Fimreite
Encyclopedia
Fimreite is a small village in the municipality of Sogndal
in Sogn og Fjordane
county, Norway
. The village is located along the Sognefjord
, about 22 kilometres (13.7 mi) southwest of Sogndalsfjøra
and about 18 kilometres (11.2 mi) southwest of Kaupanger
. Fimreite was also the sight of the Battle of Fimreite, a naval battle during the Civil war era in Norway
.
and King Magnus V of Norway
for the monarchy in Norway. The forces of Sverre Sigurdsson
attacked the fleet of King Magnus V of Norway
on June 15, 1184. The battle took place off the coast near the hamlet of Fimreite in the long and narrow Sognefjord
in Sogndal
municipality, Sogn og Fjordane
county. Magnus had several large ships, but none as huge as the Mariasuda, which Sverre had built. Because of its great size, the seaworthiness of the Mariasuda was rather poor and it would only be useful within the narrow fjords. The ships in the fleet of King Magnus were lashed together, creating the appearance of one big fleet.
While the Mariasuda held up half of the enemy fleet, the rest attacked the outlying enemy ships. Sverre Sigurdsson sent his ships into battle in squadrons, to charge and overwhelm on one ship at a time, forcing the Magnus' men to jump over to the next. As the battle proceeded, the remaining ships became extremely crammed, and then started to go down because of the weight. King Magnus V was reported to have gone down on one of the last of them.
After Magnus' death, King Sverre became the sole sovereign of Norway. However, the civil war era in Norway would not end with this victory. After the death of Magnus, Sigurd Magnusson
, Inge Magnusson
and Erling Steinvegg
came forth all stating to be sons of Magnus and claiming the Norwegian throne.
to commemorate the 800-year anniversary of the Battle of Fimreite. The obelisk was erected in the village of Norane in Sogndal
. At that time, the historic play Slaget ved Fimreite and the composition Klokkesong (1984) by composer Arne Nordheim
were performed .
Sogndal
Sogndal is a municipality in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Sogn. The village of Sogndalsfjøra is the administrative center of Sogndal municipality. Other main villages include Kaupanger, Kjørnes, and Fjærland...
in Sogn og Fjordane
Sogn og Fjordane
is a county in Norway, bordering Møre og Romsdal, Oppland, Buskerud, and Hordaland. The county administration is in the town of Hermansverk in Leikanger municipality while the largest town is Førde....
county, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. The village is located along the Sognefjord
Sognefjord
The Sognefjord is the largest fjord in Norway, and the second longest in the world. Located in Sogn og Fjordane county, it stretches inland to the small village of Skjolden...
, about 22 kilometres (13.7 mi) southwest of Sogndalsfjøra
Sogndalsfjøra
Sogndalsfjøra is the administrative centre of the municipality of Sogndal in Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway. It is located where the river Sogndalselvi runs out in the Sogndalsfjord, a branch of the Sognefjord. The village has a population of 3,208...
and about 18 kilometres (11.2 mi) southwest of Kaupanger
Kaupanger
Kaupanger is a village situated along the Sognefjord in the municipality of Sogndal in Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway.Kaupanger originated as a settlement during the Viking age. Earlier Kaupanger was known as Tingstad. Kaupang was an Old Norse term for trading or market place. Town's name is...
. Fimreite was also the sight of the Battle of Fimreite, a naval battle during the Civil war era in Norway
Civil war era in Norway
The Civil war era of Norwegian history is a term used for the period in the history of Norway between 1130 and 1240. During this time, a series of civil wars were fought between rival kings and pretenders to the throne of Norway. The reasons for the wars is one of the most debated topics in...
.
Battle of Fimreite
The Battle of Fimreite (Slaget ved Fimreite) was the final battle between King SverreSverre of Norway
Sverre Sigurdsson was king of Norway from 1177 to 1202. He married Margareta Eriksdotter, the daughter of the Swedish king Eric the Saint, by whom he had the daughter Kristina Sverresdotter....
and King Magnus V of Norway
Magnus V of Norway
Magnus V Erlingsson was a King of Norway during the Civil war era in Norway.-Biography:Magnus Erlingsson was probably born in Etne in Hordaland. He was the son of Erling Skakke. His father was a Norwegian nobleman who earned his reputation crusading with Rögnvald Kali Kolsson, the Earl of Orkney...
for the monarchy in Norway. The forces of Sverre Sigurdsson
Sverre of Norway
Sverre Sigurdsson was king of Norway from 1177 to 1202. He married Margareta Eriksdotter, the daughter of the Swedish king Eric the Saint, by whom he had the daughter Kristina Sverresdotter....
attacked the fleet of King Magnus V of Norway
Magnus V of Norway
Magnus V Erlingsson was a King of Norway during the Civil war era in Norway.-Biography:Magnus Erlingsson was probably born in Etne in Hordaland. He was the son of Erling Skakke. His father was a Norwegian nobleman who earned his reputation crusading with Rögnvald Kali Kolsson, the Earl of Orkney...
on June 15, 1184. The battle took place off the coast near the hamlet of Fimreite in the long and narrow Sognefjord
Sognefjord
The Sognefjord is the largest fjord in Norway, and the second longest in the world. Located in Sogn og Fjordane county, it stretches inland to the small village of Skjolden...
in Sogndal
Sogndal
Sogndal is a municipality in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Sogn. The village of Sogndalsfjøra is the administrative center of Sogndal municipality. Other main villages include Kaupanger, Kjørnes, and Fjærland...
municipality, Sogn og Fjordane
Sogn og Fjordane
is a county in Norway, bordering Møre og Romsdal, Oppland, Buskerud, and Hordaland. The county administration is in the town of Hermansverk in Leikanger municipality while the largest town is Førde....
county. Magnus had several large ships, but none as huge as the Mariasuda, which Sverre had built. Because of its great size, the seaworthiness of the Mariasuda was rather poor and it would only be useful within the narrow fjords. The ships in the fleet of King Magnus were lashed together, creating the appearance of one big fleet.
While the Mariasuda held up half of the enemy fleet, the rest attacked the outlying enemy ships. Sverre Sigurdsson sent his ships into battle in squadrons, to charge and overwhelm on one ship at a time, forcing the Magnus' men to jump over to the next. As the battle proceeded, the remaining ships became extremely crammed, and then started to go down because of the weight. King Magnus V was reported to have gone down on one of the last of them.
After Magnus' death, King Sverre became the sole sovereign of Norway. However, the civil war era in Norway would not end with this victory. After the death of Magnus, Sigurd Magnusson
Sigurd Magnusson
Sigurd Magnusson was a Norwegian nobleman who campaigned against King Sverre of Norway during the Civil war era in Norway. -Background:...
, Inge Magnusson
Inge Magnusson
Inge Magnusson or Inge Baglar-king was from 1196 to 1202 the Bagler candidate for pretender to the Norwegian throne during the Civil war era in Norway.In 1197, a serious challenge to the reign of King Sverre of Norway arose...
and Erling Steinvegg
Erling Steinvegg
Erling Magnusson Steinvegg or Erlingr Magnússon Steinveggr was the candidate of the Bagler to the Norwegian throne from 1204 to 1207. His candidacy resulted in the second Bagler War which lasted until 1208, when the question of the Norwegian succession was temporarily settled.-Biography:Erling...
came forth all stating to be sons of Magnus and claiming the Norwegian throne.
Commemoration
In 1984, a memorial stone was unveiled by King Olav V of NorwayOlav V of Norway
Olav V was the king of Norway from 1957 until his death. A member of the House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, Olav was born in the United Kingdom as the son of King Haakon VII of Norway and Queen Maud of Norway...
to commemorate the 800-year anniversary of the Battle of Fimreite. The obelisk was erected in the village of Norane in Sogndal
Sogndal
Sogndal is a municipality in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Sogn. The village of Sogndalsfjøra is the administrative center of Sogndal municipality. Other main villages include Kaupanger, Kjørnes, and Fjærland...
. At that time, the historic play Slaget ved Fimreite and the composition Klokkesong (1984) by composer Arne Nordheim
Arne Nordheim
Arne Nordheim was a Norwegian composer who had since 1982 been living in the Norwegian State's honorary residence, Grotten, next to the Royal Palace in Oslo. Nordheim received numerous prizes for his compositions, and was elected an honorary member of the International Society for Contemporary...
were performed .