Agreement with Swedes Gotlander

the stora hammars stone

before 7th century, gutes made trade , defence agreement swedish kings, according gutasaga. seems have been due swedish military aggression. although gutes victorious in these battles, found more beneficial (as nation of traders) try negotiate peace treaty swedes.

many kings made war on gotland while heathen, gutes maintained victory , rights. gutes sending many messengers sweden, none of them succeeded in negotiating peace, till awair strabain alva parish. first make peace king of swedes.[...] smooth-tongued man, wise indeed , artful, stories of him go, established fixed treaty swedish king: 60 marks of silver year - tax gutes - 40 king, out of sixty, , jarls 20. amount had been decided agreement of whole land before left.

so gutes made trade , defence agreement king of swedes of own free will, might go anywhere in areas dominated swedes freely , unfettered tolls or duties. swedes come gotland no ban on import of corn, or other restrictions. king give aid , whenever needed , asked. king send messengers gotland national assembly, , jarls likewise, collect tax. these messengers must proclaim freedom gutes travel in peace on sea, places swedish king held sway. , same went travelling there gotland.

it gives awair strabain man arranged mutually beneficial agreement king of sweden , event have taken place before end of ninth century, when wulfstan of hedeby reported island subject swedes.