Swedes (Germanic tribe)

Since the name of the Svea has been used by different authors, are made with respect to the spatial and temporal mapping some uncertainties. In the oldest records in Sweden there was talk of Svitjod ( Svíþjóð ), a name which is used in Iceland today for Sweden. The origin of the word Svitjod and its relationship to " Det stora Svitjod " (the big Svitjod ), a former part of Russia, is unknown. Is likely, however, that this is negotiated around the area of the Svea in space of Gamla Uppsala or around the area Mälaren. In the first historical writings to Sweden there is a distinctly different spelling of Svitjod that is written only by Snorre Lasson in the Edda in this way. In the epic poem Beowulf this part of Sweden is called " Swēoðēod " and on Swedish rune stones can be read with several local modifications " Sviþjúðu ".

From Tacitus ' Germania from the year 98 AD, we learn that the Suionen on an island (Scandinavia) settled in the ocean. Whether this Suinonen, however, were related to the Svea, if not identical, is controversial. Next Tacitus mentions that this Suionen were a seafaring people. Jordanes mentioned around 550 in the Getica that Suehans (which may be the Gothic form of Suiones ) on Scandza as the Thuringian had exceptionally good horses.

In Beowulf is told of recurring feuds between the Geatas and Svearn; also it is the Svearn in 6/7 Century it has managed to subdue the Gauts and Sweden to unite in a kingdom which was led by the royal family of the Ynglings with center in Old Uppsala. These traditions are critical but seen by historians as the Swedish empire-building much more lengthy and complicated than was shown in this founding myth and a unified empire did not exist before the 12th century.