The Heritage of Arn
Encyclopedia
The Heritage of Arn is a follow-up to The Knight Templar (Crusades trilogy)
by Jan Guillou
about Birger jarl
, the founder of Stockholm
- fictionalized to be Arn Magnusson's grandson.
The story spans across a transitional period of Scandinavia
where the last remnants of the Viking
traditions are replaced by continental medieval customs and the Swedes and Geats unite under the hard rule of Birger "Jarl
" Magnusson. The book basing itself on Swedish history
and legends, taking great artistic freedoms starts Birger as a young man who has just lost his father Magnus and grandfather Arn Magnusson. Under the eyes of his determined mother, he is groomed into a fully fledged general and statesman. Cunning in war, finance, politics and theology, he slowly seizes power over the country, makes Finland
part of Sweden
and eliminates all pretenders to the throne in favour of his own son. Thus concluding the work of making Sweden one single nation.
The Knight Templar (Crusades trilogy)
The Knight Templar is a series of books about the fictional character of Arn Magnusson. The series is written by Swedish author and journalist Jan Guillou....
by Jan Guillou
Jan Guillou
Jan Oskar Sverre Lucien Henri Guillou is a Swedish author and journalist. Among his books are a series of spy fiction novels about a spy named Carl Hamilton, and a trilogy of historical fiction novels about a Knight Templar, Arn Magnusson...
about Birger jarl
Birger jarl
, or Birger Magnusson, was a Swedish statesman, Jarl of Sweden and a member of the House of Bjelbo, who played a pivotal role in the consolidation of Sweden. Birger also led the Second Swedish Crusade, which established Swedish rule in Finland. Additionally, he is traditionally attributed to have...
, the founder of Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
- fictionalized to be Arn Magnusson's grandson.
The story spans across a transitional period of Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
where the last remnants of the Viking
Viking
The term Viking is customarily used to refer to the Norse explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided, traded, explored and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th century.These Norsemen used their famed longships to...
traditions are replaced by continental medieval customs and the Swedes and Geats unite under the hard rule of Birger "Jarl
Earl
An earl is a member of the nobility. The title is Anglo-Saxon, akin to the Scandinavian form jarl, and meant "chieftain", particularly a chieftain set to rule a territory in a king's stead. In Scandinavia, it became obsolete in the Middle Ages and was replaced with duke...
" Magnusson. The book basing itself on Swedish history
History of Sweden
Modern Sweden started out of the Kalmar Union formed in 1397 and by the unification of the country by King Gustav Vasa in the 16th century. In the 17th century Sweden expanded its territories to form the Swedish empire. Most of these conquered territories had to be given up during the 18th century...
and legends, taking great artistic freedoms starts Birger as a young man who has just lost his father Magnus and grandfather Arn Magnusson. Under the eyes of his determined mother, he is groomed into a fully fledged general and statesman. Cunning in war, finance, politics and theology, he slowly seizes power over the country, makes Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
part of Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
and eliminates all pretenders to the throne in favour of his own son. Thus concluding the work of making Sweden one single nation.
See also
- The Knight Templar (Crusades trilogy)The Knight Templar (Crusades trilogy)The Knight Templar is a series of books about the fictional character of Arn Magnusson. The series is written by Swedish author and journalist Jan Guillou....
- The Road to JerusalemThe Road to JerusalemThe Road to Jerusalem is the first book in Jan Guillou's The Knight Templar book series. The book follows the fictional character of Arn Magnusson from his birth and until he sets off to Jerusalem....
(1998), ISBN 91-1-300565-0 the first book in the series - The Knight TemplarThe Knight TemplarThe Knight Templar is the second book in Jan Guillou's The Knight Templar book series. This book follows the fictional character of Arn Magnusson as a Knight Templar in the kingdom of Jerusalem...
(1999), ISBN 91-1-300733-5 the second book in the series - The Kingdom at the End of the RoadThe Kingdom at the End of the RoadThe Kingdom at the End of the Road is the third book in Jan Guillou's The Knight Templar book series. This book follows the fictional character of Arn Magnusson as he returns home to Sweden after 20 years as a Knight Templar....
(2000), ISBN 91-89426-02-9 the third book in the series