Knut Helle
Encyclopedia
Knut Helle is a Norwegian historian
. A professor at the University of Bergen
from 1973 to 2000, he has specialized in the late medieval
history of Norway
. He has contributed to several large works.
as the son of school inspector Hermann Olai Helle (1893–1973) and teacher Berta Marie Malm (1906–1991). He was the older brother of politician Ingvar Lars Helle
. The family moved to Hetland
when Knut Helle was seventeen years old.
He took the examen artium
in Stavanger
in 1949, and a teacher's education in Kristiansand
in 1952. He studied philology in Oslo
and Bergen
, and graduated with the cand.philol. degree in 1957. His paper Omkring Bǫglungasǫgur, on the Bagler sagas
, was printed in 1959. In December 1957 he married Karen Blauuw, who would later become a professor. Helle's marriage to Blauuw was dissolved in 1985. In October 1987 Helle got married to museum director and professor of medieval archaeology Ingvild Øye. They reside in Bergen.
at the University of Bergen from 1958 to 1963, with the last year being spent at Oxford University
. He was hired as a lecturer of history at the University of Bergen in 1963, and promoted to professor in 1973. He specialized in the history of Norway
in the Late Middle Ages
, and his first major work was Norge blir en stat 1130–1319, published in 1964 and covering general Norwegian history from 1130 from 1319. His main work was Konge og gode menn i norsk riksstyring ca. 1150–1319, published in 1972. In historiography, he is known for reaching different conclusions than did important Norwegian historians of the 1930s, such as Edvard Bull, Sr.
and Andreas Holmsen
.
Helle also made his mark by contributing to larger historical works. In 1982 he published Kongssete og kjøpstad. Fra opphavet til 1536, volume one of Bergen bys historie, the history of Bergen. He was involved in the editorial work of both Aschehougs verdenshistorie and Aschehougs norgeshistorie, general works on global and Norwegian history from the publishing house Aschehoug
. In the former series he published volume five—Nomadefolk og høykultur 1000-1300— in 1984, and in the latter series he published volume three—Under kirke og kongemakt 1130–1350— in 1995. He also was a member of the editorial committee of Oslo bys historie and Norsk utviklingshjelps historie, and led the editorial committee of the Norsk biografisk leksikon
, which was published in ten volumes between 1999 and 2005. In 2006 Helle published Norsk byhistorie: urbanisering gjennom 1300 år together with Finn-Einar Eliassen, Jan Eivind Myhre
and Ola Svein Stugu.
Helle was the vice dean of the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Bergen from 1978 to 1980, and chair
of the Chr. Michelsen Institute
from 1992 to 2001. He is a member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
and the Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and Letters
. He retired from his professorship in 2000. From 1975 to 1984 he chaired the Norwegian Historical Association
.
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
. A professor at the University of Bergen
University of Bergen
The University of Bergen is located in Bergen, Norway. Although founded as late as 1946, academic activity had taken place at Bergen Museum as far back as 1825. The university today serves more than 14,500 students...
from 1973 to 2000, he has specialized in the late medieval
Late Middle Ages
The Late Middle Ages was the period of European history generally comprising the 14th to the 16th century . The Late Middle Ages followed the High Middle Ages and preceded the onset of the early modern era ....
history of Norway
History of Norway
The history of human settlement in what is present day Norway goes back at least 11,000 years, to the late Paleolithic. Archaeological finds in the county of Møre og Romsdal have been dated to 9,200 BC and are probably the remains of settlers from Doggerland, an area now submerged in the North Sea,...
. He has contributed to several large works.
Early life, education and marriage
He was born in LarvikLarvik
is a city and municipality in Vestfold county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Larvik. Larvik kommune - has about 41 364 inhabitants and covers 530 km2....
as the son of school inspector Hermann Olai Helle (1893–1973) and teacher Berta Marie Malm (1906–1991). He was the older brother of politician Ingvar Lars Helle
Ingvar Lars Helle
Ingvar Lars Helle was a Norwegian politician for the Liberal Party and later the Liberal People's Party.Helle was a member of Stavanger city council from 1965 to 1971. In the period 1967 to 1971 he was also a member of Rogaland county council...
. The family moved to Hetland
Hetland
Hetland is a former municipality in Rogaland county, Norway.It was created as Hetland formannskapsdistrikt in 1837. On 1 July 1922, Randaberg was separated from Hetland to create a municipality of its own. The split left Hetland with a population of 10,167...
when Knut Helle was seventeen years old.
He took the examen artium
Examen artium
Examen artium was the name of the academic certification conferred in Denmark and Norway, qualifying the student for admission to university studies. Examen artium was originally introduced as the entrance exam of the University of Copenhagen in 1630...
in Stavanger
Stavanger
Stavanger is a city and municipality in the county of Rogaland, Norway.Stavanger municipality has a population of 126,469. There are 197,852 people living in the Stavanger conurbation, making Stavanger the fourth largest city, but the third largest urban area, in Norway...
in 1949, and a teacher's education in Kristiansand
Kristiansand
-History:As indicated by archeological findings in the city, the Kristiansand area has been settled at least since 400 AD. A royal farm is known to have been situated on Oddernes as early as 800, and the first church was built around 1040...
in 1952. He studied philology in Oslo
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
and Bergen
University of Bergen
The University of Bergen is located in Bergen, Norway. Although founded as late as 1946, academic activity had taken place at Bergen Museum as far back as 1825. The university today serves more than 14,500 students...
, and graduated with the cand.philol. degree in 1957. His paper Omkring Bǫglungasǫgur, on the Bagler sagas
Bagler sagas
The Bagler Sagas are kings' sagas relating to events in Norway from 1202 to 1217. They are our main source to events in Norway in this period...
, was printed in 1959. In December 1957 he married Karen Blauuw, who would later become a professor. Helle's marriage to Blauuw was dissolved in 1985. In October 1987 Helle got married to museum director and professor of medieval archaeology Ingvild Øye. They reside in Bergen.
Career
Helle was a research fellowResearch fellow
The title of research fellow is used to denote a research position at a university or similar institution, usually for academic staff or faculty members. A research fellow may act either as an independent investigator or under the supervision of a principal investigator...
at the University of Bergen from 1958 to 1963, with the last year being spent at Oxford University
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
. He was hired as a lecturer of history at the University of Bergen in 1963, and promoted to professor in 1973. He specialized in the history of Norway
History of Norway
The history of human settlement in what is present day Norway goes back at least 11,000 years, to the late Paleolithic. Archaeological finds in the county of Møre og Romsdal have been dated to 9,200 BC and are probably the remains of settlers from Doggerland, an area now submerged in the North Sea,...
in the Late Middle Ages
Late Middle Ages
The Late Middle Ages was the period of European history generally comprising the 14th to the 16th century . The Late Middle Ages followed the High Middle Ages and preceded the onset of the early modern era ....
, and his first major work was Norge blir en stat 1130–1319, published in 1964 and covering general Norwegian history from 1130 from 1319. His main work was Konge og gode menn i norsk riksstyring ca. 1150–1319, published in 1972. In historiography, he is known for reaching different conclusions than did important Norwegian historians of the 1930s, such as Edvard Bull, Sr.
Edvard Bull, Sr.
Edvard Bull was a Norwegian historian and politician for the Labour Party. He took the doctorate in 1912 and became a professor at the University of Kristiania in 1917, and is known for writings on a broad range of subjects. In addition to his academic work, he is known for his work on Norsk...
and Andreas Holmsen
Andreas Holmsen
Andreas Holmsen was a Norwegian professor, and historian.He was born in Kristiania.Holmsen married in 1961 with etnologist Rigmor Frimannslund Holmsen.-Bibliography:...
.
Helle also made his mark by contributing to larger historical works. In 1982 he published Kongssete og kjøpstad. Fra opphavet til 1536, volume one of Bergen bys historie, the history of Bergen. He was involved in the editorial work of both Aschehougs verdenshistorie and Aschehougs norgeshistorie, general works on global and Norwegian history from the publishing house Aschehoug
Aschehoug
H. Aschehoug & Co , commonly known as Aschehoug, is one of the largest independent publishing companies in Norway. -History:...
. In the former series he published volume five—Nomadefolk og høykultur 1000-1300— in 1984, and in the latter series he published volume three—Under kirke og kongemakt 1130–1350— in 1995. He also was a member of the editorial committee of Oslo bys historie and Norsk utviklingshjelps historie, and led the editorial committee of the Norsk biografisk leksikon
Norsk biografisk leksikon
Norsk biografisk leksikon is the largest Norwegian biographical encyclopedia.The first edition was issued between 1921 and 1983, including 19 volumes and 5,100 articles...
, which was published in ten volumes between 1999 and 2005. In 2006 Helle published Norsk byhistorie: urbanisering gjennom 1300 år together with Finn-Einar Eliassen, Jan Eivind Myhre
Jan Eivind Myhre
Jan Eivind Myhre is a Norwegian historian.He was a professor II at the University of Tromsø from 1991 to 2001, became a professor at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in 1994 and then at the University of Oslo in 1996....
and Ola Svein Stugu.
Helle was the vice dean of the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Bergen from 1978 to 1980, and chair
Chair (official)
The chairman is the highest officer of an organized group such as a board, committee, or deliberative assembly. The person holding the office is typically elected or appointed by the members of the group. The chairman presides over meetings of the assembled group and conducts its business in an...
of the Chr. Michelsen Institute
Chr. Michelsen Institute
The Chr. Michelsen Institute was founded in 1930, and is currently the largest centre for development research in Scandinavia. CMI is an independent, non-profit research foundation for policy-oriented and applied development research. Headed by the director Ottar Mæstad, it employs 40 social...
from 1992 to 2001. He is a member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters is a learned society based in Oslo, Norway.-History:The University of Oslo was established in 1811. The idea of a learned society in Christiania surfaced for the first time in 1841. The city of Throndhjem had no university, but had a learned...
and the Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and Letters
Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and Letters
The Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and Letters is a learned society based in Trondheim, Norway.-History:DKNVS was founded in 1760 by bishop of Nidaros Johan Ernst Gunnerus, headmaster at the Trondheim Cathedral School Gerhard Schøning and Councillor of State Peter Frederik Suhm under the name...
. He retired from his professorship in 2000. From 1975 to 1984 he chaired the Norwegian Historical Association
Norwegian Historical Association
The Norwegian Historical Association is a Norwegian historical organization.It was founded in 1869 by Michael Birkeland and Ludvig Ludvigsen Daae. Its purpose was to publish the academic journal Historisk Tidsskrift, which it commenced in 1871...
.