Polity Consolidation and Military Transformation in Medieval Scandinavia

Beñat Elortza Larrea, Ph.D. (2018), University of Aberdeen, is Associate Professor at Nord University in Bodø, Norway. His research interests include the Scandinavian ‘state formation’ processes, martial culture in the Middle Ages, and medieval aristocratic networks.

• AcknowledgementsList of Figures and TablesAbbreviations1 Introduction1.1 From State Formation to Polity Consolidation1.2 Europeanisation and Cultural Transfer1.3 Primary Sources1.4 ‘State Formation’ and Martial Culture in Historiography1.5 Scandinavia between the 8th and the 11th Centuries1.5.1 The Leiðangr: The Scandinavian Naval Levies1.5.2 Warfare and Martial Culture2 Kingship, Administration and Warfare in Western Europe, c.1000–13002.1 The 11th Century: The ‘Banal Revolution’ and Decentralised Polities2.1.1 Royal Power and Governance in the 11th Century2.1.2 Military Organisation and Warfare in the 11th Century2.1.3 Martial Attire in the 11th Century2.2 The 12th Century: Internal Struggles and New Officials2.2.1 Royal Power and Governance in the 12th Century2.2.2 Military Organisation and Warfare in the 12th Century2.2.3 Martial Attire in the 12th Century2.3 The 13th Century: Increased Institutionalisation and Aristocratic Pressure2.3.1 Royal Power and Governance in the 13th Century2.3.2 Military Organisation and Warfare in the 13th Century2.3.3 Martial Attire in the 13th Century2.4 Concluding Remarks3 Denmark: From Scandinavian Domination to Dissolution3.1 From Knud’s Empire to Erik ii’s Coronation, c.1035–11303.1.1 Kingship and Royal Power in 11th-Century Denmark3.1.2 Royal and Aristocratic Finances in 11th-Century Denmark3.1.3 Military Organisation in 11th-Century Denmark3.1.4 Strategy and Tactics in 11th-Century Denmark3.1.5 Martial Equipment in 11th-Century Denmark3.2 The ‘Civil Wars’ and the Early Valdemarian Period, c.1130–12003.2.1 Kingship and Royal Power in 12th-Century Denmark3.2.2 Royal and Aristocratic Finances in 12th-Century Denmark3.2.3 Military Organisation in 12th-Century Denmark3.2.4 Strategy and Tactics in 12th-Century Denmark3.2.5 Martial Equipment in 12th-Century Denmark3.3 Eastern Expansion and Dissolution, c.1200–13203.3.1 Kingship and Royal Power in 13th-Century Denmark3.3.2 Royal and Aristocratic Finances 13th-Century Denmark3.3.3 Military Organisation in 13th-Century Denmark3.3.4 Strategy and Tactics in 13th-Century Denmark3.3.5 Martial Equipment in 13th-Century Denmark3.4 Conclusion4 Norway: From Danish Overlordship to Atlantic Empire4.1 From Olav the Saint to the ‘Civil Wars’, c.1035–11304.1.1 Kingship and Royal Power in 11th-Century Norway4.1.2 Royal and Aristocratic Finances in 11th-Century Norway4.1.3 Military Organisation in 11th-Century Norway4.1.4 Strategy and Tactics in 11th-Century Norway4.1.5 Martial Equipment in 11th-Century Norway4.2 The ‘Civil Wars’ and the Reign of Sverre Sigurdsson, c.1130–12004.2.1 Kingship and Royal Power in 12th-Century Norway4.2.2 Royal and Aristocratic Finances in 12th-Century Norway4.2.3 Military Organisation in 12th-Century Norway4.2.4 Strategy and Tactics in 12th-Century Norway4.2.5 Martial Equipment in 12th-Century Norway4.3 Consolidation and Expansion, c.1200–13204.3.1 Kingship and Royal Power in 13th-Century Norway4.3.2 Royal and Aristocratic Finances in 13th-Century Norway4.3.3 Military Organisation in 13th-Century Norway4.3.4 Strategy and Tactics in 13th-Century Norway4.3.5 Martial Equipment in 13th-Century Norway4.4 Conclusion5 Sweden: Between East and West5.1 Fragmentation and Paganism, c.1035–11305.1.1 Kingship and Royal Power in 11th-Century Sweden5.1.2 Royal and Aristocratic Finances in 11th-Century Sweden5.1.3 Military Organisation in 11th-Century Sweden5.1.4 Strategy and Tactics in 11th-Century Sweden5.1.5 Martial Equipment in 11th-Century Sweden5.2 Erik and Sverker: Struggles between Götaland Dynasties, c.1130–12005.2.1 Kingship and Royal Power in 12th-Century Sweden5.2.2 Royal and Aristocratic Finances in 12th-Century Sweden5.2.3 Military Organisation in 12th-Century Sweden5.2.4 Strategy and Tactics in 12th-Century Sweden5.2.5 Martial Equipment in 12th-Century Sweden5.3 The Consolidation of the Crown and Fraternal Wars, c.1200–13205.3.1 Kingship and Royal Power in 13th-Century Sweden5.3.2 Royal and Aristocratic Finances in 13th-Century Sweden5.3.3 Military Organisation in 13th-Century Sweden5.3.4 Strategy and Tactics in 13th-Century Sweden5.3.5 Martial Equipment in 13th-Century Sweden5.4 Conclusion6 Polity Consolidation and Military Transformation in Scandinavia6.1 Scandinavia and Europe: Polity Consolidation and Martial Culture6.2 The Scandinavian Angle – Archaicness or Innovation?6.3 Concluding RemarksAppendixBibliographyIndex