The Legendary Founder of the Jomsviking Order | Palnatoke

Welcome to the video, don't forget to hit that bell icon for weekly videos on historical figures and stories. If you enjoy the content, be sure to subscribe. The story of Palnatoke is based in the 10th century, at the height of the Viking Age. During this legendary time, a mercenary order would form, who were feared all over the North Sea. This group were called the Jomsvikings, and they were famous for the high calibre of their warriors and their fighting ability. The ideologies of the Jomsvikings were simple, they placed heavy emphasis on the importance of battle, they were honourable and longed to die in battle in order to reach the mythical hall with the gods and other legendary fallen warriors of history. The founder of the order was Palnatoke, and this is his story, according to the Jomsviking saga. Palnatoke grew up on the island of Finn, and he is described from an early age as being big, clever and popular. He would go raiding every summer, and would soon become a famous warrior. During this time, Wales was ruled by an earl called Stefnir, who had a wise and popular daughter called Alof. One summer, Palnatoke would leave the island of Finn, and decided to go raiding there with his men. His intention was to ravage Stefnir's kingdom. Once Palnatoke reached the Wales shore, scouts would let Earl Stefnir know that a force of warriors had landed on the coast. Stefnir decided to invite Palnatoke and his men to a banquet, and he and his men accepted. At the feast, Palnatoke saw Alof and witnessed her beauty. He would ask for her hand in marriage, and the suit was readily granted. The banquet was immediately transformed into a wedding ceremony, and thereupon Stefnir made Palnatoke an earl, and granted him half of his kingdom. The rest he would get after Stefnir's death. He would stay in Wales that summer, and the following winter. When he arrived back home, he was thought to be second only to the king in importance, magnificence and wisdom, regarded as a warrior and a leader by the people. Palnatoke would throw a big feast for King Harald Bluetooth. According to the Jomsviking saga, at the banquet, a woman named Issa would attend to the king. The following summer, she was pregnant, and Palnatoke relieved her of her duties. She would give birth to a boy called Swain, and Palnatoke would become his foster father. Three years later, King Harald Bluetooth attended another one of Palnatoke's banquets. At the head of the table was King Harald and Palnatoke, and as they were there talking, Issa approached them with a child. She told the king that it was his son, to which King Harald replied, You are very rash and foolish. Don't say such things again if you want to remain unharmed. Palnatoke would get in a word and say, She would only say that, your majesty, if she thought it was true. She is not a loose woman. It's for your own sake that I have given her my protection. The king replied, I shall not give you thanks for that. After the king left the banquet, relations became very strained between him and Palnatoke. Soon enough, Palnatoke's wife Alof would give birth to a boy called Aki. Swain would remain on the island of Fin until he was fifteen, and Palnatoke told him to go to his father and demand some men, as he was his son. Swain took his foster father's advice and made his way to King Harald's court. When Swain was presented to his father, he said to him, You certainly are my father. Now give me three ships. The king obliged him, and Palnatoke provided him with an additional three ships. That whole summer, Swain would ravage his father's kingdom, and there were many complaints to the king by farmers of his land, but he took no notice. Swain would after go to Palnatoke with all his men, and spend the winter there. When spring came, Swain once again asked for another twelve ships. His father said to him, You are a thief and a robber, and I shall never call you my son. Swain replied, We'll fight it out here and now, and you'll have no chance of slipping away. To that the king replied, You have such a brave spirit, that you may well have been born of noble parents. You shall have what you demand. Swain returned back to Palnatoke, who welcomed him with open arms. Palnatoke said, It looks like my advice is turning out well for you, as you now have a larger force than ever before, but the king will not endure your raids any longer. Do not flee if the king sends an army against you, for I shall come to your assistance. After this the two men parted. Swain went to Denmark and set fire to the countryside, while Palnatoke went to see the ongoing affairs in his lands. It wasn't long until King Harald had enough of his son, and he personally led fifty ships in search of his son Swain. King Harald and Swain's forces would meet each other at Bornholm. A battle on the water would soon commence, but it had no clear victor, and in the evening, both armies anchored their ships at the bottom of the creek. Palnatoke arrived at the battle in the evening with twenty-four ships, but he would anchor at the other side of the headland. Palnatoke would go ashore alone, taking his bow and quiver. Night had already fallen, and it was dark, and in a distance, Palnatoke saw a fire in the forest, and made a detour towards it. Recognising it was King Harald trying to keep warm, he put an arrow in him, and King Harald would die there. Palnatoke would return to his ship, after this he would summon twenty men, and then go and meet Swain. Palnatoke told no one he had killed the king, and he came up with a plan to defeat the royal fleet. The next morning, they attacked the royal army, and learned that the king was dead. Palnatoke then said aloud to all men there, you have two alternatives, to fight us, or accept Swain as king. Afterwards, Palnatoke and Swain both left, and summoned an assembly at which Swain was elected the king of the whole of Denmark. Now that Swain was king, he thought it necessary to hold a funeral feast in honour of his father. Palnatoke would go and make his way towards the king's hall. The king greeted his foster father, and everyone began to drink. One of Palnatoke's men named Fjolnir leaned over to the king, and whispered in his ear. After this interaction, the king's face changed colours, and became as red as blood. Fjolnir gave the king's page an arrow, and told him to show it to everyone who was in the hall, until someone recognised it as his own. The king's page went towards Palnatoke, and asked him if he recognised the arrow. Palnatoke said, Why wouldn't I recognise my arrow? It's mine. King Swain interrupted, and said, When did you last part with this arrow? Palnatoke replied, My foster son, I parted with it when I shot your father. The king then said, Stand up men, seize Palnatoke and all his men, and kill them all. Whatever friendship there was between us is now past. Palnatoke drew his sword, and cut Fjolnir in two with the swing of his sword for his treachery. He and his men fought their way through the hall, until no one would do them harm, as Palnatoke was so respected and had so many friends, that no one wanted to fight him. Palnatoke and his men then took their ships, fell to the oars and rowed away, not stopping before they came home to Wales. The following summer, Palnatoke's wife died, and he made ready with thirty ships to leave the land and go raiding. He would ravage Scotland and Ireland in his grief for three years, and would earn himself extensive wealth and fame. Palnatoke's name soon came to the ear of the king of Wendland. He was worried about Palnatoke, as he didn't want him to descend on his land. The king wanted to invite him to his lands, on the invitation of friendship, and offered him lands. Palnatoke would accept this offer, and he and his men would settle. They would soon begin the construction of a city, and this land was named Jomsborg. Palnatoke would then set up the mercenary order of the Jomsvikings, and their strict warrior laws. The Jomsvikings would become famous for their warrior values and incredible fighting abilities. Every summer, they went raiding in various lands, and won fame and glory. It was seen to be an honour to join the Jomsviking elite force, and they were well known around the whole North Sea. Palnatoke and the great king Swain Forkbeard grew apart due to Palnatoke killing Swain's father Harald, but it didn't stop Swain having his own son Canute fostered at Jomsborg. He would go on to become the king of England and the North Sea Empire. It seems that the Jomsvikings had a tendency to forge legends. On Palnatoke's deathbed, he gave command of the Jomsvikings to Sigvaldi Many great warriors joined the ranks of the Jomsvikings, Thorkell the Tall, Van Ackersen, among many others, but their tales are for another time. So what do you think of the tale of the founder of the Jomsvikings? Let me know your thoughts in the comment sections down below. If you enjoyed the video, make sure to like, subscribe and share, and I'll see you all soon for another history profile.