg 187

This runestone is located at the church of Vist. It is in the style RAK and it is thus one of the older runestones. It is raised in memory of a brother who died in England.

[edit] Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters

+ giRi * sati * stin * þana * eftiR * kuþa * bruþur * sin * eR * a ok*lanti * altri * tynþi ×

[edit] Transcription into Old Norse

GæiRi satti stæin þenna æftiR Guða, broður sinn. ER a Ænglandi aldri tynði.

[edit] Translation in English

Geiri placed this stone in memory of Guði, his brother, who forfeited his life in England.

[edit] Scania

[edit] DR 337

This runestone is located in Valleberga at "runestone hill" in Lund. It is one of the older runestones as it is in the style RAK.

[edit] Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters

• A : suin : auk : þurgutr : kiaurþu : kubl : þisi ¶ eftiR : mana ¶ auk * suina
• B kuþ : hialbi : siaul : þeRa : uel : ian : þeR : likia : i : luntunum

[edit] Transcription into Old Norse

• A Swen ok Þorgotr/Þorgundr gærþu kumbl þæssi æftiR Manna ok Swena.
• B Guþ hialpi siol þeRa wæl, æn þeR liggia i Lundunum.

[edit] Translation in English

• A Sveinn and Þorgautr/Þorgunn made this monument in memory of Manni and Sveini.
• B May God well help their souls. And they lie in London.

[edit] Germany

[edit] DR 6

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 Shoeburg in Essex or Skidby in Yorkshire.^[17]

[edit] Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters

• A ... l(i)t (:) r(i)(s)(a) : stain : e...
• B ...-an : s(u)(l)... ¶ ... ...(a)uþr : ... ¶ ...(n) : auk : kuþmuntr : þaR [:] [r]... ...[(a)R]
• C : a enklanti : i skiu (:) -uilis : kr... ... ...

[edit] Transcription into Old Norse

• B ... ... ... [d]øþr ... ... ok Guþmundr þeR r[istu run]aR.
• C A Ænglandi i Skiu [h]wilis. Kr[istr](?) ... ...

[edit] Translation in English

• A ... had the stone raised in memory of
• B ... ... ... dead ... ... and Guðmundr, they carved the runes.
• C (He) rests at Skía in England. Christ ... ...

[edit] Norway

[edit] N 184

This runestone is located in Galteland in Aust-Agder. It is an older runestone as it is in the style RAK. It was raised in memory of a son who died in the army of Canute the Great when he attacked England.

[edit] Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters

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]

[edit] Transcription into Old Norse

Arnsteinn reisti stein þenna eptir Bjór, son sinn. Sá varð dauðr í liði, þá's Knútr sótti England. Einn er Guð.

[edit] Translation in English

Arnsteinn raised this stone in memory of Bjórr his son who died in the retinue when Knútr attacked England. God is one.

[edit] Notes

[edit] Sources

• Brate, Erik. (1922). Sverges runinskrifter. Stockholm, Bokförlaget Natur och kultur.[1]
• Enoksen, Lars Magnar. (1998). Runor : historia, tydning, tolkning. Historiska Media, Falun. ISBN 91-88930-32-7
• Horn Fuglesang, Signe. (1998). Swedish runestones of the eleventh century: ornament and dating, Runeninschriften als Quellen interdisziplinärer Forschung (K.Düwel ed.). Göttingen
• Jansson, Sven B. (1980). Runstenar. STF, Stockholm. ISBN 91-7156-015-7
• Pritsak, Omeljan. (1981). The origin of Rus'. Cambridge, Mass.: Distributed by Harvard University Press for the Harvard Ukrainian Research Institute. ISBN 0-674-64465-4
• Nordisk runnamslexikon by Lena Peterson at the Swedish Institute for Linguistics and Heritage (Institutet för språk och folkminnen).
• Rundata

[edit] External links

• An English Dictionary of Runic Inscriptions of the Younger Futhark, at the university of Nottingham