The fabled stronghold of Jomsborg

The fabled stronghold of Jomsborg, often cited in Norse sagas and medieval texts, is believed to have been a fortress and a central hub for the Jomsvikings, a reputed band of mercenaries. For a century they were a significant regional force, fighting for whoever would pay them. At many times they were involved in pivotal military engagements around Scandinavia and the Baltic Sea, where they often distinguished themselves both for bravery and martial prowess.

Despite being a mercenary company, they had strong similarities to the religious military orders of the later middle-ages. They held strict codes of conduct with emphasis on discipline and loyalty, dictated by the laws given to them by their founder Pálna-Toki. It is said that they by doctrine would never retreat unless significantly outnumbered. In a time of religious shifts and strife they held a strong devotion to the old Gods.

The location of this Scandinavian outpost is debated, as no verifiable remnants of the fortification has been found, it is known to have been somewhere on the Baltic coast. It was razed by the Norwegian King Magnus I the Good in 1043, as the mercenary company was an obstacle to his plans of dominion over Denmark.