Wends in Denmark?

That the Polabian Slavs raided the Danes and the Danes raided the Polabian and Pomeranian Slavs is not exactly news.  However, the Danes – unlike the Germans – never settled Slavic territories and Slavs, certainly, never settled Danish territories.

Or did they?

Mit einer banier rôtgevar,
daß was mit wîße durch gesniten
hûte nâch wendischen siten

sitten

Huh?

Well, we did write already about potential Veleti Slav presence in Holland here and here and, most recently, here.  So why not Denmark?

We have previously briefly mentioned the German place names with the suffix -levo or -lebo in our discussion of the North Suavi.  That such suffixes are not only Slavic but also Germanic may perhaps be inferred from that discussion.  Further proof for this seems to be shown by a presence of similar suffixes also in Denmark.  Specifically, the suffix – slev or -lev is present all over Denmark as in, e.g., Haslev or Brandelev. See this map.

levslev

On the other hand, we note that such forms of suffixes, apparently once common in parts of Germany and currently present in Denmark do not appear anywhere in Sweden (except the very, very south) or Norway.  Does that mean anything?

And then there are the -ovs.  If one were to find an -ov or -off or -ow ending in eastern Germany, the presumption would be that it is Slavic.  But in Denmark?  See, for example, Nakskov or Klodskov or Bøgeskov.  But we know that skov means forest in Danish…  Thus, Askov may mean ash forest?  So what does this mean then?

That Bøgeskov is a purely Danish name?

Does that then mean that Pskov in Russia is a purely Danish name too?

But, one might say, the Slavic endings -skov are few in number – instead, they are mostly of the form –ov, -ow, -off.  Thus, we have the German Pankow.  Ok, but what about  Mørkøv or Måløv? That is with an ø.  Ok, but what about Taulov?

Here are the -ovs (mostly -skovs):

ov

But they are not alone.  Thus we have:

  • Kramnitze (typical Slavic -itz ending) or
  • Gorke, or
  • a number of “Wend” names like Vindeby

Here is Kramnitze:

kramnitze

But one can say, that is just one place and it is directly across from the Wendland territories in today’s eastern Germany.  One place name does not prove anything major – perhaps it was a lone settlement.

True, that is possible.  Or maybe it was one of the few left where the name survived?

Here are the names that have a rather “Wendish” sound (e.g., Vindesby):

veneten

On top you can see Vendsyssel – Wendish syssel (ancient Scandinavian administrative subdivision – whether it has anything to do with the Slavic tribe of Susli/Susili is another matter).  That name suggests a Wendish source but it could be Vandalic too as its name varied throughout history:

  • Wendila (Adam of Bremen)
  • Wendel (Ailnoth of Canterbury)
  • Vendill (Icelandinc sagas)
  • Wændlesysæl, Wendelsysel, Wændil (King Valdemar’s census book)

Another possibility, of course, is that the Vandals were “Scandinavianized” Wends… After all Gallus Anonymous claims that Boleslaw Chrobry aspired to “Selentia” which can, perhaps, be equated with the island of Seeland which, in turn, was likely the home of the Silingaeans (who may have become Vandals at some point).  Now, Seeland is not Vendsyssel, of course.  But who knows what secrets Denmark holds – after all, it was the main route of Scandinavians into “continental” Europe.

For more information on this fascinating topic see the following:

  • Stednavne af slavisk oprindelse på Lolland, Falster og Møn” (i.e., “Slavic city names on the islands of Lolland, Faster and Mon”) by Friederike W. Housted (1994) which you can order from here;
  • “Venderne på Lolland-Falster” (“Wends on Lolland-Falster”) also by Friederike W. Housted (2002) in Jensen, A.-E. (editor) “Venner og fjender. Dansk-vendiske forbindelser i vikingetid og tidlig middelalder” (“Friends and Enemies – the Danish-Wendish connections during the Viking Age and in the early Middle Ages”), 28-32. Naestved;
  • “Historie, arkaeologi og vendere – hvad kilderne ikke siger om Svantevits tempel i Arkona og om venderne i Danmark” (“History, archaeology and the Wends – what sources do not say about the Svantevit temple on Arkona and the Wends in Denmark”) by Poul Grinder-Hansen (2002) in Jensen, A.-E. (editor) “Venner og fjender. Dansk-vendiske forbindelser i vikingetid og tidlig middelalder”, 5-16. Naestved.

A more comprehensive list of sources can be found in Jens Ulriksen’s short report “The Late Iron Age and Early Medieval Period in the Western Baltic

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November 1, 2015

6 thoughts on “Wends in Denmark?

  1. -slav

    If Vandals were in Denmark (or close to it), than Gothic migration described by Jordanes cannot be placed in Wielbark culture…”Now from this island of Scandza [Scandinavia], as from a hive of races or a womb of nations, the Goths are said to have come forth long ago under their king, Berig by name [sailing in only three ships]. As soon as they disembarked from their ships and set foot on the land, they straightway gave their name to the place. And even to-day it is said to be called Gothiscandza. Soon they moved from here to the abodes of the Ulmerugi, who then dwelt on the shores of Ocean, where they pitched camp, joined battle with them and drove them from their homes. Then they subdued their neighbors, the Vandals, and thus added to their victories.”

    Can you try to find traces of the Goths by searching prefixes and endings “got”?

    Reply
    1. torino Post author

      There is, of course, Goddansk… or something like that. Or maybe that’s for the Danes? There is also the question of whether the Oder – which is supposedly known as “Guttalus” was where they “landed”.

      Reply
  2. Krak

    Artur Szrejter, a Polish archeologist and author has a similar theory. He however theorizes that a large diaspora of Slavs actually made there way to Sweden around the 8-9th centuries. He hasn’t published anything on his theory however it can be seen in his little pub discussion forum on youtube. He says he plans to publish a book on this theory.

    Reply

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