U 11 is the
Rundata
The Scandinavian Runic-text Database () is a project involving the creation and maintenance of a database of transliterated runic inscriptions. The project's goal is to comprehensively catalog runestones in a machine-readable way for future resea ...
designation for a
runestone
A runestone is typically a raised stone with a runic alphabet, runic inscription, but the term can also be applied to inscriptions on boulders and on bedrock. The tradition of erecting runestones as a memorial to dead men began in the 4th centur ...
that is located near the ruins of the old king's dwelling at
Alsnö hus near
Hovgården on the island of Adelsö in Sweden.
Description
Tolir is described as being a "bryte," which is an old Norse word for a
thrall
A thrall was a slave or Serfdom, serf in Scandinavia, Scandinavian lands during the Viking Age. The status of slave (, ) contrasts with that of the Franklin (class), freeman (, ) and the nobleman (, ).
Etymology
Thrall is from the Old Norse ...
who worked as the thralls' foreman. The word "bryte" comes from "to break," in the meaning of breaking bread, so "bryte" can be interpreted as the person who serves out food.
Gylla was Tolir's wife. Since the text mentions a ''kunungi'' or ''kunungr'',
Old Norse
Old Norse, also referred to as Old Nordic or Old Scandinavian, was a stage of development of North Germanic languages, North Germanic dialects before their final divergence into separate Nordic languages. Old Norse was spoken by inhabitants ...
for "king," Håkon is believed to be the reigning king
Håkan the Red
Håkan the Red ( Swedish: ''Håkan Röde'') was a King of Sweden, reigning for about half a decade in the second half of the 11th century.''Håkan Röde'' in ''Nationalencyklopedin'':
There is little information on him, and it is mostly contradic ...
, who is generally accepted as ruling during the 1070s.
Tranlisteration of runic text into Latin letters
:raþ, , þu : runaʀ : ret : lit : rista : toliʀ : bry
: i roþ : kunuki : toliʀ : a(u)k : gyla : litu : ris... ...- : þaun : hion : eftiʀ ...k : merki srni... haku(n) * (b)aþ : rista
[Project Samnordisk Runtextdatabas Svensk](_blank)
- Rundata
The Scandinavian Runic-text Database () is a project involving the creation and maintenance of a database of transliterated runic inscriptions. The project's goal is to comprehensively catalog runestones in a machine-readable way for future resea ...
entry for U 11.
Additional images
File:Konungr.jpg, Detail showing the word ''kunungi'' or "king."
File:Uppland Rune Inscription 11 drawing.gif, Drawing of U 11.
See also
*
List of runestones
There are about 3,000 runestones in Scandinavia (out of a total of about 6,000 runic inscriptions). p. 38.
The runestones are unevenly distributed in Scandinavia:
The majority are found in Sweden, estimated at between 1,700 and 2,500 (depending ...
References
External links
U 11, Hovgården, Adelsö
{{coord, 59, 21, 36, N, 17, 32, 03, E, region:SE_type:landmark_source:kolossus-svwiki, display=title
Uppland Runic Inscription 0011