Skagul Toste

The rune stone U 344 in Orkesta, Uppland, Sweden, was raised by the Viking Ulfr who commemorated that he had taken a danegeld in England with Skagul Toste. He took two others with Thorkell the Tall and Canute the Great.

Skoglar Toste or Skoglar Tosti (there are several variations) was a legendary chieftain from the Swedish province of West Götaland. His name (skoglar, skauglar or skagul) was reportedly due to his experience in battle.

Toste is mentioned in several sagas, most notable in Heimskringla. According to Snorri Sturluson, he was the father of Sigrid the Haughty. For some time he gave refuge to Harald Grenske, who later came back to woo Sigrid, only to be killed by her for his persistence. According to the sagas, Skagul Toste was also the father of Ulf Tostesson, father of Ragnvald Ulfsson and grandfather of Stenkil who became the King of Sweden in 1060.

Toste is said to have collected great riches when he demanded danegeld as he led a Viking army to England in 970. At Vallentuna, near Stockholm, the runestone of Orkesta (U 344) reads:

in ulfr hafir onklati * Þru kialtakat Þit uas fursta Þis tursti * Þa ---Þurktil * Þa kalt knutr

Translation: "And Ulf of Borresta (Ulf) has taken three payments in England. That was the first that Toste (tursti) paid. Then Thorkell the Tall (Þurktil ) paid. Then Canute the Great (knutr) paid.

Other Sources

• Ancestral Roots of Certain American Colonists Who Came to America Before 1700 by Frederick Lewis Weis, Lines: 241-5, 243A-20