Audunborg
Encyclopedia
Audunborg or Hegrenes-borga was a castle
and fortification built by Audun Hugleiksson
on his inherited estate at Ålhus
on the shore of the Jølstravatn
in the municipality of Jølster
in Sogn og Fjordane
county, Norway
. It is about 8 kilometres (5 mi) northeast of the village of Vassenden
.
craftsmen from Bergen
. The rectangular building was 22 by 13 m (72.2 by 42.7 ) and had three stories. There was a store room in the ground floor, living quarters on the next floor, and a feast hall in the top floor. It had large windows and arches. The building itself had water on three sides and was thus easy to defend. It is also thought that a moat
or castle wall was part of the fortifications. Recent research claims that Audun himself spent little time in his castle as his activities kept him either in Bergen, in the east of the country or abroad. As a baron
, Audun Hugleiksson was allowed to keep a hird
(armed retinue) a right otherwise reserved for the king. This hird would defend him on his travels and when he was at home in Audunborg.
In Norway, only the King and the Church had the funds to build in stone and Audunborg along with Isegran by Glomma
, built by Alv Erlingsson
, are the only two known examples of private stone castles in Norway. Stories about Audun remain in local folklore and one story includes him burying all his money and sinking a silver table into the lake Jølstravatn
before departing for his last trip to Bergen.
in Sunnfjord
. It was first excavated in 1934 and is probably modeled after Håkonshallen
in Bergen
which was twice as long and twice as wide. A memorial to Audun, carved by Jørgen P. Solheimsnes from Jølster was erected on the site of the castle in 1960. Its motive is the baron's seal. There is a biannual outdoor play performed on Ålhus called Hugleikssonspelet which is written by Edvard Hoem
, based on a book by Anne Cecilie Kapstad which commemorates Audun Hugleiksson.
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
and fortification built by Audun Hugleiksson
Audun Hugleiksson
Audun Hugleiksson was a Norwegian nobleman at the end of the 13th century. He was the king's right hand, both under King Magnus Lagabøte and King Eirik Magnusson, and was seen as an important politician and lawman in his time. He played a central role in reforming the Norwegian law system...
on his inherited estate at Ålhus
Ålhus
Ålhus is a small village in the municipality of Jølster in Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway. It is located on highway on the northern side of the lake Jølstravatnet, in a largely agricultural area. Ålhus is located west of the village of Skei and northeast of the villages of Vassenden and...
on the shore of the Jølstravatn
Jølstravatn
Jølstravatn is a lake in the municipality of Jølster in Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway. The lake empties its water into the long Jølstra river which then flows into the Førdefjorden. The impressive eastern arm of Jølstravatn is called Kjøsnesfjorden, although it is not a true fjord that is...
in the municipality of Jølster
Jølster
Jølster is a municipality in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Sunnfjord. The administrative centre is the village of Skei...
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...
. It is about 8 kilometres (5 mi) northeast of the village of Vassenden
Vassenden
Vassenden is a village in the municipality of Jølster in Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway. It is located along the river Jølstra at the western end of the lake Jølstravatn. The population of Vassenden was 314 in 2009, and the village is about ....
.
History
The castle was built in stone from 1276 to 1286 probably by EnglishEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
craftsmen from Bergen
Bergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
. The rectangular building was 22 by 13 m (72.2 by 42.7 ) and had three stories. There was a store room in the ground floor, living quarters on the next floor, and a feast hall in the top floor. It had large windows and arches. The building itself had water on three sides and was thus easy to defend. It is also thought that a moat
Moat
A moat is a deep, broad ditch, either dry or filled with water, that surrounds a castle, other building or town, historically to provide it with a preliminary line of defence. In some places moats evolved into more extensive water defences, including natural or artificial lakes, dams and sluices...
or castle wall was part of the fortifications. Recent research claims that Audun himself spent little time in his castle as his activities kept him either in Bergen, in the east of the country or abroad. As a baron
Baron
Baron is a title of nobility. The word baron comes from Old French baron, itself from Old High German and Latin baro meaning " man, warrior"; it merged with cognate Old English beorn meaning "nobleman"...
, Audun Hugleiksson was allowed to keep a hird
Hird
The hird, in Norwegian history, was originally an informal retinue of personal armed companions, hirdmen or housecarls, but came to mean not only the nucleus of the royal army, but also developed into a more formal royal court household....
(armed retinue) a right otherwise reserved for the king. This hird would defend him on his travels and when he was at home in Audunborg.
In Norway, only the King and the Church had the funds to build in stone and Audunborg along with Isegran by Glomma
Glomma
The Glomma or Glåma is the longest and largest river in Norway. The long river has a drainage basin that covers a full 13% of Norway's area, all in the southern part of Norway.-Geography:...
, built by Alv Erlingsson
Alv Erlingsson
Alv Erlingsson was a Norwegian nobleman, jarl of Sarpsborg and governor of Borgarsyssel.Alv Erlingsson was born at Tanberg in Norderhov, Buskerud. Alv Erlingsson was the son of Erling Alvsson of Tanberg and grandson of Alv Erlingsson of Tanberg...
, are the only two known examples of private stone castles in Norway. Stories about Audun remain in local folklore and one story includes him burying all his money and sinking a silver table into the lake Jølstravatn
Jølstravatn
Jølstravatn is a lake in the municipality of Jølster in Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway. The lake empties its water into the long Jølstra river which then flows into the Førdefjorden. The impressive eastern arm of Jølstravatn is called Kjøsnesfjorden, although it is not a true fjord that is...
before departing for his last trip to Bergen.
Modern Day
Today, only the ruins remain of the castle that stood at the tip of Hegreneset by JølstravatnJølstravatn
Jølstravatn is a lake in the municipality of Jølster in Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway. The lake empties its water into the long Jølstra river which then flows into the Førdefjorden. The impressive eastern arm of Jølstravatn is called Kjøsnesfjorden, although it is not a true fjord that is...
in Sunnfjord
Sunnfjord
Sunnfjord is a traditional district in Western Norway located in Sogn og Fjordane county. It includes the municipalities of Askvoll, Fjaler, Flora, Førde, Gaular, Jølster, Naustdal, and the southernmost parts of Bremanger...
. It was first excavated in 1934 and is probably modeled after Håkonshallen
Bergenhus Fortress
Bergenhus fortress is a fortress located in Bergen, Norway. Bergenhus fortress is located in the entrance to the harbor in Bergen. This is one of the oldest and best preserved castles in Norway.-History:...
in Bergen
Bergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
which was twice as long and twice as wide. A memorial to Audun, carved by Jørgen P. Solheimsnes from Jølster was erected on the site of the castle in 1960. Its motive is the baron's seal. There is a biannual outdoor play performed on Ålhus called Hugleikssonspelet which is written by Edvard Hoem
Edvard Hoem
Edvard Hoem is a Norwegian novelist, dramatist, lyricist and psalmist. He made his literary debut in 1969, with the poetry collection Som grønne musikantar. He was awarded the Norwegian Critics Prize for Literature in 1974 for the novel Kjærleikens ferjereiser...
, based on a book by Anne Cecilie Kapstad which commemorates Audun Hugleiksson.
External links
- Baron Audun Hugleiksson frå Jølster – eit 700-års minne, by Kristian FossheimKristian FossheimKristian Johan Fossheim is a Norwegian physicist.He was born in Jølster. He took the dr.philos. degree in 1972, was an associate professor at the Norwegian Institute of Technology from 1970 to 1980, and professor from 1980...
- Digitalarkivet: Audun Hugleiksson
- Teaterstykket – Audun Hugleiksson – Kongens Mann (the play)