From The Vikings, by Robert Wernick and the editors of Time-Life Books (Alexandria, Va.:  Time-Life Books), p. 106: "For all their spectacular achievements as warriors, mariners and merchants, the Vikings left remarkably few written records.  But when they did inscribe their words - on gravestones, and markers, weapons, or amulets - the Norsemen wrote exclusively in runes, the ancient, magical letters of the gods." From Vikings, The North Atlantic Saga, edited by William W. Fitzhugh and Elizabeth I. Ward (Washington and London:  Smithsonian Institution Press), p. 67: "In total, between five thousand and six thousand runic inscriptions are known today, and more than three thousand of these are found in Sweden, mostly on runestones from the late Viking Age." "The primary function of runestones was for memorial purposes,..." From Runes and Their Origin, Denmark and Elsewhere, by Erik Moltke (The National Museum of Denmark, 1985), p. 69.  Concerning the rune writers, Moltke writes: "The 'scholars' of the Germanic tribes were hardly to be found among the men who stayed at home, tilling the soil, fishing and feuding, but rather among those who traveled, went abroad (with peaceful intent or not) and came into contact with other cultures.  And it was precisely this group which more than any other came to need the art of writing." Again, from Vikings, The North Atlantic Saga, p. 68: "Runestones bring together art, religion, and language into a single medium expressing the vibrant Viking culture.  Such stones were not grave markers but honored the life, death, and status of the deceased." "The inscriptions recount raiding expeditions and trade journeys, both to the west and the east.  Sometimes they actually correct erroneous literary sources:  for example, in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle the invaders in England are described as Danes, but runic inscriptions from many parts of Sweden, even from the Malar region in east Sweden, commemorate men who took part in the Viking attacks against England."

The following runic inscriptions should give the reader an idea of Sweden's extensive  involvement in the conquest and colonization of England: "Rauther raised this stone in memory of Toki, his brother, a very good and valiant man, who was killed in England." "Bjorn and Asbjorn, they raised this stone in memory of Vigfastr, their father, Helga's son. He died in England." "Askell and Gnauthimathr raised this stone in memory of their brother Sverri, who died in England. Ketill and Stakkr made this monument." "Thorsteinn 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. Bryni and Slothi, they carved this stone." "He drowned in England's..." "Eybjorn raised this stone in memory of Skerthir. He died in the retinue in England." "Guth... ...his father. He competently travelled to England. May God help his soul." "Gautr placed this stone in memory of Ketill his son. He was the most unvillainous of men, who forfeited his life in England." "...raised this stone in memory of Thorgeirr, his father. He met his end in England." "Vri placed this stone in memory of Gunni, his brother. He died in England." "Gunkell placed this stone in memory of Gunnarr, his father, Hrothi's son. Helgi, his brother, laid him in a stone coffin in Bath in England." "Geiri placed this stone in memory of Guthi, his broher, who forfeited his life in England." "Djafar and Aroekja and Vigi and Jogeirr and Geirhjalmr, all of these brothers, had this stone raised in memory of Sveinn, their brother. He died in Jutland. He meant to travel to England. May God and God's mother help his spirit and soul better than he deserved." "...his father, he died in England." "Sigvithr, traveller to England, raised this stone in memory of Vidjarfr, (his) father... ... ..." "...had (this stone) cut...(in memory of) himself, traveller to England, grandfather of Kunu-s." ""Kra-hni had this stone raised...traveled to England, died in Spjallbothi's...May God help his soul...Siggi cut the runes." "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." "Hvatgeirr(?) and Heilgeirr(?) raised this stone in memory of Helgi, their father. He travelled to the west with the Vikings." "Asmundr"...(Farthegn's brother?)......"He was abroad in the west in England." It should be remembered that for every Swedish Viking that died in England, there were many more that survived. And for every one that returned to Scandinavia, there were many that stayed and made England their new home. Previous Page......Next Page