History of Norway

The Viking kings

See also: Viking Age

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By the time of the first historical records of Scandinavia, about the 700s AD, some 29 petty kingdoms existed in Norway. A number of small communities were gradually organised into larger regions in the 9th century, and in 872 King Harald Fairhair unified the realm and became its first supreme ruler. King Harald had many children, and his heirs ruled Norway with short interruptions until 1319. Religious influence from Europe (especially England and Ireland) led to the adoption of Christianity. Central in this was King Olav Haraldsson ("The Holy") who died in the Battle of Stiklestad on July 29, 1030. He became Norway's patron Saint Olav, and his tomb at Nidaros cathedral Trondheim became the most important pilgrimage destination in Northern Europe. The archdiocese of Nidaros was established in 1153. Between 1130 and 1217 Norway underwent a period of Civil Wars. Around 1200, the Norwegian king ruled over land from Man in the Irish Sea to the Kola Peninsula in the east. Greenland and Iceland were incorporated as dependencies in 1262.

Related Topics:
700s - Petty kingdom - 9th century - 872 - Harald Fairhair - 1319 - King Olav Haraldsson - Battle of Stiklestad - July 29 - 1030 - Patron - Trondheim - Pilgrimage - Archdiocese - Nidaros - 1153 - 1130 - 1217 - Civil Wars - Man - Kola Peninsula - Greenland - Iceland - Dependencies - 1262

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