Oslo Kongsgård estate

The Oslo Kongsgård estate (Norwegian: Oslo kongsgård) was a royal residence and fortified Kongsgård estate located in the Norwegian capital of Oslo.

The Oslo Kongsgård estate
Kongsgården i Oslo
Ruins of the former royal estate in Oslo
Location within Oslo
Oslo Kongsgård estate (Norway)
General information
Town or cityOslo
CountryNorway
Coordinates59°54′13″N 10°45′48″E
Construction started13th century

History

The oldest parts of the estate that have been excavated are barricade walls built in a classic motte-and-bailey style. These walls likely date from the years between 1040 and 1060, a time when Norway was ruled by King Harald Hardrada.[1] The estate was located close to St Mary's Church and later expanded during the reign of King Haakon Haakonsson, who built larger and stronger walls, transforming the estate into a castle-like structure.

The estate eventually became a royal residential palace with towers, a Haakon's hall-inspired great hall and the largest medieval log houses recorded in Norway.[2] The location of the estate played a significant role when King Haakon V decided to gradually moved the capital of Norway from Bergen to Oslo. The estate eventually lost its status and role as a regional administrative center to Akershus Fortress and became the residence of the Chancellor of Norway in the late Middle Ages.[3]

The ruins of the estate and its buildings can today been seen in Middelalderparken in the Old Town of Oslo.

References
  1. "Middelalderbyen". Norgeshistorie (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2018-05-30.
  2. Oslo kongsgård. From Lokalhistoriewiki.no
  3. "Nasjonalbiblioteket". www.nb.no (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2017-10-24.
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