History -- Historical myths -- Myths from Polish history --- History of Poland

Since Vikings were responsible for founding the state of the Rus, some people have wondered if a they could have also been the founders of a Polish state.

There are some arguments for that theory:

1. In one early written documents, Mieszko I is called "Dagome", which could be a Norman name, derived from Dagon.

2. Some Viking weapons have been found in Poland.

3 There were Viking settlements in Pomerania, the most important of which was Jomsborg.

4 Several Polish noblemen had runes on their coats of arms.

Most historians find these arguments tenuous and unconvincing.

1 In no other chronicle or document is Mieszko called Dagome. Quite on the contrary, he is described as Msko, Mesco, and so on - both by Ibrahim ibn Jakub and the Germans. Dagome Iudex is a terribly mangled copy of a summary of document. For example, modern historians do not know the meaning of shinesghe, which is used in the Dagome Iudex. The copyists who wrote the summary did not know about whom the author was writing and could have easily made mistakes.

2 This is definite proof that Vikings were merely mercenaries or invaders. What's more, the findings relating to them are few, especially compared to Russia and other countries.

3 In fact, some (like Awdańcy) had signs which can be interpreted as runes, because there is slight resemblance between runes and those signs. However they could be also something else, for example special ownership-endorsing markings. And even if some Polish noblemen were of Viking descent, this could also be attributed to the Viking mercenaries of Polish kings.

4 Jomsborg, as historians (at least Polish) have agreed many years ago, is a myth. The only source that tells us about Jomsburg are Iceland sagas, from the 13th century. It's more likely that a city of Slavic pirates existed at that spot.

5 Dynastic tradition is straightforward in saying that Piasts originated from local population. It does not mention Vikings, contrary to dynastic tradition in Rus.

6 There is no archaeological evidence of rapid changes in the making of weapons or fortresses. In fact, the evolution in their making is gradual. Fortresses were built in a style that do not resemble the Viking customs.

7 There is strong evidence, both archeological and written, that the Polish state developed on its own.