() who was the eponymous hero of Hålogaland. In the saga, Heimskringla, a man called Gudlög led a number of Norwegian pirates that were fought by the Swedish king Jorund and king Godgest of Hålogaland was given a horse by the Swedish king Adils. The first earl of Lade, Håkon Grjotgardsson, ruler of Trøndelag, came from Hålogaland, and sought to extend his kingdom southwards. Here, he met with Harald Fairhair, and joined him. Archaeologists have uncovered the Chieftain House at Borg in Lofoten (), a large Viking Era building believed to have been already established around the year 500. Archaeological studies commenced here in 1983 and in 1986–89, a joint Scandinavian research project was conducted at Borg. Excavations brought to light remains of the largest building ever to be found from the Viking Era in Norway, 83 meters long and 9 meters high. The chieftain's seat at Borg is estimated to have been abandoned around AD 950. Today the site is the location of the Lofotr Viking Museum. Geography Hålogaland is a drowned coastline containing extensive mountainous fjords and islands. It was an excellent refuge for Viking ships as well as a way station for voyagers to the White Sea, which offered access to Russia. Even in modern times, Narvik was an important World War II objective. In 2008, the name was proposed as the possible name of an independent Northern Norway. See also Þorgerðr Hölgabrúðr - Goddess strongly associated with Hölgi Gunnhild, Mother of Kings - given as from Hålogaland and a daughter of Ozur Toti in Heimskringla and Egil's saga Ottar from Hålogaland - Viking adventurer from Hålogaland Thorir Hund - Great chief in Hålogaland Earls of Lade - claimed to be his descendants Hrafnistumannasögur Ketils saga hœngs - Legendary saga about chieftain Kettil Trout from Hrafnista (Ramsta, Nærøy) in Hålogaland Gríms saga loðinkinna - its sequel Örvar-Odd's saga - their sequel Egill Skallagrímsson - hero of Egil's saga and Icelandic descendant of the Hrafnista family Hrafn Haengsson - important Icelandic lawspeaker, also a descendant and thus cousin of Egill's Hårek of Tjøtta - contemporary of Thorir Hund and relation of the Norwegian Crown Battle of Stiklestad Hálfdanar saga Eysteinssonar - descendants of King Sæming of Hålogaland through King Thrand of Trondheim References Other sources Berglund, Birgitta (1994) Helgeland historie (Mosjøen) Bertelsen, Reidar (1985) Lofoten og Vesteralens historie: Fra den eldste tida til ca. 1500 e (Kommunene i