Serkland refers to lands far to the east known to medieval Scandinavians. The term likely derives from Saracens, sericum for silk, or Sarkel a Khazar fortress. Scholars agree the name designates Islamic territories rather than a specific single location.
The Sö 179 runestone stands at Gripsholm Castle and was raised around the year 1040. It honors a Varangian warrior who died during an expedition into Serkland. Other stones like Sö 131 and Sö 279 carry similar messages about lost expeditions.
Ynglinga saga mentions Serkland as a destination for northern travelers. Sörla saga sterka and Sörla þáttr both reference the eastern lands alongside Saga Sigurðar Jórsalafara. Skald Þórgils Fiskimaðr wrote about Serkland in the eleventh century while Þórarinn Stuttfeldr mentioned it in the twelfth century.
Scandinavian warriors launched military campaigns via the Volga River route targeting Islamic territories south of the Caspian Sea. The Ingvar expedition represents one of the most famous attempts to reach these distant regions. Historical records confirm that these expeditions reached deep into Muslim lands despite extreme environmental challenges.