Codex Runicus Pages 1 and 2 And Introduction

(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/

(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).

(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.