Fornsigtuna
Encyclopedia
Fornsigtuna Old Sigtun, Sithun, Sign(h)ildsberg or Signesberg (59°37′N 17°39′E) is located in the parish of Håtuna ca 4 km west of the modern town of Sigtuna
, by lake Mälaren
, in Sweden
. Although the location is nearly forgotten, it has a central role in Norse mythology
.
, Snorri Sturluson
relates that Odin
and the Æsir
first arrived at Old Sigtuna when they came to Sweden:
Later the pirate Sölve
, arrived at Old Sigtuna to claim the Swedish throne:
In the part called the Saga of Olaf Haraldsson, the Norwegian king Olaf Haraldsson
makes shore at Old Sigtuna:
In Orvar-Odd
's saga, Hjalmar
laments his dying:
The location is also mentioned in other poems by the 11th century skalds Þjóðólfr Arnórssonhttp://skaldic.arts.usyd.edu.au/db.php?table=poems&id=443, Valgarðr á Vellihttp://skaldic.arts.usyd.edu.au/db.php?table=poems&id=496 and Arnórr Þórðarsonhttp://skaldic.arts.usyd.edu.au/db.php?table=poems&id=102.
tells in Gesta Danorum
that Sigmund, one of the warriors of the House of Yngling, came from what is chronologically Old Sigtuna to fight at the Battle of Bråvalla:
s, a series of terraces just above the shore-line of the Germanic Iron Age
, traces of a harbour, a large mound
and a number of smaller grave field
s. Excavations have dated the remains to the Vendel Age, part of the Germanic Iron Age
, and the Viking age
, i.e. from the 6th century until the 11th century.
Source: Nationalencyklopedin
and Medieval royal estate (see Uppsala öd
) and it was located strategically at the waterway to Old Uppsala and the Temple at Uppsala
. In the 10th century, the name was transferred to modern Sigtuna
, which apparently assumed many of its functions.
Since the 17th century, the location is a manor named Signhildsberg or Signesberg.
and A historical review of the name, from which the information about the name and dates is taken.
Sigtuna
Sigtuna is a locality situated in Sigtuna Municipality, Stockholm County, Sweden with 18 inhabitants in 2005. It is the namesake of the municipality even though the seat is in Märsta....
, by lake Mälaren
Mälaren
Lake Mälaren is the third-largest lake in Sweden, after Lakes Vänern and Vättern. Its area is 1,140 km² and its greatest depth is 64 m. Mälaren spans 120 kilometers from east to west...
, in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. Although the location is nearly forgotten, it has a central role in Norse mythology
Norse mythology
Norse mythology, a subset of Germanic mythology, is the overall term for the myths, legends and beliefs about supernatural beings of Norse pagans. It flourished prior to the Christianization of Scandinavia, during the Early Middle Ages, and passed into Nordic folklore, with some aspects surviving...
.
Heimskringla
In his HeimskringlaHeimskringla
Heimskringla is the best known of the Old Norse kings' sagas. It was written in Old Norse in Iceland by the poet and historian Snorri Sturluson ca. 1230...
, Snorri Sturluson
Snorri Sturluson
Snorri Sturluson was an Icelandic historian, poet, and politician. He was twice elected lawspeaker at the Icelandic parliament, the Althing...
relates that Odin
Odin
Odin is a major god in Norse mythology and the ruler of Asgard. Homologous with the Anglo-Saxon "Wōden" and the Old High German "Wotan", the name is descended from Proto-Germanic "*Wodanaz" or "*Wōđanaz"....
and the Æsir
Æsir
In Old Norse, áss is the term denoting a member of the principal pantheon in Norse paganism. This pantheon includes Odin, Frigg, Thor, Baldr and Tyr. The second pantheon comprises the Vanir...
first arrived at Old Sigtuna when they came to Sweden:
- OdinOdinOdin is a major god in Norse mythology and the ruler of Asgard. Homologous with the Anglo-Saxon "Wōden" and the Old High German "Wotan", the name is descended from Proto-Germanic "*Wodanaz" or "*Wōđanaz"....
took up his residence at the MaelareMälarenLake Mälaren is the third-largest lake in Sweden, after Lakes Vänern and Vättern. Its area is 1,140 km² and its greatest depth is 64 m. Mälaren spans 120 kilometers from east to west...
lake, at the place now called Old Sigtun. There he erected a large temple, where there were sacrifices according to the customs of the Asaland people. He appropriated to himself the whole of that district, and called it Sigtun. To the temple priests he gave also domains. NjordNjordIn Norse mythology, Njörðr is a god among the Vanir. Njörðr is father of the deities Freyr and Freyja by his unnamed Van sister, was in an ill-fated marriage with the goddess Skaði, lives in Nóatún and is associated with sea, seafaring, wind, fishing, wealth, and crop fertility.Njörðr is attested...
dwelt in NoatunNoatun (mythology)In Norse mythology, Nóatún is the sea-side abode of the god Njörðr.-References:*Orchard, Andy . Dictionary of Norse Myth and Legend. Cassell. ISBN 0-304-34520-2...
, FreyrFreyrFreyr is one of the most important gods of Norse paganism. Freyr was highly associated with farming, weather and, as a phallic fertility god, Freyr "bestows peace and pleasure on mortals"...
in UpsalaGamla UppsalaGamla Uppsala is a parish and a village outside Uppsala in Sweden. It had 16,231 inhabitants in 1991.As early as the 3rd century AD and the 4th century AD and onwards, it was an important religious, economic and political centre...
, HeimdalHeimdalHeimdal is the southernmost borough in Trondheim, Norway named after the god Heimdall in Norse mythology. The area has been continuously inhabited since at least the Iron Age, and is rich in archaeological sites....
in the Himinbergs, ThorThorIn Norse mythology, Thor is a hammer-wielding god associated with thunder, lightning, storms, oak trees, strength, the protection of mankind, and also hallowing, healing, and fertility...
in Thrudvang, BalderBalderBaldr is a god in Norse mythology.In the 12th century, Danish accounts by Saxo Grammaticus and other Danish Latin chroniclers recorded a euhemerized account of his story...
in BreidablikBreidablikIn Norse mythology, Breiðablik is the home of Baldr. It is briefly described in Snorri Sturluson's Gylfaginning as one of the halls of Asgard:...
; to all of them he gave good estates.http://www.northvegr.org/lore/heim/001_01.php
Later the pirate Sölve
Sölve
Sölve was a sea-king who conquered Sweden by burning the Swedish king Östen to death inside his hall.The Heimskringla relates that he was the son Högne of Nærøy, and that he had his home in Jutland...
, arrived at Old Sigtuna to claim the Swedish throne:
- Solve came unexpectedly in the night on Eystein (ÖstenÖstenEysteinn was the son of Eadgils and Yrsa of Saxony. He was the father of Ingvar. The Eysteinn tumulus in Västerås near Östanbro has been linked to King Eysteinn by some popular historians...
), surrounded the house in which the king was, and burned him and all his court. Then Solve went to Sigtun, and desired that the Swedes should receive him, and give him the title of king; but they collected an army, and tried to defend the country against him, on which there was a great battle, that lasted, according to report, eleven days. There King Solve was victorious, and was afterwards king of the Swedish dominions for a long time, until at last the Swedes betrayed him, and he was killed.http://www.northvegr.org/lore/heim/001_06.php
In the part called the Saga of Olaf Haraldsson, the Norwegian king Olaf Haraldsson
Olaf II of Norway
Olaf II Haraldsson was King of Norway from 1015 to 1028. He was posthumously given the title Rex Perpetuus Norvegiae and canonised in Nidaros by Bishop Grimkell, one year after his death in the Battle of Stiklestad on 29 July 1030. Enshrined in Nidaros Cathedral...
makes shore at Old Sigtuna:
- King Olaf steered thereafter eastwards to Svithjod, and into the Lag (the Maelar lake), and ravaged the land on both sides. He sailed all the way up to Sigtuna, and laid his ships close to the old Sigtuna. The Swedes say the stone-heaps are still to be seen which Olaf had laid under the ends of the gangways from the shore to the ships.http://www.northvegr.org/lore/heim/007_01.php
Skaldic poetry
Orvar-Odd
Örvar-Oddr is a legendary hero about whom an anonymous Icelander wrote a fornaldarsaga in the latter part of the 13th century. Örvar-Odds saga, the Saga of Örvar-Odd, became very popular and contains old legends and songs...
's saga, Hjalmar
Hjálmar
- Current :*Þorsteinn Einarsson - Guitar and vocals*Sigurður Halldór Guðmundsson - Keyboards and vocals*Guðmundur Kristinn Jónsson - Guitar* Valdimar Kolbeinn Sigurjónsson - Bass* Helgi Svavar Helgason - Percussion- Former :...
laments his dying:
|
|
The location is also mentioned in other poems by the 11th century skalds Þjóðólfr Arnórssonhttp://skaldic.arts.usyd.edu.au/db.php?table=poems&id=443, Valgarðr á Vellihttp://skaldic.arts.usyd.edu.au/db.php?table=poems&id=496 and Arnórr Þórðarsonhttp://skaldic.arts.usyd.edu.au/db.php?table=poems&id=102.
Gesta Danorum
Saxo GrammaticusSaxo Grammaticus
Saxo Grammaticus also known as Saxo cognomine Longus was a Danish historian, thought to have been a secular clerk or secretary to Absalon, Archbishop of Lund, foremost advisor to Valdemar I of Denmark. He is the author of the first full history of Denmark.- Life :The Jutland Chronicle gives...
tells in Gesta Danorum
Gesta Danorum
Gesta Danorum is a patriotic work of Danish history, by the 12th century author Saxo Grammaticus . It is the most ambitious literary undertaking of medieval Denmark and is an essential source for the nation's early history...
that Sigmund, one of the warriors of the House of Yngling, came from what is chronologically Old Sigtuna to fight at the Battle of Bråvalla:
- They likewise held the god Frey to be the founder of their race. Amongst these from the town of Sigtun also came Sigmund, a champion advocate, versed in making contracts of sale and purchase; besides him Frosti surnamed Bowl: allied with him was Alf the Lofty (Proud?) from the district of Upsala; this man was a swift spear-thrower, and used to go in the front of the battle.http://www.northvegr.org/lore/saxo/000_07.php
Archaeology
There are two large ruins that formerly were two large three-aisled hallHall
In architecture, a hall is fundamentally a relatively large space enclosed by a roof and walls. In the Iron Age, a mead hall was such a simple building and was the residence of a lord and his retainers...
s, a series of terraces just above the shore-line of the Germanic Iron Age
Germanic Iron Age
The Germanic Iron Age is the name given to the period 400–800 in Northern Europe and it is part of the continental Age of Migrations.-Germanic Iron :...
, traces of a harbour, a large mound
Mound
A mound is a general term for an artificial heaped pile of earth, gravel, sand, rocks, or debris. The most common use is in reference to natural earthen formation such as hills and mountains, particularly if they appear artificial. The term may also be applied to any rounded area of topographically...
and a number of smaller grave field
Grave field
A grave field is a prehistoric cemetery, typically of Bronze Age and Iron Age Europe.Grave fields are distinguished from necropoleis by the former's lack of above-ground structures, buildings, or grave markers.-Types:...
s. Excavations have dated the remains to the Vendel Age, part of the Germanic Iron Age
Germanic Iron Age
The Germanic Iron Age is the name given to the period 400–800 in Northern Europe and it is part of the continental Age of Migrations.-Germanic Iron :...
, and the Viking age
Viking Age
Viking Age is the term for the period in European history, especially Northern European and Scandinavian history, spanning the late 8th to 11th centuries. Scandinavian Vikings explored Europe by its oceans and rivers through trade and warfare. The Vikings also reached Iceland, Greenland,...
, i.e. from the 6th century until the 11th century.
Source: Nationalencyklopedin
Nationalencyklopedin
Nationalencyklopedin is the most comprehensive contemporary Swedish language encyclopedia, initiated by a favourable loan from the Government of Sweden of 17 million Swedish kronor in 1980, which was repaid by December 1990...
History
It was an Iron AgeIron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
and Medieval royal estate (see Uppsala öd
Uppsala öd
Uppsala öd, Old Norse: Uppsala auðr or Uppsala øðr was the name given to the collection of estates which was the property of the Swedish Crown in medieval Sweden. Its purpose was to finance the Swedish king, originally the "king of Uppsala", and they supported the king and his retinue while he...
) and it was located strategically at the waterway to Old Uppsala and the Temple at Uppsala
Temple at Uppsala
The Temple at Uppsala was a religious center in Norse paganism once located at what is now Gamla Uppsala , Sweden attested in Adam of Bremen's 11th century work Gesta Hammaburgensis ecclesiae pontificum and in Heimskringla, written by Snorri Sturluson in the 13th century...
. In the 10th century, the name was transferred to modern Sigtuna
Sigtuna
Sigtuna is a locality situated in Sigtuna Municipality, Stockholm County, Sweden with 18 inhabitants in 2005. It is the namesake of the municipality even though the seat is in Märsta....
, which apparently assumed many of its functions.
- It is mentioned in the 1170s where Pope Alexander IIIPope Alexander IIIPope Alexander III , born Rolando of Siena, was Pope from 1159 to 1181. He is noted in history for laying the foundation stone for the Notre Dame de Paris.-Church career:...
addresses king Knut Eriksson and Jarl Birger BrosaBirger BrosaBirger Brosa , jarl of Sweden 1174-1202, d. 9 January 1202 on Visingsö, was a son of Bengt Snivil and a member of the powerful House of Bjälbo...
(Svenskt DiplomatariumSvenskt DiplomatariumSvenskt Diplomatarium is a series of critical editions of medieval Swedish documents or documents pertaining to the history of Sweden ....
I nr 852. Originalbrev). The pope demands that they return to the archbishop of Uppsala (until 1270 the name referred to Gamla UppsalaGamla UppsalaGamla Uppsala is a parish and a village outside Uppsala in Sweden. It had 16,231 inhabitants in 1991.As early as the 3rd century AD and the 4th century AD and onwards, it was an important religious, economic and political centre...
) the villages Strom (Ström in the parish of Norrsunda), Fornesitune and Guazbro (probably Vadsbro). The villages had earlier belonged to the bishop of SigtunaSigtunaSigtuna is a locality situated in Sigtuna Municipality, Stockholm County, Sweden with 18 inhabitants in 2005. It is the namesake of the municipality even though the seat is in Märsta....
, but they had been confiscated by the crown when the bishopricDioceseA diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
had been moved to Gamla UppsalaGamla UppsalaGamla Uppsala is a parish and a village outside Uppsala in Sweden. It had 16,231 inhabitants in 1991.As early as the 3rd century AD and the 4th century AD and onwards, it was an important religious, economic and political centre...
.
- In 1299, Birger Magnusson, the son of Magnus Ladulås, spent some time in Old Sigtuna as one of his letters was written in Sightonia Antiqua (in Malmberg, Ernst: Svenska slott och herresäten) or apud antiquam Sightoniam (Friesen: Om staden Sigtunas ålder). The difference seems to be a matter of presenting the name in the nominal case or preserving the case in which the name appeared in the original text.
- In 1315, according to Svenskt Diplomatarium (SD) III nr 2032 (s.228), Erik Magnusson is bestowed a part of Old Sigtuna, which is called Siktonia vetus (vetus means "old"). Neighbouring properties are also named: Norgungi (Norränge in Håtuna) and Frötunum (Frötuna in Håbo-Tibble)(in Malmberg, Ernst: Svenska slott och herresäten) .
- In 1541, according to Kammar-ark.: jordeböcker, Uppland 1541 nr 5, the location is named as one of Gustav I Vasa's estates and spelled Forsictuna, Foorsictuna and Fforssiiktwna (in Malmberg, Ernst: Svenska slott och herresäten).
- In 1542, according to Gustav Vasas jordebok are mentioned Foorsictuna and Norringe (Norränge) (Friesen: Om staden Sigtunas ålder).
- In 1551, according to Sven Nielssons jordebok för Stäkets län, it is mentioned as the royal estate of Forsictuna (Malmberg, Ernst: Svenska slott och herresäten and Friesen: Om staden Sigtunas ålder).
- In 1567, it is mentioned as Foder Sictuna in the province of UpplandUpplandUppland is a historical province or landskap on the eastern coast of Sweden, just north of Stockholm, the capital. It borders Södermanland, Västmanland and Gästrikland. It is also bounded by lake Mälaren and the Baltic sea...
(Malmberg, Ernst: Svenska slott och herresäten and Friesen: Om staden Sigtunas ålder).
- In the 17th century, the name Försigtuna is used on a map (Lantmät.verk. Gävle).
Since the 17th century, the location is a manor named Signhildsberg or Signesberg.
Sources
NationalencyklopedinNationalencyklopedin
Nationalencyklopedin is the most comprehensive contemporary Swedish language encyclopedia, initiated by a favourable loan from the Government of Sweden of 17 million Swedish kronor in 1980, which was repaid by December 1990...
and A historical review of the name, from which the information about the name and dates is taken.