Codex Runicus Pages 1 and 2 And Introduction
The Codex Runicus is now a part of the Arnamagnæan manuscript collection University of Copenhagen in Denmark. The collection in its entirety consists of approximately 3000 manuscript items, of which 1400 are in Copenhagen.
The collection is named after its founder, the Icelandic philologist and historian Árni Magnússon (Latinised as Arnas Magnæus, in Danish Arne Magnusson). Shortly before his death in 1730 he bequeathed his collection of manuscripts and printed books as well as his fortune to the University of Copenhagen, where he was professor of Danish antiquities.
References
Photos from: University of Copenhagen's Interactive Online Scan with Zoom: https://www.e-pages.dk/ku/579/
Dictionary used is always the latest version which is found on this site here.
Letter Chart Used: Rune (North European) Letters
Deity Summary: Ancient Pagan Paradigm
About Codex Runicus 1190 CE
(August 1, 2023, Updated May 22, 2024) The main theme of this book, so far as has been translated, is that people need to work with the natural and divine powers and not seek to replace them with human magical powers. For example, astrology magic should be used to attune, shift, and activate the spiritual powers of the night sky instead of being used to replace and supersede them.
The codex Runicus is the only surviving book written in runes. This important book is a Druid philosophical text. It was found in 1505 and seems to be a copy of an original composed in 1190 CE. It has 200 pages in 14 layers. Prior to this first translation it was thought to be a runic version of Danish law like those found in other early Danish books.
These other Danish law books are in the old Norse/Germanic language and were compiled during the 1200s. They represent the bulk of Nordic literature from the period between 1200-1400. The Danish provincial laws consist of the Scanian Law (written between 1202 and 1216), the Jutlandic Law (issued in 1241) along with King Valdemar's Zealandic Law and King Eric's Zealandic Law.
This text was commissioned by Danish King Valdemar near the end of his life as indicated by the introductory paragraph on page 1. King Valdemar 1 was born January 14, 1131 and died May 12, 1182). He ended the eastern Baltic Wend threat to Danish shipping, won independence from the Holy Roman emperor, and gained church approval for the hereditary rule by his dynasty, the Valdemars.
He was the son of Knud Lavard, duke of South Jutland, and a great-grandson of the Danish king Sweyn II. Valdemar won a 25 year civil war waged by competing contenders for the throne.
Initially during this struggle, Valdemar acknowledged the overlordship of the Holy Roman emperor Frederick I Barbarossa and accepted his antipope Victor IV (or V). This caused Denmark’s chief prelate Eskil, archbishop of Lund, to choose exile rather than oppose Pope Alexander III. After Valdemar and Bishop Absalon changed their mind and and acknowledged Pope Alexander in 1165, Eskil returned to Denmark. There he confirmed the canonization of the king’s father and anointed his son Canute VI as joint king (1170) inaugurating the hereditary rule of the Valdemars.
Apparently, as a part of this deal Valdemar agreed to take part in the Northern crusades aimed at suppressing Paganism in the Baltic lands. He began a series of expeditions against the Wends aided by his foster brother Absalon whom he made bishop of Roskilde. The Wends were attacked and by 1169 his forces had captured the Wendish stronghold of Rügen (now in Germany), which was incorporated into the diocese of Roskilde, and had destroyed the Wend sanctuary at Arcona. A year later he was forced to divide his gains with his ally Henry the Lion, duke of Saxony.
Apparently King Valemar was more a political opportunist and not really anti-Pagan. To help preserve what he had helped to destroy he commissioned the Codex Runicus which was likely written by a surviving Wendish Druid.
The letter style is a mix of Nordic and the earlier Italian Po Valley indicating its writing tradition developed along a different track than the Nordic runes. This is further support it is Wendish.
References
Arild Hauge's scan: https://www.arild-hauge.com/am_28_8vo_codex_runicus.htm
University of Copenhagen's Interactive Online Scan with Zoom: https://www.e-pages.dk/ku/579/
Wendish Crusade here at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wendish_Crusade
Freeman, Kirk (2007) Baptism or Death: The Wendish Crusade, 1147-1185. Online at: https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/article/baptism-or-death-the-wendish-crusade-1147-1185/
Paganism in Twelfth Century Europe - European beliefs still extant prior to the Northern Crusades by Flavius Claudius Julianus
A very well done history with sources.
The Northern and Wendish Crusades Ended Northern Paganism by 1225 CE
(March 30, 2024) Not all Europe was Christian in the twelfth century. The Baltic area populated by the Wendish people, the Pomeranians, Prussians, Estonians, Latvians, Lithuanians, Lapps and Finns and other communities still had its own distinct religions, beliefs and culture. It was only after the Northern Crusades to eliminate paganism and force Christianity on these people were successful that Europe became entirely Christian during the 14th and 15th centuries. This video discusses the situation prior to, leading up to, during and after the Baltic crusades (alternatively called the Northern Crusades).
Page 1 of Codex Runicus
(July 23, 2023) The top runes seem to have written in 1569 when this copy was made. This was when Akkadian literacy no longer existed and someone was guessing at what the letters meant. This is a list of runes found in the book.
The lower text is in early Danish and it translates as:
- This mandate was found by Lagus Scanit, Geoffroy of Odense (Goffovido da Odma), and Hufnhk (Hufnek) in 1505. Latin year 1190 from Valdemar 1. Danish illustrator, Winey William Wormy.
According to this paragraph, the text was found 1505 with the original completed in 1190.
Page 2 of Codex Runicus
(Updated May 21, 2024. July 23, 2023) This text is a later than the main text. It exhibits word separation and making new longer Nordic/Germanic words out of Druid Akkadian phrases. These Nordic words are shown by Akkadian words separated by periods in the translation below.
"Emanations" are life powers fluid flows like rain, sun-light and sun-heat. This text summarizes the contents of the book which is all about how astrological powers affect the life powers on earth.
Translation of Lines 1 and 2 in Akkadian (Rune Text 29.1)
(read left to right. Capital letters on object. Small letters are inferred Inner vowels. Verbs are italic bold. The colons in the text are word separators) - PaLu UṢu Ṭu.LaBu Zu.ILu. IṬ.TaBu ILu.Tu Ṣu.EṬu.TaPu.Tu (Text 29.1.1)
- ELu.Ru Ṭu.ṢaBu. LaṢu.GaPu PaYu.Bu APu.TaBu. MaGi TaBu.Pu.ṬaTu (Text 29.1.2)
(Dual use letters are E/H, I/Y, U/W, and '/A in which vowel appears at beginning of words except for Yahu which is keeping its traditional Hebrew transliteration)
In English
- The rule of the Originator is Thu's.lordship-over the emanation's.high-powers. Omens.of-arousal of the high-power's.astrology-magic are activating.darkness.devoted-to.astrology-magic.
- The high-life-power's.eagle-vultures are Thu's.desire. Influence-over.winged-ones.nourishment is being veiled.by.arousals. The magi's arousals.open.contributions.