Fornsigtuna, Old Sigtuna, Sithun, Signildsberg or Signesberg is located in the parish of Håtuna approximately west of the modern town of Sigtuna, by Lake Mälaren in Sweden. Although the location is nearly forgotten, it has a central role in Norse mythology.
In Chapter 5 of the Ynglinga saga section of his Heimskringla, Snorri Sturluson relates that Odin and the Æsir first arrived at Old Sigtuna when they came to Sweden: Later the pirateSölve arrived at Old Sigtuna to claim the Swedish throne: In the part called The Saga of St. Olaf, the Norwegian kingOlaf Haraldsson makes shore at Old Sigtuna:
Skaldic poetry
In Orvar-Odd's saga, Hjalmar laments his dying: The location is also mentioned in other poems by the 11th-century skalds Þjóðólfr Arnórsson Valgarðr á Velli and Arnórr Þórðarson.
''Gesta Danorum''
writes in Book 8 of Gesta Danorum that Sigmund, one of the warriorsof the House of Yngling, came from what is chronologically Old Sigtuna to fight at the Battle of Bråvalla:
Archaeology
There are two large ruins that had been two large three-aisled halls, a series of terraces just above the shore-line of the Germanic Iron Age, traces of a harbour, a large mound and a number of smaller grave fields. Excavations have dated the remains to the Vendel Age, part of the Germanic Iron Age, and the Viking Age, i.e., from the 6th century until the 11th century.
History
It was an Iron Age and mediaevalroyal estate and it was located strategically at the waterway to Old Uppsala and the Temple at Uppsala. In the 10th century, the name was transferred to modern Sigtuna, which apparently assumed many of its functions.
In 1299, Birger Magnusson, the son of Magnus Ladulås, spent some time in Old Sigtuna as one of his letters was written in Sightonia Antiqua or apud antiquam SightoniamThe difference seems to be a matter of presenting the name in the nominal case or preserving the case in which the name appeared in the original text.
In 1315, according to Svenskt Diplomatarium III nr 2032 , Erik Magnusson was bestowed a part of Old Sigtuna, which is called Siktonia vetus. Neighbouring properties are also named: Norgungi and Frötunum
In 1541, according to Kammar-ark.: jordeböcker, Uppland 1541 nr 5, the location is named as one of Gustav I Vasa's estates and spelled Forsictuna, Foorsictuna and Fforssiiktwna.
In 1542, according to Gustav Vasas jordebok are mentioned Foorsictuna and Norringe
In 1551, according to Sven Nielssons jordebok för Stäkets län, it is mentioned as the royal estate of Forsictuna.
In 1567, it is mentioned as Foder Sictuna in the province of Uppland
In the 17th century, the name Försigtuna is used on a map.
Since the 17th century, the location has been a manor named Signhildsberg or Signesberg.
