Viken, Norway
Viken (Old Norse: Vík or Víkin) or Vika, was the historical name for a district in southeastern Norway, including the area surrounding the Oslofjord and Skagerrak, the strait running between Norway and the southwest coast of Sweden and the Jutland peninsula of Denmark.
Contents
History
The cultural hub is centred in Oslo, but the capital of the region was formerly at Borre. This area included the important cities of Tønsberg, Oslo, Sarpsborg and Konghelle. There is disagreement among modern historians as to where the boundaries of the geographical area called Viken were during the Viking era. It is commonly believed to have comprised the historical provinces of Vestfold, Rånrike, Vingulmark, Grenland and Båhuslen.[1][not in citation given]
Historically the Danish kings had established dominion over the area. Norwegian royal power began to assert itself in Viken with King Olav Haraldsson, mostly due to a sharp weakening of the Danish royal power. Olaf first declared himself king of Norway in 1015 and established control of the nation in battle, principally the Battle of Nesjar in 1016. King Olav subsequently founded the city of Sarpsborg in Viken during 1016.[2][not in citation given]
During the Civil war era in Norway, the Bagler faction frequently established themselves in the Viken area. The wealthier classes, particularly in Viken, were the basis of the Bagler party. The Norwegian kings achieved full authority with developments which reached its peak when the national capital was established at Oslo during the reign of King Haakon V of Norway in 1314.[3][not in citation given]
Etymology
Viken is the definite form (the noun + the definite suffix -en) of the Old Norse word vík meaning an inlet or creek (UK).[4]
Various theories have been offered that the word "viking" may be derived from this place name, meaning "a person from Viken". According to this theory, originally the word "viking" simply described persons from this area, and that it is only in the last few centuries that it has taken on the broader sense of early medieval Scandinavians in general.[5]
References
- ↑ Arkeologi i nord (Frans-Arne Stylegars)
- ↑ Olav Haraldsson - Olav the Stout - Olav the Saint (The Viking Network)
- ↑ Håkon 5 Magnusson (Store norske leksikon)
- ↑ Norwegian-English Dictionary (Einar Haugen. University of Wisconsin Press. page 483)
- ↑ Principles of English Etymology (Walter W. Skeat; Clarendon press; Page 479)
Other sources
- Faarlund, Jan Terje (2008) The Syntax of Old Norse: With a survey of the inflectional morphology and a complete bibliography (Oxford University Press) ISBN 978-0-19-923559-9
- Sigurdsson, Jon Vidar (2008) Det norrøne samfunnet (Oslo:forlaget Pax) ISBN 978-82-530-3147-7
- Norseng, Per G.; Nedkvitne, Arnved (2000) Middelalderbyen ved Bjørvika: Oslo 1000-1536 (Oslo: Cappelen) ISBN 978-82-02-19100-9
- Haugen, Einar (1965) Norwegian-English Dictionary (University of Wisconsin Press) ISBN 0-299-03874-2
- Helle, Knut (1964) Norge blir en stat, 1130–1319 (Universitetsforlaget) ISBN 82-00-01323-5
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