Jarlabanke Runestones

The Jarlabanke Runestones ( _sv. Jarlabankestenarna) is the name of c. 20 runestones written in Old Norse with the Younger Futhark in 11th century, Uppland, Sweden.

They were ordered in the by what appears to have been a chieftain named Jarlabanke Ingefastsson and his clan (Swedish: "Jarlabankeätten"), in Täby.Hadenius, Nilsson & Åselius 53.] Jarlabanke was probably a hersir (chieftain of a hundred) responsible for the local leidang organization and on several runestones he stated that he was a Christian and not a Pagan.

Five of the runestones contain very much the same message: "Jarlabanke had these stones made after himself while he was alive. He made this bridge for his soul. He alone owned all of Täby".The article "Jarlabankestenarna" in "Nationalencyklopedin".] One stone at the church of Vallentuna also shows the following text on its second side: "Jarlabanke had this stone made after himself while he was alive. He made this assembly location and he alone owned this hundred".

The so-called "Jarlabanke's bridge" is a causeway in Täby which was originally bordered by four runestones and many raised stones. It is c. 116 metres long and 6.4 metres wide, and there were inscriptions (U 164 and U 165) by Jarlabanke both at the southern and the northern end of the causeway.Pritsak 1981:388] One of the runestones was moved during his lifetime to the location of the local assembly of the Vallentuna Hundred, where it received a new text and it was replaced with a new fifth one at Jarlabanke's bridge and which had a different design.

Three other runestones present Jarlabanke as the builder of roads and bridges, and ten or so mention his family members making it possible to follow his family during four generations. His pride at building roads and bridges shows that this was something that gave prestige in 11th century Sweden.

The inscriptions have led to a controversy on the meaning of the Old Norse verb "eiga" ("to own"), and to a debate on the origins on the hundred division. It is debated whether he really owned the hundred or if he was appointed as its chieftain (hersir) by the King of Sweden, and a final conclusion is probably impossible to arrive at.

Omeljan Pritsak has remarked that Jarlabanke's prominent position and property show that he and his clan profited from taking part in the Danegelds and from the services that men of his clan provided as mercenaries in the Varangian Guard and in Kievan Rus'.Pritsak 1981:389]

The runestones

Besides the runestones treated in this article, there are many others that were raised by Jarlabanke and his clansmen such as U 101, U 135, U 136, U 137, U 143, U 147, U 309 and U 310. However, these runestones are treated separately as they were raised connection with Estrid, the female progenitor of the Jarlabanke clan.

The remaining runestones that are associated with Jarlabanke's relatives are: U 100, U 104, U 112, U 133, U 141, U 151, U 160, U 161, U 225, U 226, U 328, U 336, U 343 and U 344.

U 127

This runestone in the style Pr2 (first half of the 11th century) is located at the church of Danderyd. It was found in the walls of the church and had probably been move quite a distance from Täby before it was used in the church. On this rune stone, Jarlabanke declared that he had the whole of Täby under his command and that he had made a bridge and raised several rune stones in honour of himself while he was alive.

Latin transliteration: : × iarla×baki × lit raisa [×] staina × þasa at sik × kuikuan × auk bru þisa karþi × fur ont sina × auk × ain ati tabu ala-

Old Norse transcription:

: "Iarlabanki let ræisa stæina þessa at sik kvikvan, ok bro þessa gærði fyr and sina, ok æinn atti Tæby alla [n] ."

English translation:

: Jarlabanki had these stones raised in memory of himself while alive, and made this bridge for his spirit, and (he) alone owned all of Tábýr.

U 140

and it is treated there as well.

Latin transliteration:

: × ...la×b(a)... ... han : entaþis * i kirikium

Old Norse transcription:

: " [Iar] laba [nki] ... Hann ændaðis i Grikkium."

English translation:

: Jarlabanki ... He met his end in Greece.

U 142

of his time.

Latin transliteration: : ikifastr ' lit ' raisa ' stain * uk ' bro ' kera ' eftiR ' iarlabaka ' faþur ' s [in ' uk ' sun ' io] runa ' uk ' ketilau lit ' at ' bonta ' sin ybir risti

Old Norse transcription:

: "Ingifastr let ræisa stæin ok bro gæra æftiR Iarlabanka, faður sinn ok sun IorunaR, ok Kætiløy let at bonda sinn. ØpiR risti."

English translation:

: Ingifastr had the stone raised and the bridge made in memory of Jarlabanki, his father, Jórunnr's son. And Ketiley had (it raised/made) in memory of her husbandman. Œpir carved.

U 148

This runestone in the style Pr3 (third quarter of the 11th century) is located in the forest south-west of Hagby, where a road once crossed a brook, and only a few hundred metres from U 147. The road was made by Jarlabanke's clan and it went from the bay of Edsviken to Täby. The rune stone informs that it was raised by Ingifastr Eysteinsson (Jarlabanke's father) in memory of his wife Ragnfríðr, together with his son Hemingr (Jarlabanke's half-brother).

Latin transliteration:

: × inkifastr × lit × rista × runaR þisaR × aftiR × rahnfriþi × kuinu × sina × auk × - [m-] (n)kr × aftiR × muþur × sina

Old Norse transcription:

: "Ingifastr let rista runaR þessaR æftiR Ragnfriði, kvinnu sina, ok [Hæ] m [i] ngR æftiR moður sina."

English translation:

: Ingifastr had these runes carved in memory of Ragnfríðr, his wife; and Hemingr in memory of his mother.

U 149

in 1840. The rune stone is one of those that Jarlabanke made in his own memory and it tells that was raised in connection with his constructing a path.

Latin transliteration:

: [iarlabaki × lit × -... ...tain × at * sialfan * sik * auk * braut ruþia]

Old Norse transcription:

: "Iarlabanki let ... [s] tæin at sialfan sik ok braut ryðia."

English translation:

: Jarlabanki had ... the stone in memory of himself and cleared a path.

U 150

This runestone is possibly in the style Fp (first half of the 11th century) and it is located in Karby, along the road, at a small distance from U 140 and the Broby bro Runestones. The lower part of it has been lost, and today it is secured in the ground with a foundation of concrete. The rune stone informs that Jarlabanke and his wife Fastvé raised it in memory of their son Sveinn. The style of the stone is, however, problematic since it may be in the style of Jarlabanke's parents' generation.

Latin transliteration:

: * iarla*b] aki * auk * fastui * litu * raisa * stina * aftiR [* suain * sun * sin

Old Norse transcription:

: "Iarlabanki ok Fastvi letu ræisa stæina æftiR Svæin, sun sinn."

English translation:

: Jarlabanki and Fastvé had the stones raised in memory of Sveinn, their son.

U 164

(mid-11th century) is located at the causeway known as Jarlabanke's bridge. It is another one of the rune stones that he raised in memory of himself while he was alive, and where he declares that he commands all of Täby. It tells that it is specifically made to commemorate the creation of the causeway ("bridge") for the sake of Jarlabanke's soul.

Latin transliteration:

: × iarlabaki × lit × raisa × stain × þisa × at sik × kuikuan ×× auk bru × þisa × karþi × fur ont × sina × auk ain ati × alan × tabu × kuþ hialbi ont hans

Old Norse transcription:

: "Iarlabanki let ræisa stæina þessa at sik kvikvan, ok bro þessa gærði fyr and sina, ok æinn atti allan Tæby. Guð hialpi and hans."

English translation:

: Jarlabanki had these stones raised in memory of himself while alive, and made this bridge for his spirit, and (he) alone owned all of Tábýr. May God help his spirit.

U 165

(second half of the 11th century).

Old Norse transcription:

: ia [r] labaki × li- ---sa × staina × þisa × at sik × kuikuan × auk bru þis(a) [× karþi fur ont ×] si-- --- × ati + (a)lan × tabu +

Latin transliteration:

: "Iarlabanki le [t ræi] sa stæina þessa at sik kvikvan, ok bro þessa gærði fyr and si [na ...] atti allan Tæby."

English translation:

: Jarlabanki had these stones raised in memory of himself while alive, and made this bridge for his spirit ... owned all of Tábýr.

U 212

This runestone is located at the church of Vallentuna, but it is not known where its original location was. A notable aspect to the stone is the fact that it is engraved on both sides (A and B) and that the small difference between the messages is of note. On side A, he is in possession of all of Täby and here the Old Norse verb "eiga" can be interpreted as "to own", but on side B, he was in possession of the whole hundred. In the last sense, the verb "eiga" probably means "to command". The latter side also informs that the rune stone was raised where he had made the assembly location of the hundred. Side B is later than side A and it was probably made after a piece of the stone had been destroyed, as is suggested by its design. Jarlabanke's power had been extended from the village of Täby to the whole hundred. Side A is in the style Pr2 (first half of the 11th century) and side B is in the style Pr2-Pr3 (mid-11th century).

Latin transliteration: : A × iarlibaki × lit × raisa × stan + þina × a... ... ...kuan + han × ati ain × tabu × alan × -... ... ont hans +: B × iarlabaki × lit raisa × stain × þin- at sik kuikuan × auk × þinkstaþ × þina × karþi + auk × ain ati + alt hu-(t)ari × þita +

Old Norse transcription:

: A "Iarlabanki let ræisa stæin þenna a [t sik kvi] kvan. Hann atti æinn Tæby allan. [Guð hialpi] and hans.": B "Iarlabanki let ræisa stæin þenn [a] at sik kvikvan, ok þingstað þenna gærði, ok æinn atti allt hu [n] dari þetta."

English translation:

: A Jarlabanki had this stone raised in memory of himself while alive. He alone owned all of Tábýr. May God help his spirit.: B Jarlabanki had this stone raised in memory of himself while alive, and made this Assembly-place, and alone owned all of this Hundred.

U 216

This runestone was found at the church of Vallentuna, but it is presently stored inside the community pharmacy of Vallentuna. It is raised by a man having a christian name, Johan, in memory of his father Eysteinn. This Eysteinn is believed to be the son of Jarlabanke's son Ingifastr. It is in the style Pr5 (late 11th century or early 12th century).

Latin transliteration: : iuan ÷ lit ÷ raisa ' staina + ef... ' ay(s)-(a)in + faþur ' sin ÷ drosboi ÷ risti

Old Norse transcription:

: "Ioan let ræisa stæina æf [tiR] Øys [t] æin, faður sinn. Drosboi risti."

English translation:

: Jóhan had the stones raised in memory of Eysteinn, his father. Drósbúi carved.

U 217

This runestone was found in the church of Vallentuna, but it has disappeared. It was raised to commemorate that an Ingifastr had made a bridge, and this Ingifastr is held to be Jarlabanke's son, and the father of the Eysteinn mentioned on the previous rune stone. The reason for connecting the people mentioned on these stones is their location and the fact that U 216 and U 217 were both carved by the runemaster Drósbúi.

Latin transliteration: : ikifastr lit bro kiarua iftR * s...

Old Norse transcription:

: "Ingifastr let bro gærva æftiR ..."

English translation:

: Ingifastr had the bridge made in memory of ...

U 261

This runestone is located at the church of Fresta, and it is possibly in the style Pr2-Pr3 (mid-11th century). It is an additional rune stone raised by Jarlabanke is memory of himself, while he was alive, and that mentions that he was the sole owner of Täby.

Latin transliteration:

: iarlaba... lit × raisa × s [taina × þasa × a] t sik × kuikuan × ¶ auk × bru × þisa × karþi × fur ont [×] s [in] a × auk × ain ati alan tabu

Old Norse transcription:

: "Iarlaba [nki] let ræisa stæina þessa at sik kvikvan, ok bro þessa gærði fyr and sina, ok æinn atti allan Tæby."

English translation:

: Jarlabanki had these stones raised in memory of himself while alive and made this bridge for his spirit, and (he) alone owned all of Tábýr.

Notes and references

ources and external links

*Hadenius, Stig; Nilsson, Torbjörn & Åselius, Gunnar. (1996). "Sveriges historia". Centraltryckeriet, Borås. ISBN 91-34-51-857-6
*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
*Nationalencyklopedin
*Rundata
* [http://runicdictionary.nottingham.ac.uk/index.php An English Dictionary of Runic Inscriptions of the Younger Futhark, at the university of Nottingham]
* [http://web.telia.com/~u86408152/#Runtabell An Internet site on the Jarlabanke clan.]
* [http://www.foteviken.se/sweden/uppland/jarlabanke/jarla.htm A presentation at the Museum of Foteviken.]
* [http://www.historiska.se/histvarld/artikel.asp?id=10595 A presentation at the National Historic Museum, in Sweden.]