The Four Petty Kingdoms of Upplǫnd: Equestrian Graves and the Political Integration of the Norwegian Highlands in Late Viking Age Norway
Frode Iversen
In continental and north-western Europe armed cavalry – aided by the introduction of stirrup was closely linked to emergence feudalism but this also case in Scandinavia? Were resulting military specialists growing national kingdoms, or local regional power spheres ruled petty kings? I will investigate historical region Upplǫnd last Norse area be integrated into Kingdom Norway Óláfr Haraldsson around AD 1020. Two thirds Norway’s 51 known equestrian graves are located inland employ a novel way investigating their relationship administrative units, such as þriðjungar (thirds), herǫð (hundreds), not least fjórðungar (fourths), well travel routes settlements. There is little that suggests these were an early aristocracy, its ruling Scandinavian dynasty Ynglingene has been argued previous research. Equestrian grave traditions survived longer than elsewhere Scandinavia, which Christianised until 11th century, it unlikely buried had served uniting converting King Óláfr. It difficult establish links between historically lendr menn (the most prominent retainers king) families, graves. However, new revelation farms where located, situated along boundaries fjórðungar, judicial districts, subsidiaries administration herǫð. This locations important warning supervision roles systems.
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