Suiones Location Etymology History Romans Jordanes

According to early sources, they were a powerful tribe whose kings claimed descendance from the god Frey.

1 Location

Their primary dwellings were in eastern Svealand, i.e. the traditional Folklands of Attundaland, Tiundaland, Fjärdhundraland and RoslagenRoslagen is the name of the coastal areas of Uplandia in Sweden, which also constitutes the northern part of the Stockholm Archipelago. Historically it was the name of all the coastal areas of the Baltic Sea, including the eastern parts of lake Malaren, b in the area of the present cities of UppsalaThis article is about the modern city of Uppsala. If you're searching for the Uppsala of Norse mythology, see Gamla Uppsala. Uppsala [˘ɵpsɑːla] is a City and a Municipality of Sweden, located about 70 km north of Stockholm. and StockholmStockholm ['stɔkhɔlm, ˘stɔkhɔlm] is the capital and the largest City of Sweden. The City of Stockholm is administratively a municipality within Stockholm County, the population of the city proper is 761,721 (2004), with and the modern province of GästriklandGastrikland is the name of a geographical region in Sweden which can refer to: Gestricia, or Gastrikland a historical Province of Sweden Part of Gavleborg County, or Gavleborgs lan a current County of Sweden Part of Hudiksvall County, or Hudiksvalls lan a. Their territories also probably included the provinces of VästmanlandWestmannia or Vastmanland is a historical Province or landskap in middle Sweden. It borders to Sudermannia, Nericia, Wermelandia, Dalecarlia and Uplandia. County For current affairs see: Vastmanland County or Orebro County Westmannia is divided upon Vastm, SödermanlandSudermannia or Sodermanland is a historical province or landskap on the south eastern coast of Sweden. It borders to Ostrogothia, Nericia, Westmannia and Uplandia. It is also bounded by lake Malaren and the Baltic sea. Counties For current affairs see: So and Nerike in the basin of MälarenMalaren is the third largest lake in Sweden, after lakes Vanern and Vattern. Its area is 1140 km² and its greatest depth is 64 m. The lake drains, from west to east, into the Baltic Sea at Stockholm through Sodertalje kanal, Norrstrom, Slussen and Hammarb which constituted a bay with a multitude of islands. The region is still one of the most fertile and densely populated regions of Scandinavia.

The lands of the Svear were called Svealand ( the Voyage of Ohthere: Swéoland), Suithiod ( Beowulf: Sweoðeod), Svía veldi or Svea rike (Beowulf: Swéorice), and the unknown moment when they subjugated, or united politically with, the Geats in Götaland between the 6th century and the 11th century is nowadays often regarded as the birth to the Swedish kingdom, even though the Swedish kingdom retains their name, Sverige in Swedish, from Svea rike - i.e. the kingdom of the Suiones. The English name Sweden is derived from an old name for Sweden and the land of the Suiones: Svitjod (the people of the Suiones).

Much debate is raised as to whether the original domains of the Suiones really was in Uppsala, the heartland of Uplandia, or if the term was used commonly for all tribes within Svealand, in the same way as old Norways different provinces were collectively referred to as Nortmanni. The established Svealand theory holds that the Aesir-cult center in Gamla Uppsala, was the religious centre of the Swedes and where the Swedish king served as a priest during the sacrifices ( blóts).

2 Etymology

The form Suiones appears in the Roman author Tacitus's Germania. By Jordanes in the History of the Goths, they are called Suehans in the 6th century. A closely similar form, Sweonas, is found in Old English and in the work of Adam of Bremen, about the Hamburg-Bremen archbishops, they are denoted Sueones, and by Snorri Sturluson they are called Svíar. The most common theory is that it is derived from the same Indo-European root as the Latin suus, 'one's own (tribesmen)' (i.e. not from latin but from the same root, a root also existing in Slavic languages).

3 History

The history of this tribe is shrouded in the mists of time. Besides Scandinavian mythology and Germanic legend, only a few sources describe them and there is very little information, in spite of the fact that the tribe existed already during the first century A.D.

3.1 Romans

There are two sources from the 1st century A.D that are quoted as referring to the Suiones. The first one is Pliny the Elder who said that the Romans had rounded the Cimbric peninsula Jutland where there was the Codanian Gulf ( Kattegat?). In this gulf there were several large islands among which the most famous was Scatinavia ( Scandinavia). He said that the size of the island was unknown but in a part of it dwelt a tribe named the Hillevionum gente, in 500 villages, and they considered their country to be a world of its own.

What strikes the commentators of this text is that this large tribe is unknown to posterity, unless it was a simple mispelling or misreading of Illa Svionum gente. This would make sense, since a large Scandinavian tribe named the Suiones was known to the Romans.

Tacitus wrote in AD 98 that the Suiones were a powerful tribe (distinguished not merely for their arms and men, but for their powerful fleets) with ships that had a prow in both ends ( longships):

Beyond these people (the Rugii and the Lemovii) are the states (civitates) of the Suiones, but these are in the ocean itself (i.e. on an island and not, like the Rugii and Lemovii, on the South Baltic coast of the mainland). The Suiones are distinguished not merely for their arms and men, but for their powerful fleets, though the style of their ships is unusual in that there is a prow at each end so that the boat can advance head-on in either direction. Moreover, they do not use sails, and the oars are not fixed in rows along the sides, but are detachable, and are removed on certain rivers; they can also be reversed, if occasion demands. These people respect wealth, and one man among them is supreme, there being no limits to his power and no question as to the full obedience due to him. Promiscuous carrying of arms is not allowed here, as it is among the other Germans, but weapons are kept shut up in the charge of a slave who acts as guard. This is because the sea prevents sudden inroads from enemies, and because bands of armed men who have nothing to do often become unruly. It is not found expedient for the king (regia utilitas) to place a nobleman or a freeborn man, or even a freedman, in charge over these arms...[1]

What kings (kuningaz) ruled these Suiones is unknown, but Norse mythology presents a line mythical kings whom Thor Heyerdahl has proposed existed in real life (see Mythological kings of Sweden).

3.2 Jordanes

After this the sources are silent about the Suiones until the 6th century, when Jordanes names two tribes he calls the Suehans and the Suetidi who lived in Scandza. The Suehans are considered to be the Suiones, and they were famous for their fine horses. Interestingly, Snorri Sturluson wrote that the contemporary Swedish king Adils (Eadgils) had the finest horses of his days. The Suehans were the suppliers of black fox skins for the Roman market. Then Jordanes names a tribe named Suetidi a name that is considered to refer to the Suiones as well and to be the latin form of Svitjod. The Suetidi are said to be the tallest of men together with the Dani who were of the same stock.

3.3 Beowulf

The next source is Beowulf (9th century) which describes the wars between the Sweon and the Geatas, during the 6th century. This time we have information about the royal house of the Suiones, which is named the Scylfings a dynasty which is known to Scandinavian sources as well (see Swedish semi-legendary kings). There is a prophesy that the Geats will be subdued by the Swedes and that is what happened.

3.4 Adam of Bremen

Adam of Bremen relates in the 11th century that the Sueones had many wives and were severe on crime. Hospitality was an important virtue and refusing a wanderer to stay over the night was considered shameful. The visitor was even taken to see the hosts' friends.

It is interesting that even if 1000 years separate Adam of Bremen from Tacitus both describe the Suiones as being comprised of many tribes, probably identical to the traditional provinces of eastern Svealand. Like Tacitus, he also notes that they are powerful warriors at sea, a power that they use to keep their neighbours in order. Their royal family is of an old dynasty (see House of Munsö), but the kings are dependent on the will of the people (the Ting). What has been decided by the people is more important than the will of the king unless the king's opinion seems to be the most reasonable one, whereupon they usually obey. During peacetime, they feel to be the king's equals but during wars they obey him blindly or whoever among them that he considers to be the most skillful. If the fortunes of war are against them they pray to one of their many gods ( Aesir) and if they win they are grateful to him.

3.5 Norse sagas

The Norse sagas are our foremost source for knowledge and especially Snorri Sturluson who is probably the one who has contributed the most (see for instance the Heimskringla). His descriptions concur to a large extent with those of the previous sources.

For a continuation, see Early Swedish Kingdoms.

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