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{{Short description|Unification of Norway occurred from the 860s to 1020s}} |
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{{unreferenced|date=September 2013}} |
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{{more citations needed|date=June 2016}} |
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{{Infobox |
{{Infobox country |
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|native_name = {{unbulleted list |{{native name|nb|Rikssamlingen}} |{{native name|nn|Rikssamlinga}}}} |
|native_name = {{unbulleted list |{{native name|nb|Rikssamlingen}} |{{native name|nn|Rikssamlinga}}}} |
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|conventional_long_name = Unification of Norway |
|conventional_long_name = Unification of Norway |
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|common_name = Norwegian Unification |
|common_name = Norwegian Unification |
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|region = Scandinavia |
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|country = Norway |
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|era = [[Middle Ages]] |
|era = [[Middle Ages]] |
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|government_type = Kingdoms [[Political union|unification]] |
|government_type = Kingdoms [[Political union|unification]] |
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|year_start = 860s |
|year_start = 860s |
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|year_end = 880s |
|year_end = 880s |
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|life_span = 872<br/>{{nowrap|{{nobold|{{small|860s–1020s: |
|life_span = 872<br/>{{nowrap|{{nobold|{{small|860s–1020s:<br>Successive territorial expansion}}}}}} |
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|event_start = [[Battle of Hakadal]] |
|event_start = [[Battle of Hakadal]] |
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|event3 = [[Harald Fairhair's campaign in Götaland|Götaland Campaign]] |
|event3 = [[Harald Fairhair's campaign in Götaland|Götaland Campaign]] |
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|date_event3 = 870s |
|date_event3 = 870s |
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|event4 = [[Battle of Hafrsfjord]] |
|event4 = '''[[Battle of Hafrsfjord]]''' |
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|date_event4 = 872 |
|date_event4 = 872 |
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|p1 = Petty kingdoms of Norway |
|p1 = Petty kingdoms of Norway |
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|flag_p1 = Norwegian petty kingdoms ca. 860.png |
|flag_p1 = Norwegian petty kingdoms ca. 860.png |
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|s1 = |
|s1 = Kingdom of Norway (872–1397) |
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|flag_s1 = Raven Banner. |
|flag_s1 = Raven Banner.svg |
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|image_flag = |
|image_flag = |
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|image_map_caption = Unification process of the petty kingdoms, about 872. |
|image_map_caption = Unification process of the petty kingdoms, about 872. |
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|capital = |
|capital = [[Avaldsnes|Ǫgvaldsnes]] |
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|common_languages = [[Old Norse]] |
|common_languages = [[Old Norse]] |
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|religion = [[Norse paganism]] |
|religion = [[Norse paganism]] |
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|currency = |
|currency = |
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|leader1 = [[Petty kingdoms of Norway| |
|leader1 = [[Petty kingdoms of Norway|petty kings and earls]] |
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|year_leader1 = |
|year_leader1 = Before 872 |
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|leader2 = [[Harald Fairhair]] |
|leader2 = [[Harald Fairhair]] |
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'''Unification of Norway''' ([[Norwegian Bokmål]]: ''Rikssamlingen'') is |
The '''Unification of Norway''' ([[Norwegian Bokmål]]: ''Rikssamlingen'') is the process by which Norway merged from several [[Petty kingdoms of Norway|petty kingdoms]] into a single [[Monarchy|kingdom]], predecessor to the modern [[Norway|Kingdom of Norway]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://snl.no/Norsk_historie_fra_800_til_1130 |title= ''Norsk historie fra 800 til 1130'' |publisher= Store norske leksikon |author= Per G. Norseng |access-date=June 1, 2019}}</ref> |
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== History == |
== History == |
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King [[Harald I of Norway|Harald Fairhair]] is the monarch who is credited by later tradition as having first unified Norway into one kingdom. According to the [[saga]]s, he ruled Norway from approximately 872 to 930. Modern historians, including [[Claus Krag]], assume that his rule may have been limited to the coastal areas of western and southern Norway. The tendency in recent research has been to perceive unification of the nation to have been a more time |
King [[Harald I of Norway|Harald Fairhair]] is the monarch who is credited by later tradition as having first unified Norway into one kingdom.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Bagge|first=Sverre|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt3fgk28|title=Early state formation in Scandinavia|date=2009|publisher=Austrian Academy of Sciences Press|isbn=978-3-7001-6604-7|volume=16|pages=148|jstor=j.ctt3fgk28 }}</ref> According to the [[saga]]s, he ruled Norway from approximately 872 to 930. Modern historians, including [[Claus Krag]], assume that his rule may have been limited to the coastal areas of western and southern Norway. The tendency in recent research has been to perceive unification of the nation to have been a more time-consuming process.<ref>[http://www.kongehuset.no/artikkel.html?tid=27627&sek=26978 ''Rikssamling'' (Det Norske Kongehus)]</ref> |
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The sagas |
The sagas recount that Harald succeeded, on the death of his father [[Halfdan the Black]] Gudrödarson, to the sovereignty of several small, and somewhat scattered kingdoms in [[Vestfold]], which had come into his father's hands through conquest and inheritance. In 866, Harald made the first of a series of conquests over the many [[petty kingdom]]s which would compose Norway, including [[Värmland]] in Sweden, and modern day south-eastern Norway, which had sworn allegiance to the Swedish king [[Erik Eymundsson]]. In 872, after a great victory at the [[Battle of Hafrsfjord]] near [[Stavanger]], Harald found himself king over the whole country.<ref>[http://vikingtida.wikispaces.com/Samlinga+av+Noreg ''Samlinga av Noreg'' (vikingtida.wikispaces.com)]</ref> |
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According to Sverre Bagge, unification of Norway was made easy by excellent sea communications, as well as seas that rarely froze in winter.<ref name=":0" /> |
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His realm was, however, threatened by dangers from outside, as large numbers of his opponents had taken refuge, not only in [[Iceland]], then recently discovered; but also in the [[Orkney Islands]], [[Shetland Islands]], [[Hebrides Islands]] and [[Faroe Islands]]. His opponents' leaving was not entirely voluntary. Many Norwegian chieftains who were wealthy and respected posed a threat to Harald; therefore, they were subjected to much harassment, prompting them to vacate the land. In time, Harald was forced to make an expedition to subdue these islands.<ref>[https://prezi.com/-3agw6j5vibi/rikssamlingen-i-norge-fra-ca-900-til-ca-1300/ ''Rikssamlingen i Norge fra ca. 900 til ca. 1300'' (Prezi Inc.) ]</ref> |
His realm was, however, threatened by dangers from outside, as large numbers of his opponents had taken refuge, not only in [[Iceland]], then recently discovered; but also in the [[Orkney Islands]], [[Shetland Islands]], [[Hebrides Islands]] and [[Faroe Islands]]. His opponents' leaving was not entirely voluntary. Many Norwegian chieftains who were wealthy and respected posed a threat to Harald; therefore, they were subjected to much harassment, prompting them to vacate the land. In time, Harald was forced to make an expedition to subdue these islands.<ref>[https://prezi.com/-3agw6j5vibi/rikssamlingen-i-norge-fra-ca-900-til-ca-1300/ ''Rikssamlingen i Norge fra ca. 900 til ca. 1300'' (Prezi Inc.) ]</ref> |
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After Harald's death, the unity of the kingdom was not preserved. In following centuries, the kingdom was variously ruled, wholly or in part, by descendants of King Harald or by [[earl]]s under the [[suzerainty]] of Denmark. Kings of Norway until King [[Olav IV of Norway|Olav IV]], who died in 1387, commonly claimed descent from Harald Fairhair.<ref>[http://menneskeritid1.cappelendamm.no/c196990/tekstoppgave/vis.html?tid=208259&strukt_tid=196990 ''Rikssamlingen'' (Cappelendamm.no)]</ref><ref>[http://www.royalcourt.no/seksjon.html?tid=27680&sek=27269 ''History of The Royal House of Norway'' (Det Norske Kongehus)]</ref> |
After Harald's death, the unity of the kingdom was not preserved. In following centuries, the kingdom was variously ruled, wholly or in part, by descendants of King Harald or by [[earl]]s under the [[suzerainty]] of Denmark.{{citation needed|date=January 2017}} Kings of Norway until King [[Olav IV of Norway|Olav IV]], who died in 1387, commonly claimed descent from Harald Fairhair.<ref>[http://menneskeritid1.cappelendamm.no/c196990/tekstoppgave/vis.html?tid=208259&strukt_tid=196990 ''Rikssamlingen'' (Cappelendamm.no)]</ref><ref>[http://www.royalcourt.no/seksjon.html?tid=27680&sek=27269 ''History of The Royal House of Norway'' (Det Norske Kongehus)]</ref> |
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== Saga descriptions == |
== Saga descriptions == |
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In the ''Saga of Harald Hårfagre'' from [[Heimskringla]] by [[Snorri Sturluson]], the consolidation of the rule of Norway by Harald Fairhair was somewhat of a love story. The tale begins with a marriage proposal that resulted in rejection and scorn from [[Gyda Eiriksdottir|Gyda]], the daughter of [[Eirik King of Hordaland|Eirik, king of Hordaland]]. She said she refused to marry Harald "before he was king over all of Norway". Harald was therefore induced to take a [[vow]] not to cut nor comb his hair until he was sole king of Norway, and that ten years later, he was justified in trimming it; whereupon he exchanged the epithet "Shockhead" or "Tanglehair" for the one by which he is usually known. Most scholars today regard this story as a literary tale inspired by the [[Romance (heroic literature)|Romance stories]] that were popular at the courts by the time ''Heimskringla'' was written. |
In the ''Saga of Harald Hårfagre'' from [[Heimskringla]] by [[Snorri Sturluson]], the consolidation of the rule of Norway by Harald Fairhair was somewhat of a love story. The tale begins with a marriage proposal that resulted in rejection and scorn from [[Gyda Eiriksdottir|Gyda]], the daughter of [[Eirik King of Hordaland|Eirik, king of Hordaland]]. She said she refused to marry Harald "before he was king over all of Norway". Harald was therefore induced to take a [[vow]] not to cut nor comb his hair until he was sole king of Norway, and that ten years later, he was justified in trimming it; whereupon he exchanged the epithet "Shockhead" or "Tanglehair" for the one by which he is usually known. Most scholars today regard this story as a literary tale inspired by the [[Romance (heroic literature)|Romance stories]] that were popular at the courts by the time ''Heimskringla'' was written.<ref>[http://www.haugalandmuseene.no/haraldsstotta-norges-riksmonument-mot-2014/seminar-2/bruken-av-en-heroisk-fjern-fortid-kulturarvskonflikter-omkring-harald-harfagres-minnetradisjon ''Bruken av en heroisk fjern fortid: Kulturarvskonflikter omkring Harald Hårfagres minnetradisjon'' (Haugalandmuseene)]</ref><ref>[http://christianization.hist.cam.ac.uk/regions/norway/norway-rule-power.html ''Norway – Rulership and power before Christianization'' (S. Bagge and S. Nordeide)]</ref> |
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<ref>[http://christianization.hist.cam.ac.uk/regions/norway/norway-rule-power.html ''Norway - Rulership and power before Christianization'' (S. Bagge and S. Nordeide)]</ref> |
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== |
== Maps of the Norwegian kingdoms == |
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These maps are mainly based on later saga sources, from the 13th century. Their historical accuracy has not been established. |
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<gallery> |
<gallery> |
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Image:Norwegian petty kingdoms ca. 820.png| |
Image:Norwegian petty kingdoms ca. 820.png| {{center| Norwegian [[petty kingdoms]] c. 820 AD at the death of [[Gudrød the Hunter]]. Major kingdoms: [[Vestfold]] (red), [[Hålogaland]] (purple), [[Alvheim]] (yellow) [[Agder]] (green). }} |
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Image:Norwegian petty kingdoms ca. 860.png| |
Image:Norwegian petty kingdoms ca. 860.png| {{center| Petty kingdoms c. 860 AD at the death of [[Halfdan the Black]]. In red is the kingdom inherited by [[Harald Fairhair]].}} |
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Image:Norwegian petty kingdoms ca. 872.png| |
Image:Norwegian petty kingdoms ca. 872.png| {{center| Petty kingdoms c. 872 AD (the unified kingdom shown in red) before the defining [[Battle of Hafrsfjord]].}} |
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Image:Norwegian petty kingdoms ca. 930.png| |
Image:Norwegian petty kingdoms ca. 930.png| {{center| Division of the kingdom c. 930 AD., petty kingdoms assigned to Harald's sons and kinsmen (yellow), Harald's direct rule (red), Earls of [[Jarls of Lade|Lade]] (purple), Earls of [[Møre og Romsdal|Møre]] (orange)}} |
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Image:Norway 1000 AD.png| |
Image:Norway 1000 AD.png| {{center| The division of the kingdom after the [[Battle of Svolder]] (1000AD) between [[Sweden]] (yellow), [[Denmark]] (red) and the [[Jarls of Lade|jarl of]] [[Lade, Trondheim|Lade]] (purple). }} |
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Image:Norway 1020 AD.png| |
Image:Norway 1020 AD.png| {{center| Unified Norway during the reign of [[Saint Olav]] c. 1020 AD. In pale red ''[[Finnmark|Finnmarken]]'' ("[[Marches#Norway|Marches]] of the [[Sami people|Sami]]") most of which paid [[tribute]] to the kings of Norway. }} |
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</gallery> |
</gallery> |
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== Primary sources == |
== Primary sources == |
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*Andersen, Per Sveaas (1977) ''Samlingen av Norge og kristningen av landet |
*Andersen, Per Sveaas (1977) ''Samlingen av Norge og kristningen av landet 800–1130'' (Universitetsforlaget) {{ISBN|978-8200024125}} |
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*[[Claus Krag|Krag, Claus]] (2000) ''Norges historie fram til 1319'' (Universitetsforlaget) ISBN |
*[[Claus Krag|Krag, Claus]] (2000) ''Norges historie fram til 1319'' (Universitetsforlaget) {{ISBN|978-8200129387}} |
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*[[Claus Krag|Krag, Claus]] (1995) ''Vikingtid og rikssamling |
*[[Claus Krag|Krag, Claus]] (1995) ''Vikingtid og rikssamling 800–1130'' (Aschehougs Norgeshistorie) {{ISBN|82-03-22015-0}} |
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*Krøger, Jens Flemming (1997) ''Rikssamlingen: høvdingmakt og kongemakt'' (Stavanger: Dreyer) ISBN |
*Krøger, Jens Flemming (1997) ''Rikssamlingen: høvdingmakt og kongemakt'' (Stavanger: Dreyer) {{ISBN|9788278590027}} |
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*Lidén, Hans-Emil (1995) ''Møtet mellom hedendom og kristendom i Norge'' (Universitetsforlaget) ISBN |
*Lidén, Hans-Emil (1995) ''Møtet mellom hedendom og kristendom i Norge'' (Universitetsforlaget) {{ISBN|82-00-22430-9}} |
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*[[Jens Arup Seip|Seip, Jens Arup]] (1974) ''Utsikt over Norges historie'' (Oslo: Gyldendal) {{ISBN|978-8205065154}} |
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== Further reading == |
== Further reading == |
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*Finlay, Alison (2004) ''Fagrskinna, a Catalogue of the Kings of Norway'' (Brill Academic) ISBN |
*Finlay, Alison (2004) ''Fagrskinna, a Catalogue of the Kings of Norway'' (Brill Academic) {{ISBN|90-04-13172-8}} |
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*Hermannsson, Halldór (2009) ''Bibliography of the sagas of the kings of Norway and related sagas and tales'' (BiblioBazaar) ISBN |
*Hermannsson, Halldór (2009) ''Bibliography of the sagas of the kings of Norway and related sagas and tales'' (BiblioBazaar) {{ISBN|978-1113624611}} |
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*Libaek, Ivar; Oivind Stenersen (1992) ''History of Norway From The Ice Age To The Oil Age'' (Grondahl Dreyer) ISBN |
*Libaek, Ivar; Oivind Stenersen (1992) ''History of Norway From The Ice Age To The Oil Age'' (Grondahl Dreyer) {{ISBN|978-8250418523}} |
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*Kouri, E. I., Torkel Jansson and Knut Helle (2003) ''The Cambridge History of Scandinavia'' (Cambridge University Press) ISBN |
*Kouri, E. I., Torkel Jansson and Knut Helle (2003) ''The Cambridge History of Scandinavia'' (Cambridge University Press) {{ISBN|0-521-47299-7}} |
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*Noyes, David (2010) ''The History of Norway'' (Nabu Press) ISBN |
*Noyes, David (2010) ''The History of Norway'' (Nabu Press) {{ISBN|978-1149405765}} |
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*Sawyer, Birgit; Sawyer, Peter H. (1993) ''Medieval Scandinavia: from Conversion to Reformation, Circa 800–1500'' (University of Minnesota Press) ISBN |
*Sawyer, Birgit; Sawyer, Peter H. (1993) ''Medieval Scandinavia: from Conversion to Reformation, Circa 800–1500'' (University of Minnesota Press) {{ISBN|0-8166-1739-2}} |
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== External links == |
== External links == |
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*[http://www.mennesket.net/eldre-historie/vikingtiden/rikssamling-og-kristning/ ''Rikssamling og kristning'' (mennesket.net)] |
*[http://www.mennesket.net/eldre-historie/vikingtiden/rikssamling-og-kristning/ ''Rikssamling og kristning'' (mennesket.net)] |
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*[http://www.allempires.com/article/index.php?q=norway_the_first_kingdom ''Norway - The First Kingdom'' (All Empires. Medieval Europe: Political History)] |
*[http://www.allempires.com/article/index.php?q=norway_the_first_kingdom ''Norway - The First Kingdom'' (All Empires. Medieval Europe: Political History)] |
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{{History of Europe}} |
{{History of Europe}} |
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[[Category:Fairhair dynasty|*]] |
[[Category:Fairhair dynasty|*]] |
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[[Category:National unifications|Norway]] |
[[Category:National unifications|Norway]] |
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[[Category:Geographic history of Norway]] |
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[[Category:Political history of Norway]] |
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[[Category:Harald Fairhair]] |
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Unification of Norway
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872 860s–1020s: Successive territorial expansion | |||||||||
Capital | Ǫgvaldsnes | ||||||||
Common languages | Old Norse | ||||||||
Religion | Norse paganism | ||||||||
Government | Kingdoms unification | ||||||||
Kings | |||||||||
• Before 872 | petty kings and earls | ||||||||
• From 872 | Harald Fairhair | ||||||||
Historical era | Middle Ages | ||||||||
860s | |||||||||
870s | |||||||||
870s | |||||||||
870s | |||||||||
872 | |||||||||
880s | |||||||||
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The Unification of Norway (Norwegian Bokmål: Rikssamlingen) is the process by which Norway merged from several petty kingdoms into a single kingdom, predecessor to the modern Kingdom of Norway.[1]
King Harald Fairhair is the monarch who is credited by later tradition as having first unified Norway into one kingdom.[2] According to the sagas, he ruled Norway from approximately 872 to 930. Modern historians, including Claus Krag, assume that his rule may have been limited to the coastal areas of western and southern Norway. The tendency in recent research has been to perceive unification of the nation to have been a more time-consuming process.[3]
The sagas recount that Harald succeeded, on the death of his father Halfdan the Black Gudrödarson, to the sovereignty of several small, and somewhat scattered kingdoms in Vestfold, which had come into his father's hands through conquest and inheritance. In 866, Harald made the first of a series of conquests over the many petty kingdoms which would compose Norway, including Värmland in Sweden, and modern day south-eastern Norway, which had sworn allegiance to the Swedish king Erik Eymundsson. In 872, after a great victory at the Battle of Hafrsfjord near Stavanger, Harald found himself king over the whole country.[4]
According to Sverre Bagge, unification of Norway was made easy by excellent sea communications, as well as seas that rarely froze in winter.[2]
His realm was, however, threatened by dangers from outside, as large numbers of his opponents had taken refuge, not only in Iceland, then recently discovered; but also in the Orkney Islands, Shetland Islands, Hebrides Islands and Faroe Islands. His opponents' leaving was not entirely voluntary. Many Norwegian chieftains who were wealthy and respected posed a threat to Harald; therefore, they were subjected to much harassment, prompting them to vacate the land. In time, Harald was forced to make an expedition to subdue these islands.[5]
After Harald's death, the unity of the kingdom was not preserved. In following centuries, the kingdom was variously ruled, wholly or in part, by descendants of King Harald or by earls under the suzerainty of Denmark.[citation needed] Kings of Norway until King Olav IV, who died in 1387, commonly claimed descent from Harald Fairhair.[6][7]
In the Saga of Harald Hårfagre from HeimskringlabySnorri Sturluson, the consolidation of the rule of Norway by Harald Fairhair was somewhat of a love story. The tale begins with a marriage proposal that resulted in rejection and scorn from Gyda, the daughter of Eirik, king of Hordaland. She said she refused to marry Harald "before he was king over all of Norway". Harald was therefore induced to take a vow not to cut nor comb his hair until he was sole king of Norway, and that ten years later, he was justified in trimming it; whereupon he exchanged the epithet "Shockhead" or "Tanglehair" for the one by which he is usually known. Most scholars today regard this story as a literary tale inspired by the Romance stories that were popular at the courts by the time Heimskringla was written.[8][9]
These maps are mainly based on later saga sources, from the 13th century. Their historical accuracy has not been established.
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