HAFRSFJORD – 1150th anniversary
Around the year 872, Harald Fairhair defeated his opponents and became the first King of Norway. This is 1150 years ago in 2022.
Celebrating the 1150th anniversary of the unification of Norway took place where our first High King Harald Hairfair’s realm was centred: in Rogaland on the southwestern coast of Norway. The commemoration lasted for 11 days and was celebrated in connection with two Viking festivals. First in Avaldsnes in the north and then in Hafrsfjord further south in the county. A fleet of Viking ships travelled along the route.
The last two days – the 17th to 19th of June – the main celebration was in Hafrsfjord – which I joined. Hafrsfjord is just south of my hometown Stavanger.
HAFRSFORD – is a fjord in the Stavanger Peninsula, and principally known for its association with the Battle of Hafrsfjord (Slaget i Hafrsfjord). King Harald “Fairhair”, the first king of Norway, won a great naval battle during the year 872 which resulted in the unification of Norway into one kingdom. The battle paved the way for Harald to gain control over most of western coast of Norway and rightly call himself king of the country.
The monument “Sverd i Fjell “(Swords in Rock) represents the Battle of Hafrsfjord. It was raised in 1983 in Møllebukta, the northeasternmost end of the Hafrsfjorden.
Møllebukta was also where the main activities for this festival took place.
THE HAFRSFJORD KAUPANG
Kaupang is an old Norwegian word for market and the Hafrsfjord Kaupang is an annual Viking festival at Møllebukta in Hafrsfjord. This year the festival is an integrated part of the unification anniversary.
As a traditional Viking festival, the Hafrsfjord Kaupang had stalls and craftspeople demonstrating their skills and offering hands-on sessions in everything from archery to woodworking. People were wearing authentic costumes depicting day-to-day Viking clothing, we experienced music performances and storytelling, watched a Viking battle and could participate in rowing and sailing on Viking longships.
Trade stalls with enticing goods dot the festival grounds. We could buy leather goods, wooden bowls, knives, swords (wooden), bows and arrows, and silver jewellery – among others.
Thomas – the son of a friend of mine, often joins Viking festivals and sells Viking drinking glasses – replica glassware from the Viking era.
One of the most exciting events in Møllebukta, was the “battle” where both swords and axes were used. For protection, the Vikings also used shields, helmets and chain mail.
ADVENTUROUS HAPPENINGS AROUND THE FJORD
Vikingships at Sømmesvågen
We joined the shuttle boat to Sømmesvågen, just south of Møllebukta, where we had a closer look at a couple of the Viking ships. The biggest one, “SAGA FARMANN”, is a copy of the Klåstad ship, which was found in Klåstadkilen outside Larvik in 1893. It was excavated in 1970 and is at a museum in Vestfold. The ship was probably a cargo ship and is dated from 998.
The copy was made at Vikingodden in Tønsberg and was launched at Tønsberg Vikingfestival in September 2018. It is considered Norway’s fourth Viking ship.
Later on, we also got to see when they were sailing:
Ytraberget
At Ytraberget we joined a short hike. The hiking trail has connected several historic places both from the Viking age and older periods.
First, we came to “Kongshaugen” – a burial mound from the iron-age (500 BC – 1050AD). At this place, Valen Vocalensemble performed extracts from the “Lay of Harald” – the song where Hafrsfjord is named as the location of the great battle.
In the forest nearby, we were greeted with a fascinating piece of music.
The ensemble Klang av Oldtid («Sound of Ancient Times») was playing on prehistoric instruments.
Next, we came to a top of a rock, a plateau close to the sea, which once was the location of a stone fortress mentioned in the saga literature. The ruins that remain are from the age of migration, dated 300 years before Viking times (550-1050 AD.)
In 1972, during the celebration of the 1100th anniversary of the battle of Hafrsfjord, a monument was erected at Ytraberget, signed by King Olav V.
At the end of the hiking area, at Ormen Lange, which is a nice swimming area, we watched a short play. It was a scene from the play «Hårfagre» («Fairhair») by Erling Gjelsvik, directed by Torfinn Nag. We met Harald and Gyda, and several other characters from the saga of the first king of Norway, brought to life by experienced actors. An enjoyable performance!
Scene from the play «Hårfagre»
Visiting a Viking festival is a fascinating experience – the festival brings the history of the Viking Age to life in a child- and family-friendly way.
We enjoyed the additional activities in connection with the anniversary. The adventurous happenings around the legendary fjord, the Viking age conveyed through music, drama, dance and storytelling, made it extra special.
