with the Shahanshah Khosrau I of Iran as well as the Byzantine reconquest of the Italian peninsula with the capitulation of the Goths south of the Po river (555), the completion of the Byzantine reconquest (562) may be seen in context of what has been described as the Vendel period. The Merovingians have united the Gaulish Romans and the Belgae. The Franks establishing the Merovingan dynasty as "Kings of the Franks" (since 509). In Uppland, in what today is the east-central part of Sweden, Old Uppsala was probably the centre of religious and political life. It had both a well-known sacred grove and great Royal Mounds. Burial customs Several areas with rich burial gifts have been found, including well-preserved boat inhumation graves at Vendel and Valsgärde, and tumuli at Gamla Uppsala. These were used for several generations. Some of the riches were probably acquired through the control of mining districts and the production of iron. The rulers had troops of mounted elite warriors with costly armour. Graves of mounted warriors have been found with stirrups and saddle ornaments of birds of prey in gilded bronze with encrusted garnets. Rich grave goods indicate a royal or high status burial. For example chess pieces made of ivory in the Roman style are found in the western grave, and buttons made of gold and three Middle Eastern cameos have also been found along with Frankish clothes made of gold thread. Games were popular, as is shown in finds of tafl games, including pawns and dice. The Sutton Hoo helmet closely resembles helmets found in Gamla Uppsala, Vendel and Valsgärde, sharing elements such as boar imagery and pressblech foil decoration, showing that the Anglo-Saxon elite had extensive contacts with Swedish elite. Written sources Mounted elite warriors are mentioned in the work of the 6th century Goth scholar Jordanes, who wrote that the Swedes had the best horses beside the Thuringians. They also echo much later in the sagas, where king Adils is always described as fighting on horseback (both against Áli and Hrólf Kraki). Snorri Sturluson wrote that Adils had the best horses of his days. The epic of Beowulf also describes legendary tales about the Swedish Vendel times, including great wars called the Swedish-Geatish wars between the Swedish house of Scylfling and the Geatish house of Wulfling. Due to Beowulf and Norse sagas possibly independently mentioning some of the Swedish legendary royals some