Ragnvaldr Ingvarsson

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Runic block by Ed

Ragnvaldr Ingvarsson ( Rahnualtr ) was a Varangian officer in the Byzantine Empire in the early 11th century. His name can be found on runestones in Uppland , Sweden .

Rune stones

Runestone 112, side B.

Ragnvaldr is mentioned on the rune block by Ed (U 112) in Uppland:

“Ragnvaldr had these runes scratched in memory of Faství, his mother, daughter of Ónæmr, who died in Eið. May God help their spirit. "

"Ragnvaldr had these runes scratched, he was in Greece, he was a leader of the troops."

An Ónæmr is mentioned on two other rune stones in Uppland.

A Ragnvaldr was thought of on two other rune stones:

"Sigviðr and Ingvarr and Jarlabanki had this rune made in memory of Ingvarr, their father and Ragnvaldr, their brother."

"Ástríðr had this bridge built in memory of Ingvarr, her husband and Ragnvaldr, their son."

It is not clear whether they were the same person, especially since Faství and Ástríðr are two different mothers. In any case, Ragnvald belonged to the upper class of society.

The inscription is of the Pr 4 type, which is dated to the middle of the 11th century.

Historical background

Scandinavian Varangians moved repeatedly into the Byzantine Empire since the 8th century . You are also attested as a guard at the imperial court in Constantinople . Vladimir the Great sent Varangians to work in Constantinople around 990.

In 1044 a campaign by King Harald III. of Norway and Prince Vladimir of Novgorod to the Byzantine Empire with Varangians.

The inscriptions do not tell on what occasion Ragnvaldr came to Greece. A return to Scandinavia was rare at this time.

literature

  • Lars Magnar Enoksen: Runor: historia, tydning, tolkning. Historiska Media, Falun 1998, ISBN 91-88930-32-7 .
  • S. Blöndal, B. Benedikz: The Varangians of Byzantium. Cambridge University Press, 2007, ISBN 978-0-521-03552-1 [1]
  • Sven BF Jansson: Uppländska, Småländska och Sörmländska Runstensfynd. In: Fornvännen. 49/1954, pp. 1-25 [2] ISSN  1404-9430

Remarks

  1. ↑ U 112; Mid-11th century, cf. Enoksen 131; Omeljan Pritsak 376; rundata; First made known by Bureus in 1594
  2. ↑ Inscription: * rahnualtr * lit * rista * runar * efR * fastui * moþur * sina * onems * totR * to i * aiþi * kuþ hialbi * ant * hena *. Transcription: Ragnvaldr let rista runaR æftiR Fastvi, moður sina, Onæms dottiR, do i Æiði. Guð hialpi and hænnaR. , U 112 A; location
  3. ↑ Inscription: runa * rista * lit * rahnualtr * huar a × griklanti * uas * lis * forunki *. Transcription: RunaR rista let Ragnvaldr. VaR a Grikklandi, vas liðs forungi. U 112 B
  4. ↑ U 328, U 336, cf. Pritsak 389ff.
  5. ↑ U 309
  6. ↑ U 310, Pritsak 389ff.
  7. ↑ Pritsak 389ff., Harrison, Svensson 31 advocate it
  8. ↑ Enoksen 134; Jansson 20; Harrison, Svensson 31, Pritsak 376
  9. ↑ Enoksen 131; Pritsak 393, rundata
personal data
SURNAME Ragnvaldr Ingvarsson
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Rahnualtr
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Swedish Varangian in Byzantine service
DATE OF BIRTH 10th century or 11th century
DATE OF DEATH 11th century