Jomsborg orJómsborg was a semi-legendaryViking stronghold at the southern coast of theBaltic Sea (medievalWendland, modernPomerania), that existed between the 960s and 1043. Its inhabitants were known asJomsvikings. Jomsborg's exact location, or its existence, has not yet been established, though it is often maintained that Jomsborg was located on the eastern outlet of theOder river.[1] HistorianLauritz Weibull dismissed Jomsborg as a legend.[1]
The only source that mentions a precise location of Jomsborg (53°51′50″N14°43′05″E / 53.86389°N 14.71806°E /53.86389; 14.71806) is the controversialGesta Wulinensis ecclesiae pontificum that was discovered in the autumn of 2019.[2][3]
Jomsborg is often thought to be identical with the present-daytown of Wolin (also Wollin) on the southeastern tip of theisle of Wolin in northwesternPoland, probably located at Srebrna Góra hill north of the town.[1] In theEarly Middle Ages, modern Wolin was the site of a multi-ethnicemporium (then known asJumne orJulin).[4] The Nordic sagas use "Jómsborg" exclusively, while medieval German histories use "Jumne" or "Julin", with the alternate names, some of which may be spelling variants, "vimne", "uimne", "Jumneta", "Juminem", "Julinum", "uineta", "Vineta" and "Vinneta".[5]
In 1931/32, Pomeranian historianAdolf Hofmeister (1883-1956) suggested, through comparison of the events reported by the different chronicles, that all these terms describe the same place, which is at or near the modern town of Wolin.[5] However, this is by no means universally accepted; professor and historian Steven Fanning writes: "TheTrelleborg-type fortresses of Denmark have been taken to be actual examples of Jómsborg-style camps of such warriors and Wolin in Poland was believed to be the actual Jómsborg. However, all such attempts to locate Jómsborg or encampments of the Jómvikings have failed, leading many to doubt that Jómvikings ever existed outside of literature."[6] According toWładysław Filipowiak there are several dated sources which attest to the presence of a company of armed Vikings at the end of the 10th century in Wolin, who may have been installed there as mercenaries by the Polish kingBolesław the Brave.[7] Ruins discovered in Wolin in 2023 are being investigated as a possible site of Jomsborg.[8]
Other theories see Jomsborg in the northwest of nearbyUsedom island, on lands now submerged.[9] The small islands in this area are remnants of a long stretch of land betweenUsedom andRügen, which fell victim tostorm floods in the early 14th century.[10] Suspected locations in this area are the Veritas grounds between the petty islands ofRuden andGreifswalder Oie, and thePeenemünde shoals.[9] WhileViking Age jewelry has been found at the site, archaeological evaluation of these theories has not yet been possible.[11]
According to theKnytlingasaga andFagrskinna, Jomsborg was built by the Danish kingHarold Bluetooth (910-985/86) in the 960s.[1][12] TheJomsvikinga Saga mentions Danish VikingPalnatoki as its founder.[1][13]
In medieval records, Jomsborg is described as a fortress with a harbour.[1][12] The harbour was overseen by a stone tower mounted with catapults, built on an arch spanning over the harbour entrance which could be closed by an iron gate.[1][12] According to the oldest records, the harbour had space for three ships;[12] later records give a capacity of up to 360 ships.[1][12]
According to theHeimskringla, Jomsborg was destroyed in 1043 by Dano-Norwegian kingMagnus the Good.[14] The fortress was burned down, and many of the inhabitants were killed.[15][16]
The Jomsborg Vikings (Jomsvikings) were composed of selected warriors who adhered to a special codex and were loyal only to their leader.[13] Most records list asjarl of Jomsborg,Sigvald(i), son of petty kingStrut-Harald of thenDanishScania.[13] Sigvald died some time before 1010.[17]
A golden disc bearing the name ofHarald Bluetooth and Jomsborg appeared in Sweden in autumn 2014, first presented by SwedisharchaeologistSven Rosborn. The disc, also called theCurmsun Disc, is made of high gold content and has a weight of 25.23 grams. On the obverse there is a Latin inscription and on the reverse there is a Latin cross with four dots surrounded by an octagonal ridge. The inscription reads: "+ARALD CVRMSVN+REX AD TANER+SCON+JVMN+CIV ALDIN+" and translates as "Harald Gormsson king ofDanes,Scania, Jomsborg, diocese of Aldinburg".[18]
It is claimed that the disc was a part of a Viking hoard found in 1841 in the Polish villageWiejkowo near thetown of Wolin by Heinrich Boldt.[19]
Following the find of the disc, Sven Rosborn also found a text that purports to be modern Polish translation of an otherwise unknown Latin chronicle,Gesta Wulinensis ecclesiae pontificum, which in addition to providing details on the Jomsvikings and Jomsborg, attributes to Jomsborg a location near Paprotno, Poland, at53°51′50″N14°43′05″E / 53.86389°N 14.71806°E /53.86389; 14.71806. Rosborn has visited the location and confirms that it matches the descriptions of Jomsborg from the various sagas and chronicles, and that various artifacts found on the surface of the location seem to match the period of time in which Jomsborg existed.[2][3]
However, both the disc and the chronicle has been criticized for their unclear provenance. ArchaeologistJes Wienberg has criticized Rosborn for not allowing other scholars direct access to the finds, and that it thus is not possible to properly evaluate them.[20] HistoriansKurt Villads Jensen andWojtek Jezierski have claimed that they are forgeries, noting that the disc has no known analogue, and that the chronicle contains several anachronisms.[21]
