Vestvågøy
Theme - 3
Chieftains and Kings
In the
North
According to the archaeological material,
chieftains' residences have been documented in at
least three different places in Lofoten: Buksnes
and Borg at
Vestvågøy, and Hov/Vinje at
Gimsøy.
The origin of the chieftain tradition in the
north is still unknown, but it is more or less
accepted that it developed during the early part of
the Iron Age. The
chieftain-economy is based on a combination between
organising fishing and interactions with the
Sámi people. The establishment of chiefdoms
in the northern part of Norway, where the Norse
and Sámi population interacted is seen
as the first period of the gathering of the area.
The chieftain's responsibility also included
military actions. The court-sites in Northern
Norway are interpreted as military constructions
and date to both early and late Iron Age. Around
800 AD the Håløyg-family seems to be
well established in the north.
In
general
In the Iron Age, family relations were important
in all political contexts, and a person's social
status was closely connected to family
relationships.
Family background was the basis for social
status, and the power of chieftains and kings was
based upon reputation and property. The real power
rose from the ability to gather the population,
reach results and treat the people well. Prestige
and gold/silver was a condition to get support
among the people.
The ideology is also closely connected to the
family, and builds upon the chieftain's power. The
ideology was rather dynamic, similar to the
structure of the chieftain-society itself, and
power and ideology changes through time. New
alliances are continuously sought to maintain
power. New gods are included in the religion when
needed, and old ones disappear.
Written sources give the impression that early
in the 800 AD; several smaller chiefdoms or realms
existed in Norway. It is estimated at this time
there were around 20 kingdoms/chiefdoms in Norway
(Solberg 2000:278). The population were connected
through ritual centres and the "Thing". The
master/ruler was earl, king or lord, and in the
sagas we can read about different kinds of
kings.
Harald Hårfagre
(Fine hair)
Harald Fine hair (son of Halvdan Svarte) lived
around 860-940, and he was the first king of Norway
(ruled from around 890-940). Originally he was the
king of Viken and Opplandene (south of Norway) but
through a collaboration with the earl of lade
Håkon Grjotgardsson he tried to gain control
over the entire country.
In Snorre we can read about the event by which
Harald Fine hair conquered Norway: He ousted 7
kings in the counties of Trøndelag, 2 in
Namdal, 1 at Nordmøre, 1 at Sunnmøre,
2 at Fjordane, 1 in Hordaland, 1 in Rogaland and 1
in Agder.
According to the tradition Harald Fine hair was
accepted as the Norwegian king at the battle of
Hafrsfjord (traditionally dated to 872 AD but is
assumed to happen some years later).
Håkon
Grjotgardsson (ca. 900) settled at the
farm Lade by close to Trondheim.
Olav
Tryggvason
Olav Tryggvason lived 968-1000, and ruled around
995-1000. He was son of Harald Fine hair's
grandson, king Trygve from Viken. Olav Tryggvason
was strongly connected to the Christianization of
Norway. For a period he was in opposition to Olav
Skötkonung in Sweden and King Svend
Tveskæg in Denmark. According to the Sagas,
Olav owned the long ship Ormen Lange (the long
worm). He was defeated at the battle of Svolder
Olav Haraldsson (Saint
Olav)
Olav lived around 995-1030 and ruled from
1015-1030. He was son of Harald Grenske. After a
victory in 1016 at the battle of Nesjar, Olav
governed a reign stretching from Göta-river in
the south and up to the Sámi-areas in the
north. Together with Olav Tryggvason he is maybe
the most important king in to the Christianization
of Norway. Olav treated his opponents harshly and
made enemies both in Norway and abroad.
After a period in exile, Olav went back to
recapture Norway and at Stiklestad he met an army
consisting of Kalv Arnesson, Hårek of
Tjøtta and Tore Hund (the dog). 29th of July
1030 Olav was killed in the battle of Stiklestad.
After his death he was made a saint, and this lent
the Norwegian kingdom a religious legitimation.
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This
project has been supported by the EU as part of the Culture
2000 programme.