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History -- Historical Myths -- Myths From Polish History --- History Of Poland Since the Vikings were responsible for founding the state of Kievan Rus , some have wondered if they could have also been the founders of a Polish state. PRO There are several arguments in favour of this theory: 1. In one early document, Dagome Iudex refers to Dagome (Dagon, Dago, Dagobert or Dagr), who was married to Ote ( Oda Von Haldensleben and they had three sons, Boleslaw I Chrobry was not included. It is generally agreed that Dago mentioned is Mieszko I of the Piasts . The Daglingers were a dynasty from Norway. 2. Dagobert is also an old Frankish name of several rulers. 3. Many Viking weapons have been found in Poland. 4. There were several Viking settlements in Pomerania , the most important being at Jomsborg . 5. Several Polish noblemen had Rune s in their coats of arms. CON However, most historians find these arguments tenuous and unconvincing. 1. In no other chronicle or document is Mieszko called Dagome. His name is corrupted in several documents - for example in the traveller Ibrahim Ibn Jakub 's account of Poland, and in German accounts - but the result - Msko, Mesco, and so on - is still recognisable. The '' Dagome Iudex '' is a terribly mangled summary of a document. Other words in it, for example ''shinesghe'', are also mysterious. If the copyist had no knowledge of the subject of the document, he could have easily made mistakes. 2. Weapons only prove that the Vikings were indeed present in Poland, but most probably only as mercenaries or invaders. Indeed, Viking findings are relatively few compared to Russia and other countries where a Viking presence is historically attested. Even if some Polish nobles were indeed of Viking descent, it could be explained as the offspring of naturalized Viking mercenaries in the service of Polish kings. 3. Several examples of Polish clan badge (''herb'') may resemble runes, but this does not mean they are runes. More likely is that they are simply Ownership Marks , well known in Medieval Europe, and also having an uncanny resemblance to runes. 4. Jomsborg , as historians (or at least Polish historians) agreed many years ago, is a probably a myth. The only sources that refer to Jomsburg are 13th Century Iceland ic Sagas . It is more likely that a city of Slavic pirates existed at the spot. 5. Tradition plainly states that the ruling Piast dynasty originated from the local population. It does not mention Vikings, unlike the dynastic tradition in Rus. 6. There is no archaeological evidence of any rapid changes in the technology of weapons or fortresses. Rather, the evolution has been slow and gradual. Fortresses were built in a style not influenced by Viking customs. 7. There is strong evidence, both archeological and written, that the Polish state developed on its own. SEE ALSO
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