Kungahälla: Difference between revisions
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==History== |
==History== |
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The [[Legendary saga|Norwegian Kings' sagas]] talk of Konghelle as a [[Viking Age]] settlement. |
The [[Legendary saga|Norwegian Kings' sagas]] talk of Konghelle as a [[Viking Age]] settlement. |
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According to [[Snorri Sturluson]], Konghelle was the location of two important royal summits to conclude peace between Sweden and Norway. The first saw the two King Olafs, [[Olaf II of Norway]] of Norway and [[Olof Skötkonung]] of Sweden, agree to a peace treaty, ca 1020. The second was called the |
According to [[Snorri Sturluson]], Konghelle was the location of two important royal summits to conclude peace between Sweden and Norway. The first saw the two King Olafs, [[Olaf II of Norway]] of Norway and [[Olof Skötkonung]] of Sweden, agree to a peace treaty, ca 1020. The second was called the meeting of the three kings during which the three Scandinavian kings [[Inge I of Sweden|Inge I]] of [[Sweden]], [[Magnus Barefoot]] of [[Norway]] and [[Eric I of Denmark|Eric Evergood]] of [[Denmark]] met in Kungahälla in 1101. When King [[Sigurd I Magnusson]] returned to Norway in 1111 following his crusade, he made his capital in Konghelle. |
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Konghelle appears in writings by [[Orderic Vitalis]], which name the town as one of six Norwegian ''civitates''. Around 1135, the town was attacked and sacked by the [[Pomerania during the High Middle Ages|Pomeranians]]. Snorri, writing a century later, said that Konghelle never completely recovered.<ref> ''Olav Tryggvason's saga'' (Heimskringla. (Snorri Sturluson , chapter 113)</ref> |
Konghelle appears in writings by [[Orderic Vitalis]], which name the town as one of six Norwegian ''civitates''. Around 1135, the town was attacked and sacked by the [[Pomerania during the High Middle Ages|Pomeranians]]. Snorri, writing a century later, said that Konghelle never completely recovered.<ref> ''Olav Tryggvason's saga'' (Heimskringla. (Snorri Sturluson , chapter 113)</ref> |
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The town was a centre of royal authority during the early [[Middle Ages]] and especially the 13th century, when it was the Norwegian kingdom's southernmost outpost |
The town was a centre of royal authority during the early [[Middle Ages]] and especially the 13th century, when it was the Norwegian kingdom's southernmost outpost. At this time the fort on '''Ragnhildsholmen''' and a [[Franciscan]] monastery were constructed at the site, while '''Kastelle kloster''' monastery was rebuilt. |
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[[Kastelle Priory|Kastelle kloster]] was founded by Archbishop [[Eysteinn Erlendsson]] and built in the middle of the 1200s. The monastery was under the [[Archdiocese of Nidaros]]. King [[Frederick I of Denmark]] confiscated the monastery in 1527 as part of the closure of Franciscan houses and monasteries within his realm. |
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[http://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ragnhildsholmen Ragnhildsholmen] is an island in the [[Göta älv]], a river that drains [[Lake Vänern]] into [[Kattegat]], across from Konghelle. In 1256 Norwegian King [[Haakon IV of Norway]] had invaded [[Halland]], at that time a province held by [[Denmark]]. The castle was built by King Haakon and played a role in Haakon's expansionist politics. It was the most important Norwegian fortress in this area. |
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In the early 14th century, Konghelle was the fief of [[Eric Magnusson of Sweden]], father of [[Magnus II of Sweden]], the future king of Sweden and Norway. Duke Eric Magnusson received the fortress as a gift when he helped his father-in-law King [[Haakon V of Norway]] to attack his brother King [[Birger of Sweden]].<ref>[http://www.sverigeturism.se/smorgasbord/smorgasbord/provincial/bohuslan/history/ ''The History of Bohuslän'' (Bohuslän)]</ref><ref>[http://www.katolsk.no/artikler/middelalderkloster/kap_07.htm ''Kastelle kloster'' (Norges klostre i middelalderen)]</ref> |
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After the construction of the stronghold [[Bohus]] in 1308 by King Haakon V, the castle on Ragnhildsholmen started to lose its importance as a royal seat. It is not mentioned after 1320. In the later Middle Ages the town's importance further declined. It burned down in 1612, and was afterwards moved to a location near Bohus and renamed [[Kungälv]]. Bohuslän continued to belong to Norway until it was ceded to Sweden in the [[Treaty of Roskilde]] in 1658. <ref>[http://www.gardenpatch.se/Bohus_eng.html ''Bohus Castle'' (Bohus Fastning)]</ref> |
After the construction of the stronghold [[Bohus]] in 1308 by King Haakon V, the castle on Ragnhildsholmen started to lose its importance as a royal seat. It is not mentioned after 1320. In the later Middle Ages the town's importance further declined. It burned down in 1612, and was afterwards moved to a location near Bohus and renamed [[Kungälv]]. Bohuslän continued to belong to Norway until it was ceded to Sweden in the [[Treaty of Roskilde]] in 1658. <ref>[http://www.gardenpatch.se/Bohus_eng.html ''Bohus Castle'' (Bohus Fastning)]</ref> |
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[[File:Ragnhildsholmen.jpg|right|thumb|Runins of the castle Ragnhildsholmen near Kungahälla]] |
[[File:Ragnhildsholmen.jpg|right|thumb|Runins of the castle Ragnhildsholmen near Kungahälla]] |
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==Excavation== |
==Excavation== |
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Archaeological excavations began in the late 19th century at the Ragnhildsholmen and the monastery of |
Archaeological excavations began in the late 19th century at the Ragnhildsholmen and the monastery of Kastelle kloster sites and continue to the present day. Excavation results indicate that major construction works were carried out by the middle of the 1200s. Excavations to date provide no evidence that the site was inhabited before the 12th century. However, there is archaeological evidence for a royal estate slightly north of the city, dating back to the Viking Age. To date only about one percent of the Kungahälla site has been excavated. During excavations by Wilhelm Berg (1891-1892) and E. Lundberg (1942), the remains of the monastery where discovered. The principal excavations were conducted during the 1950s and later between 1985-1994. The ruins are open to visitors.<ref>[http://wadbring.com/historia/sidor/kungahalla.htm ''Archaeology at Kungahälla'' (Kungahälla)]</ref> |
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==See Also== |
==See Also== |
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*[[Heimskringla]] |
*[[Heimskringla]] |
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Revision as of 03:06, 30 September 2010
Kungahälla (Norwegian: Konghelle) was a medieval Norwegian settlement in southern Bohuslän at a site which is presently located in Kungälv Municipality in Västra Götaland County in Sweden.[1]
History
The Norwegian Kings' sagas talk of Konghelle as a Viking Age settlement. According to Snorri Sturluson, Konghelle was the location of two important royal summits to conclude peace between Sweden and Norway. The first saw the two King Olafs, Olaf II of Norway of Norway and Olof Skötkonung of Sweden, agree to a peace treaty, ca 1020. The second was called the meeting of the three kings during which the three Scandinavian kings Inge I of Sweden, Magnus Barefoot of Norway and Eric Evergood of Denmark met in Kungahälla in 1101. When King Sigurd I Magnusson returned to Norway in 1111 following his crusade, he made his capital in Konghelle.
Konghelle appears in writings by Orderic Vitalis, which name the town as one of six Norwegian civitates. Around 1135, the town was attacked and sacked by the Pomeranians. Snorri, writing a century later, said that Konghelle never completely recovered.[2]
The town was a centre of royal authority during the early Middle Ages and especially the 13th century, when it was the Norwegian kingdom's southernmost outpost. At this time the fort on Ragnhildsholmen and a Franciscan monastery were constructed at the site, while Kastelle kloster monastery was rebuilt.
Kastelle kloster was founded by Archbishop Eysteinn Erlendsson and built in the middle of the 1200s. The monastery was under the Archdiocese of Nidaros. King Frederick I of Denmark confiscated the monastery in 1527 as part of the closure of Franciscan houses and monasteries within his realm.
Ragnhildsholmen is an island in the Göta älv, a river that drains Lake Vänern into Kattegat, across from Konghelle. In 1256 Norwegian King Haakon IV of Norway had invaded Halland, at that time a province held by Denmark. The castle was built by King Haakon and played a role in Haakon's expansionist politics. It was the most important Norwegian fortress in this area.
In the early 14th century, Konghelle was the fief of Eric Magnusson of Sweden, father of Magnus II of Sweden, the future king of Sweden and Norway. Duke Eric Magnusson received the fortress as a gift when he helped his father-in-law King Haakon V of Norway to attack his brother King Birger of Sweden.[3][4]
After the construction of the stronghold Bohus in 1308 by King Haakon V, the castle on Ragnhildsholmen started to lose its importance as a royal seat. It is not mentioned after 1320. In the later Middle Ages the town's importance further declined. It burned down in 1612, and was afterwards moved to a location near Bohus and renamed Kungälv. Bohuslän continued to belong to Norway until it was ceded to Sweden in the Treaty of Roskilde in 1658. [5]
Excavation
Archaeological excavations began in the late 19th century at the Ragnhildsholmen and the monastery of Kastelle kloster sites and continue to the present day. Excavation results indicate that major construction works were carried out by the middle of the 1200s. Excavations to date provide no evidence that the site was inhabited before the 12th century. However, there is archaeological evidence for a royal estate slightly north of the city, dating back to the Viking Age. To date only about one percent of the Kungahälla site has been excavated. During excavations by Wilhelm Berg (1891-1892) and E. Lundberg (1942), the remains of the monastery where discovered. The principal excavations were conducted during the 1950s and later between 1985-1994. The ruins are open to visitors.[6]
See Also
References
- ^ Konghelle (Store norske leksikon)
- ^ Olav Tryggvason's saga (Heimskringla. (Snorri Sturluson , chapter 113)
- ^ The History of Bohuslän (Bohuslän)
- ^ Kastelle kloster (Norges klostre i middelalderen)
- ^ Bohus Castle (Bohus Fastning)
- ^ Archaeology at Kungahälla (Kungahälla)
Other sources
- Andersson, H. Kungahälla (Riksantikvarieämbetet och Statens Historiska Museer, Stockholm, 1981)