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  • (c) - The early unification of Norway

  • from 8 - Early political organisation
  • Edited by Knut Helle, Universitetet i Bergen, Norway
  • Book:
    The Cambridge History of Scandinavia
    Published online:
    28 March 2008
    Print publication:
    04 September 2003, pp 184-201

  • Summary

    The political history of Norway in the Viking Age and the early Scandinavian Middle Ages has been dominated by one great theme, the political unification of the different parts of the country into one kingdom. Although posterity exaggerated the importance of Harald Finehair there are still good reasons for taking his reign as the point of departure for the political unification of Norway. Danish supremacy had long traditions in Norwegian parts of Scandinavia. Until the thirteenth century Danish kings from time to time made claims to be kings of Norway or at least of Viken. After the official Christianisation of most of the country in the reigns of Olaf Tryggvason and Olaf Haraldsson and the establishment of an elementary church organisation, Norway was on the threshold of finding its way into the family of more established European kingdoms. Only at this stage could political unification of the country seriously begin.