Nericia, also known as Nerike or Närke, is a Province in middle Sweden, which historically formed part of Svealand. The name is derived from the people who once inhabited the province, the Njarar or Nerikjar. The root nari, neri is cognate to English narrow and refers to the narrow inlets that caracterized the geography, a tribe that is also mentioned in the lay of Völund (Weyland the Smith):
- "When the Lord of the Njars, Nidud, heard
- That Völund sat in Wolfdale alone,
- He sent warriors forth: white their shield-bosses
- In the waning moon, and their mail glittered."
- - Translated by W. H. Auden and P. B. Taylor
- - Translated by W. H. Auden and P. B. Taylor
- "It is to be related of King Olaf's journey, that he went first from Norway eastward through Eid forest to Vermaland, then to Vatnsby, and through the forests in which there are roads, until he came out in Nerike district. There dwelt a rich and powerful man in that part called Sigtryg, who had a son, Ivar, who afterwards became a distinguished person. Olaf stayed with Sigtryg all spring (A.D. 1029); and when summer came he made ready for a journey, procured a ship for himself, and without stopping went on to Russia to King Jarisleif and his queen Ingegerd" [1]
See also: History of Nericia