Alrekstad

File:Alrekstad plaque.jpg

A plaque hanging on what is now Årstad Alternative School, with some of the history of Alrekstad.

Alrekstad (Norwegian:Kongsgården på Alrekstad, Old Norse: Álreksstaðir) was one of the largest royal estates on the west coast of Norway during the early Middle Ages.

History

Alrekstad was situated at the foot of Ulriken, the highest of the Seven Mountains (de syv fjell) that surround Bergen, Norway. King Harald Hairfair took residence there in the 10th century. Snorre mentions Alrekstad among the five farms where Harold Fairhair remained mostly in his later years. After the Battle of Fitjar in 960, King Håkon the Good was on his way to Alrek, but died at Håkonshella in Laksevåg.

At times the estate was the home of King Eric Bloodaxe, Bloodaxe's children, and King Haakon I. Later King Olaf III, the founder of Bergen, ruled the city from Alrekstad for 26 years. These early kings moved the court and the royal court to the royal residence. From these estates were ruled kingdom.

Alrekstad lost its importance when King Eystein I of Norway moved his seat to Holmen in Bergen, located within the city limits. The king's estate was later moved down closer to the sea when Håkonshallen was built. In 1277, King Magnus Lagabøte bequeathed Alrekstad to the Monastery of Nonneseter.

The parish of Aarstad existed for centuries before the creation of the municipality of Aarstad in 1838. The municipality and parish of Aarstad (later spelled Årstad) was named after Alrekstad.

Etymology

According to the Norwegian Place Name Encyclopedia (Norsk Stadnamnleksikon) the name Álreksstaðir is derived from the place name Ulriken. The name Ulriken probably came from Old Norse Alrekr, meaning the towering.

Presently

The name Alrekstad evolved into today's Årstad, the modern name of a borough of the city of Bergen. The location of Alrekstad - today referred to as "Årstadvollen" - is situated outside of the Årstad borough. The original estate houses were probably placed where Haukeland Elementary School (Haukeland skole) is situated today. The fjord below (today named Store Lunggårdsvann) was then called Alrekstad bay (Alrekstadvågen).

Norwegian author Gunnar Staalesen has announced plans to write a play centering on Alrekstad. On 10 September 2000, a commemorative plaque was unveiled at the entrance to Årstad Alternative School, supported by Årstad congregation and Årstad schools.

Translation of the plaque

In old Norwegian times, Årstad main farm - now Årstad School - carried the name of Alrekstaðir.

Alrekstad was one of the king's farms along the southwestern Norwegian coast where Harald Fairhair and his followers stayed in the 900s before cities sprung up in Norway. After the Battle of Fitjar on Stord around 960, King Håkon the Good was on his way to Alrekstad when he died from his wounds at Håkonshellen.

As a seat of kings, Alrekstad was an important origin for the city development of Bergen. It is assumed that the farm had a harbour at Vågen before the city existed.

At a central king's farm such as Alrekstad, it is likely that there existed a wooden church in the earliest Christian period, maybe as early as in the days of Håkon the Good. Later, here stood a stone church, "The Church of The Holy Cross". It is spoken of for the first time 1395, but could have been built in the 12th century. This was the first congregation church in Årstad parish. It later decayed, and was torn down in the 16th century.

— Put up by Årstad congregation and Årstad School. September 10, 2000

Other sources

• Bing, Just Aarstads historie (Bergens Historiske Forenings Skrifter. November 28, 1922)