Borg og byutvikling år 1000-1300

This master thesis explores the relation between a middle - aged castles and city developments. The cities chosen for this thesis are, Nidaros (Trondheim), Oslo, Konghelle, Copenhagen, Stockholm and London. I will compare the city developments with their cas tles and fortresses. Then I will discuss the cites’ growth. In order to do this I will look at the sagas and archology sources. The cities have grown an d developed in different ways. London is the oldest city, founded in the Roman era. The growth of a cit y is depended on whether it is founded or organic grown. In Norway, kings would be the founder of the cities. Snorre Sturlason has described the growth an d development of in the cities in Heimskringla. Stockholm and Copenhagen had a castle before the city emerged. In Copenhagen, the archbishop Absalon got the castle and village Hafn from king Valdemar. In Stockholm, the castl e was situated in the inlet of the lake Mälaren. In Nidaros, the city emerged before the fortress. The bishop built the first castle and king Sverre built the second castle. In Oslo, there was stronghold in the city, but the fortress stood finished in 1300. The construction and the location of the castles were important in the Middle Ages. The castles were located near the sea and were important both for protection and development of the harbour and the surrounding areas. Trade played an important role in the development of the cities and the castles. The castles also functioned as a defender of the city and the people. In some cases, i t was the king’s residence. The castles were monumental and some of them still stands today. The cities, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Oslo and London are capitals. Trondheim is still a big city in Norway. The Middle Age city Konghelle, does no longer exist