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Cross and Scepter: The Rise of the Scandinavian Kingdoms from the Vikings to the Reformation
A concise history of medieval Scandinavia
Christianity and European-style monarchy―the cross and the scepter―were introduced to Scandinavia in the tenth century, a development that was to have profound implications for all of Europe. Cross and Scepter is a concise history of the Scandinavian kingdoms from the age of the Vikings to the Reformation, written by Scandinavia's leading medieval historian. Sverre Bagge shows how the rise of the three kingdoms not only changed the face of Scandinavia, but also helped make the territorial state the standard political unit in Western Europe. He describes Scandinavia’s momentous conversion to Christianity and the creation of church and monarchy there, and traces how these events transformed Scandinavian law and justice, military and administrative organization, social structure, political culture, and the division of power among the king, aristocracy, and common people. Bagge sheds important new light on the reception of Christianity and European learning in Scandinavia, and on Scandinavian history writing, philosophy, political thought, and courtly culture. He looks at the reception of European impulses and their adaptation to Scandinavian conditions, and examines the relationship of the three kingdoms to each other and the rest of Europe, paying special attention to the inter-Scandinavian unions and their consequences for the concept of government and the division of power.
Cross and Scepter provides an essential introduction to Scandinavian medieval history for scholars and general readers alike, offering vital new insights into state formation and cultural change in Europe.
Christianity and European-style monarchy―the cross and the scepter―were introduced to Scandinavia in the tenth century, a development that was to have profound implications for all of Europe. Cross and Scepter is a concise history of the Scandinavian kingdoms from the age of the Vikings to the Reformation, written by Scandinavia's leading medieval historian. Sverre Bagge shows how the rise of the three kingdoms not only changed the face of Scandinavia, but also helped make the territorial state the standard political unit in Western Europe. He describes Scandinavia’s momentous conversion to Christianity and the creation of church and monarchy there, and traces how these events transformed Scandinavian law and justice, military and administrative organization, social structure, political culture, and the division of power among the king, aristocracy, and common people. Bagge sheds important new light on the reception of Christianity and European learning in Scandinavia, and on Scandinavian history writing, philosophy, political thought, and courtly culture. He looks at the reception of European impulses and their adaptation to Scandinavian conditions, and examines the relationship of the three kingdoms to each other and the rest of Europe, paying special attention to the inter-Scandinavian unions and their consequences for the concept of government and the division of power.
Cross and Scepter provides an essential introduction to Scandinavian medieval history for scholars and general readers alike, offering vital new insights into state formation and cultural change in Europe.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2014
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285 people want to read
About the author
Sverre Bagge
31Ìýbooks3ÌýfollowersSverre HÃ¥kon Bagge is a Norwegian historian.
He took his doctorate with the thesis 'Den politiske ideologi i Kongespeilet', published in 1979. From 1974 to 1991 he worked as an associate professor (førsteamanuensis) at the University of Bergen, and he became a professor there in 1991.
Since 2003 he is the leader of the Centre for Medieval Studies, Bergen.
He is a member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters.
He took his doctorate with the thesis 'Den politiske ideologi i Kongespeilet', published in 1979. From 1974 to 1991 he worked as an associate professor (førsteamanuensis) at the University of Bergen, and he became a professor there in 1991.
Since 2003 he is the leader of the Centre for Medieval Studies, Bergen.
He is a member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
October 10, 2016
A brief but scholarly overview of the development of the Scandanavian kingdoms of Norway, Sweden and Denmark, a overlooked period of western history that offers just as much interest as the history of other European states.
November 12, 2017
With the dense writing of a scholarly book and the organization by topic rather than strictly chronological, plus the repetition of kings' names (many Eriks, Knuts, Haakons, Svens, etc.), I found this fairly difficult to follow. I will keep it to reread sometime though.
I'm very surprised that Princeton University Press allowed the poor index to be published though. It has few subentries (long strings of page numbers for many entries), very few cross-references, and the title "The King's Mirror" is in the T section, not the K section! The only good thing about the index is the inclusion of reign years for the kings, a good reference for trying to tell the ones with the same/similar names apart.
I'm very surprised that Princeton University Press allowed the poor index to be published though. It has few subentries (long strings of page numbers for many entries), very few cross-references, and the title "The King's Mirror" is in the T section, not the K section! The only good thing about the index is the inclusion of reign years for the kings, a good reference for trying to tell the ones with the same/similar names apart.
June 9, 2023
This is a pretty excellent overview of Scandinavian History, though it isn't without its formatting and publishing issues. I find Sverre Bagge writes an excellent history through the text, though it can be difficult to follow at times. Still, I believe his scholarship is an excellent starting point in any project on Scandinavian History, which is the capacity in which I read this work of scholarship.
January 11, 2023
This book was recommended by Viking Cruise Line as background information for a trip to Norway later this year. Lots of interesting and useful info. Book read much like a textbook for a Medieval history class. Informative but not enjoyable.
March 29, 2017
Cross and Scepter largely does a good job of tracing the history of Scandinavian state formation and the relationship it had with christianity. However, Bagge treats this as the natural conclusion to a research project and writes in a dry academic style that will make all but the most committed reader soon wish it was around 100 pages shorter than it actually is.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
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