One of the more interesting references to the Slavic Wends appears in the early 13th century Icelandic work “The Saga of the Jomsvikings” (Jomsvikinga Saga). There we find out about the close relations between the Wends and the Viking pirates of Jomsborg. Jomsborg is – probably – Wolin; also known as Vineta (Wineta) for its Wends. We shall have more to say about Vineta later. However, for now let us show what the writers of this saga had to say about the Wendish King Burisleif and his daughters. They are not the main characters (as the title suggests that honor falls to the Viking pirates) but the fact that the mythical (?) founder of Jomsborg – Palnatoki – chose to establish that fortress on the coast of Wendland means that the Wends come up in the story.
We come in peace
Note that the name Burisleif is unusual. Most likely, it is a “Scandinavization” of Boleslav but this is not certain. “Sleif” probably does refer to “Slav” but, as we discussed, “bury” is a Slavic word (as well as the prefix of Burebista – the leader of the uprising against Romans who rebelled in the East at the same time as Ariovistus did in the West) and, indeed, also the name of the Lugii Buri. On the other hand the names of the daughters of King Burisleif: Astrid, Gunnhild and, possibly, Geira are Norse “Scandinavizations”. That said, the three daughters of Burisleif are certainly reminiscent of the three daughters of the Czech founder Krok (Libuse, Tetka, Kazi).
The question of whether Burisleif really was a Wendish King remains unresolved. Some believe he was a Polabian King, others suggest a purely mythical figure, yet others think him to be a composite of the Polish rulers Mieszko and Boleslaw. It is interesting that one of the Jomsvikings’ leaders – Sigvaldi – comes from Zealand (Seeland or Sjaland) in Denmark which is the most likely candidate for the quasi-mythical province of Selentia the reference to which – as being conquered by Boleslaw the Brave – is found in the Gallus Anonymous Chronicle.
As regards the storyline, the Wends first appear after Palnatoki, the fearsome marauder, leaves the North Sea and decides to build a new fortress in Wendland. So let us begin that story (in this we follow the Lee Hollander translation from the Icelandic – the Norse version is from the 1824 Carl Christian Rafn edition).
Book 12
The Founding of Jomsborg
“Then they all return to their ships and felt to rowing, and got away; nor did they stop till they were back home in Wales. But king Svein and his men continued with the funeral feast, and he was galled with the turn events had taken.”
“The summer after, Alof, Palnatoki’s wife, felt ill and died. And then he was content no longer to stay in Wales, and he set Bjorn the Welchman to rule the land for him. He himself left with thirty ships and took to harrying in Scotland and Ireland [i.e., to piracy on the sea and robbery on land]. And this course he pursued for three years, acquiring great wealth and fame [or notoriety]. The fourth summer, Palnatoki sailed east to Wendland with forty ships.”
“A king ruled there at that time whose name was Burisleif. He learned of Palnatoki’s approach and was ill pleased to have him harry there because he was well-nigh always victorious and add more fame then any other man. So the king sent messengers inviting him to the court and offering him friendship. And to his invitation he added the offer of a district in is land called Jom, if Palnatoki would rule and settle there and defend the King’s land.”
“Palnatoki accepted this offer and settled there with his all his men. And soon he had a great and strong fortification made. A part of it jetted out to see, and in that part that was the harbor, begin off to accommodate 300 warships, so that the ships could be locked within the fortification. With a great skill a gate was designed with the stone arch above it and before it on iron particles which could be locked from inside the harbor. And on top of the stone arch that was a great stronghold, and within the stronghold were catapults. The whole fort was cold Jomsborg.”
Then Palnatoki established laws for Jomsborg, with the assistance of wise men, to the need that the renown of the men of Jomsborg should spread most widely and their power should wax greatly. The first of their laws…”
[We hear that Palnatoki lays down the rather spartan laws for the Jomsvikings. Book 13 then introduces Sigvaldi, the son of Harold, the earl of Zealand (Seeland). It tells how Sigvaldi (with his brother Thorkel) set out to join the Jomsvikings and, after robbing the lands of Veseti, the ruler of Bornholm, did in fact manage to do so (though half the brothers’ crew was rejected). In the meantime, Veseti raided Harold and Harold raided Veseti.]
[The Danish King Svein was initially frustrated by the feuding parties but, to avoid an all out war, he eventually interceded at the Iseyrar assembly (Thing on Seeland – but what of the name of this “thing”?; remember ysaya lado ylely ya ya?) in Book 14. We note that the sons of Veseti were Bui and Sigurd Cape. Whether Palnatoki, Veseti and Bui are Norse names we leave to the reader to ponder.]
[By Book 15, Bui and Sigurd also join the Jomsvikings (with two thirds of their crews) as does Veseti’s grandson Vagn (who was twelve at the time – though by nine he had already killed three men) whose men overcame Sigvaldi’s men in proving their prowess.]
Book 16
Of Palnatoki’s death and Sigvaldi’s Ambition
“This continued for three years, until Vagn was fifteen years old. Then Palnatki took sick. He sent messengers to King Burisleif to come to him. And when the king arrived Palnatki said: ‘I am thinking, Sir King, that this will be my last sickness.’ The king said: ‘In that case it is my advice that you choose some one in your stead to look after matter as you have done and that he be chieftain in the fort and that the company stay here as before.’ Palnatoki said that all in all Sigvaldi was the man best fitted to take command, ‘yet it seems to me that all of them fall somewhat short of what I have been.’ The king said: ‘Often your counsels have benefitted us, and now I shall follow your last one. Let all laws stand as before in the fort.'”
“Sigvaldi was by no means loath, and in fact mightily pleased, to assume command.”
“Then Palnatoki gave his kinsman Vagn half of his earldom in Wales to govern under the guardianship of Bjorn the Welshman, and commended him to the special care of the company. And shortly thereafter Palnatoki died, and that was felt by all to be a great loss.”
“Sigvalid had administered the laws but a short while when breaches in the discipline began to occur. Women stayed at Jomsborg two or three nights at a time; and men remained away longer from the fort than when Palnatoki lived. Also there were mailings once in a while and even some killings.”
“King Burisleif had three daughters. The oldest was called Astrid and she was both exceedingly beautiful and exceedingly wise. Another was called Gunnhild, and the third was Geira – she who later married King Olaf Tryggvason. Sigvaldi came to King Burisleif and presented this proposition: he would remain no longer in the fort, unless he was given the king’s daughterAstrid in marriage.”
“‘It is my intention,’ said the king, ‘to marry her to someone of more princely rank than yours; yet I need you in the fort. We shall take it all under advisement.'”
“He sought his daughter Astrid and asked her whether it suited her wishes to be married to Sigvaldi. Astrid replied: ‘To say the truth, it would never be my choice to marry Sigvaldi. Therefore, if he is to win my hand, he must relieve us of all the tribute this land has been paying the Danish king before he may enter the marriage bed with me. There is a second condition too: he must lure King Svein here so that you will have him in your power.'”
“Then Burisleif made this clear to Sigvaldi, who was nevertheless bent on marrying Astrid. The upshot was that he accepted the conditions, and they made a binding agreement about it. He was to fulfill the conditions before the first days of Yule or the agreement would be null and void.”
Book 17
Sigvaldi Captures King Svein
[The book first tells how Sigvaldi, pretending to be sick, kidnaps King Svein of Denmark and brings him to Jomsborg where, nevertheless, the vikings throw a feast for the king]
“Afterwards, Sigvaldi told King Svein that he had asked, on his behalf for the hand of that daughter of King Burisleif whose name was Gunnhild and who was the most beautiful: ‘and to me he has betrothed her sister, Astrid. Now I shall journey to him to carry through this business for you.'”
“The king asked him to do so. Thereupon Sigvaldi set out with one hundred and twenty of his men and had a conference with King Burisleif. Sigvaldi pointed out that now he had fulfilled the conditions for marrying Astrid. And the king and he laid their plans together, whereupon Sigvaldi returned to Jomsborg.”
“King Svein asked how his suit was progressing. Sigvaldi said that it depended altogether on King Svein himself: ‘whether you, Sir King, will remit all of King Burisleif‘s tribute to you – then he will give you the hand of his daughter. Besides, it would be more fitting to your honor and his if the king whose daughter you marry does not have to pay you tribute.'”
“And so persuasive was Sigvaldi in his representations that the king was willing to accept this condition. The day for the marriage feast was agreed ohm and both weddings were to be in the same day. King Sveinthen proceeded to the feast, followed by all the Jomsvikings, and it was so splendid that no one remembered a more glorious one ever celebrated in Wendland.”
“The first evening, both brides wore their head coverings low over their faces; but the morning after, both brides were gay and had their faces uncovered. And now King Svein examined their countenances, for he had seen neither one before. Sigvaldi had said that Gunnhild was the more beautiful; but it did not seem so to the king,a nd he realized that Sigvaldi had not told him the truth. And now he grasped Sigvaldi’s designs. However, he made the best of a bad bargain. And when the feast came to an need the king sailed home with his bride, and had with him thirty ships and a great host of men and many valuable gifts. Sigvaldi journeyed to Jomsborg with his bride, and the Jomsvikings with him.”
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