[gothic-l] Gaut, an additional view

[Tore Gannholm]

Keth,
Yes it is correct. Gotland was an independant republic. The Swedish
annectation of Gotland is as late as 1679 and no Swedish king visited
Gotland until 1854. This was such a big thing that a large stone had to be
erected over this occasion.
 Sweden is not a nation but a state put together of various nations and a
construction  from later times.  The time we discuss Sweden did not exist.
>From the sixth century there is a Svea (sviar) power around the Lake Mälar.
(This is the sviar mentioned in the Guta saga and with whom the Gutar made
a trade and defence treaty at the middle of the sixth century. They are
also mentioned in Beowulf. The wars between svear and gutar. )

In Västergötland there is a Gauta power. This is probably close related to
Östergötland over the Lake Vättern. The hilly forrests of Kolmården acted
as barrier between Lake Mälar area and Östergötland. At that time the
waterways were the crucial communication ways. North of Lake Vättern there
were the big forrests that acted as a barrier.
Bohuslän belonged to the Viken area with the Olsofjord as the center. The
links with Västergötland and the Oslo fjord area were probably very close.
I consider there were three power areas. Denmark-Skåne (The Leijre center)
. The Viken area with the Olso fjord and Bohuslän with Göta älv as
important water way and the Baltic with Gotland. When the Svear immigrated
in the beginning of the 6th century there was an alliance formed between
the Svear and the Gutnish people, a trade and defence alliance.
Tore



>Tore wrote:
>>Yes, I am from Gotland.I know Erik Nylén very well. One of my brothers was
>>navigator on Krampmacken on the first part of the voyage down to river Bug.
>>I have also compiled  the Golandish history. Published "Beowulf, gutarnas
>>nationalepos" and "Guta lagh".  From Swedish point of view the Gotlandic
>>history did not exist. As it is always the history of the winner that
>>counts and as Gotland became a Swedish colony in 1679 nobody bothered about
>>the Gotlandic history.
>>Tore
>
>Thank you for your comment, Tore!
>I never thought of it that way.
>Do you mean that Gotland is no more Swedish than it is Danish?
>Sweden was very agressive against Norway too, for many centuries.
>Surprisingly, the Swedish military never did very well in Norway,
>the either froze to death or had their chiefs killed and things
>like that. We learned about those wars when I was in the army
>training school. One thing that I think is important, is that
>Båhuslen also only became Swedish at a correspondingly late date.
>(1658). Båhus used to be one of the North's and Norway's
>strongest forts. I think it is at the Göta river. That means
>that the "Gautar" may just as well be seen as "Norwegian"
>as "Swedish". Just like you cannot call Medieval Gotland
>"Swedish" if I understand you correctly. The dictionary
>says "came under" at such and such peace treaty. And that
>probably means that the land with all its inhabitants
>was used for bargaining a peace.
>
>Best regards
>Keth
>
>
>
>You are a member of the Gothic-L list.  To unsubscribe, send a blank email
>to <gothic-l-unsubscribe at egroups.com>.
>
>Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/



You are a member of the Gothic-L list.  To unsubscribe, send a blank email to <gothic-l-unsubscribe at egroups.com>. 

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/