Truso – a medieval city-port on the Vistula

Based on the story of the navigator Wulfstan the article studies the location of Truso city. Along with the historical source “King Alfred's Orosius”, the achievements of modern researchers from related fields are involved. It has been established that at the time of Wulfstan there was no Elbląg River and Lake Druzno was a bay of the Vistula Lagoon. In addition, linguists found out that the first letter of the hydronym ‘d' could not turn into ‘t'. Therefore, basing of the studied materials, the author determined the localization of the medieval Truso in the area of the modern Polish city Tczew. It is this point that corresponds to the description of Wulfstan's route. The etymology of the toponym, which goes back to the Baltic basis, expressed by the archaic term “traušas”, meaning “solid ledge, pier, port”, is considered. Also, the etymology of “Witland” – wetland, “Ilfing” – white, swampy river is disclosed. The proposed article, together with other studies on this issue, allows taking a fresh look at the trade routes of medieval Europe, at the relations of the Slavs, Prussians and Vikings.