341:
17:
71:
489:, a historical city on Lake Mälaren, grew too rapidly, and the Gods then consulted urged parts of the population to emigrate to a new site. To determine where to build the new city, it was decided a log bound with gold should point out where to settle by sailing ashore on the site, and, occasionally, it landed on an islet in what is today central Stockholm. According to a 17th-century myth, the tower
433:
254:
525:" named Birger around at that time too, the disputed origin of the city are likely to remain obscure and some historians choose a diplomatic interpretation saying there was some sort of fortification around by the mouth of Lake Mälaren when the city was founded during the second half of the 13th century. As Snorri mentions no city in his account but some sort of fortification called a
239:
125:(70,000-9,500 BCE), the area surrounding Stockholm was covered by an ice layer up to two kilometres thick. While the ice effectively eliminated every trace of pre-ice age life, it is assumed humans probably did inhabit the area before the ice age, notwithstanding no archaeological traces can confirm it. Nevertheless, bones from a
179:. During the end of the Stone Age (4200–1800 BCE) humans started to use more stationary settlements, solid buildings standing on strong poles drilled into the ground, even if the access to food still made migratory periods necessary. Graves got more elaborate as grinned axes made of carefully selected and often imported
192:
331:
While the oldest traces of human activities in present
Stockholm are considerably older, the development as described above preceded the foundation of the city on its present location. However, Birka, Sigtuna, and Stockholm forms a series of urban structures which can be thought of as the capital of
312:
during the 13th century and made the strait in what is today central
Stockholm the only navigable passage into the Lake Mälaren region. It remains uncertain when this happened more precisely, but the development was further accelerated by the growth of international trade in the Baltic. The streams
249:
Of the half dozen trade posts in Sweden described in 1120 as cathedral cities or cities with a potential to become such, Sigtuna is believed to be the only one with the density and status of a city in the proper sense. This quickly changed as German merchants introduced developed forms of production
139:
As ice lightened its grip of the area about 11,500 BCE, the area was inundated by melt water before the land started to rise and the first islets rose over the water surface (at the time located about 40 metres over the present sea level). The retiring ice left behind a cover of sand, gravel, and
611:
originated from at least parts of these defensive structures. As historical and archaeological records are fragmentary, the origin of this tower and the castle remain open for various interpretations, as do the size and extent of the city at the time. Some researchers conclude
Stockholm evolved
599:, a construction probably initiated by Birger Jarl in the mid 13th century and completed around 1300. It is possible the construction of this castle started simultaneously with the second defensive structure mentioned above and that this structure became outdated as the castle was completed.
250:
and 'industrialised' Swedish mining, mostly during the second half of the 13th century. This rewrote the regional map and resulted in the gradual development of a
Swedish urbanity. As trade routes moved westward in the Mälaren region, Sigtuna found itself left astern.
667:, meaning "islet" - a matter-of-fact explanation for the name is much harder to produce, and over the years many popular myths have, accordingly, attempted to give a background. The first attempt to a more serious explanation was put forward by the German humanist
648:. Both letters were written in Stockholm, but give no further information of the city itself or any explanation on the background of the name. However, it can be assumed at least some sort of dwelling in consistence with the station of a
612:
into the
Swedish capital and an important trade city before 1200 (Kumlien), while others suggest the location remained a mostly rural area around 1250 to quickly expand into the large city before the castle was completed (Hansson, Ödman).
482:. The young woman, however, tricked him to arrange a celebration including prominent guests which eventually turned into a boozing party, and, while Agne slept sober, Skjalf had him hung in his gold necklace before escaping.
93:
approximately 2 billion years old. Over millions of years, north-west to south-east oriented cracks appeared in the rock, which rivers transformed into the valleys still present in the landscape, for example the lakes
558:
just north of
Stadsholmen in 1978-1980, concluded these trees were cut down during the period 970-1020, most of them from around 1010, and these logs presumably gave the entire city its present name,
246:
Notwithstanding surviving records makes it difficult to see exactly when and in what order events took place, several causes for the development to occur in the 13th century can be distinguished:
235:
decided to construct their first monastery in Sweden at
Sigtuna in the 1230s (inaugurated 1247), which seem to indicate Sigtuna was still the city dominating the Mälaren region at that time.
231:, Sigtuna is believed to have been designed as missionary outpost and a Christian trade centre rivalling the still pagan Uppsala. While Sigtuna saw its heyday during the 10th century, the
163:, the archaeological traces of these first coastal settlements are today found far from the coast and the modern metropolitan area. The traces consists of various tools, including
388:("King's strait"), by summoning assistance from superior forces. A slightly different version, undoubtedly the most famous, is the account of the Icelandic historian
350:
The watercourse passing south of the old town of
Stockholm first appears in historical records as the somewhat cryptic phrase: "What split off is called Stockholm" (
281:) lead to increased consolidation of the Swedish kingdom and the introduction of a continental feudal society. Additionally, the Swedish dominion expanded east as
470:, a presumably mythological king who in a dim and distant past (around 400 A.D. according to some historians) encamped here after having successfully raided
340:
620:
The first, verified, mention of the name 'Stockholm' is from two letters written in Latin in 1252; the first, written in July, is a letter where the King
144:
ridges still witnessing how the ice gave up some 250 m annually over two centuries. Under the ice sheet, streams formed eskers, most notably the huge
328:, the straits and streams at the mouth of Lake Mälaren became insurmountable obstacles which thus created a need for a trading post at the location.
1234:
1088:
1065:
1042:
1019:
513:, "lock before that lake") in order to prevent pirates from reaching the seven cities and nineteen parishes around it. Another medieval source (
412:
and an army on either sides. The
Norwegian king then dug himself through the southern isthmus and, helped by vivid streams produced by
106:. All around Stockholm, such open fields are separated by forest-laden ridges. Late in this geological process, east to west-oriented
54:
strategically important; a location which by the mid 13th century had become the centre of the newly consolidated
Swedish kingdom. The
764:
probably the most widespread explanation, logs drilled into the strait for either defensive purposes, or to force ships to pay tolls.
1215:
1196:
1173:
1142:
1119:
458:' and, arguably, the only possible location for a meadow in present-day Stockholm at the time was on the western shore of today's
301:) which placed present-day Stockholm, until then an insignificant peripheral island, in the absolute centre of the small empire.
565:
Anyhow, any hypothesis on the origin of the city necessarily need to depart from three poorly documented defensive structures:
290:
1239:
693:
who supplied him with the description of the city, which still today styles itself "The Venice of the Nordic countries" (
681:) printed in 1532. Writing in Latin, he describes the city as the stronghold and trade post of the Swedes, located among
1165:
20:
95:
416:
and favourable winds, managed to have his ships break through the foreshore and shoals, and finally escaped to the
16:
223:'s missionary journeys c. 830 and 850. For unknown reasons, Birka was deserted around 975. Shortly thereafter,
62:, and several mythological stories and modern myths have attempted to explain both its emergence and its name.
211:
island about 30 km west of present-day Stockholm. Founded in the late 8th century, it was described by
1092:
1069:
1046:
1023:
892:
877:
862:
844:
689:- resting on poles. Most likely, while in Rome Ziegler must have come in contact with prominent Swedes like
421:
278:
274:
121:
started to grind down the north-bound faults, leaving the south-bound formations intact. During the latest
332:
the Lake Mälaren region, at a few occasions relocated to fit into the socio-economic structure of the day.
807:
208:
1161:
216:
1096:
1073:
1050:
1027:
797:
621:
581:
305:
59:
608:
536:
502:
781:
413:
361:
1157:
1134:
493:, often and erroneously said to be the oldest building in Stockholm, was built on this location.
437:
258:
588:
accompanied by a row of poles forming a barrier in the strait (i.e. the "lock" of Lake Mälaren).
397:
145:
130:
1211:
1192:
1169:
1138:
1115:
802:
747:
673:
645:
490:
381:
156:
737:
547:
540:
463:
389:
286:
183:
accompanied the dead together with ceramics, fancy garments, and other impressive objects.
1129:
Söderlund, Kerstin (2004). "Stockholm heter det som sprack av - Söderström i äldsta tid".
690:
585:
555:
232:
172:
110:
appeared, resulting in for example the tall, dark cliffs along the northern waterfront of
107:
535:), it has generally been assumed this fortification eventually developed into the castle
1188:
649:
633:
517:), however, claims the city was founded in 1187 following a pagan pillaged the city of
227:
appeared on the northern shores of Mälaren. Located on the main navigable approach to
180:
160:
70:
1228:
742:
668:
436:
Tower of Birger Jarl, originally one of the defensive structures constructed by King
195:
The remains of the entrance into Birka with the cross of St Ansgar in the background.
32:
28:
479:
356:
262:
720:- either the local "fish livestock" or a hollowed-out log used as an osier basket,
551:
405:
369:
111:
75:
1114:(in Swedish) (2nd ed.). Stockholm: Kommittén för Stockholmsforskning. 1992.
678:
637:
625:
596:
506:
459:
432:
373:
282:
265:
in Stockholm dating back to the late 12th century and thus older than Stockholm.
253:
122:
485:
A modern story dated back to the mid 17th century, tells how the population of
758:
574:
417:
393:
365:
325:
309:
200:
99:
51:
732:
629:
531:
409:
152:
103:
46:
24:
238:
636:; and the other, written by Birger Jarl in August, urged the peasantry in
50:
is the continuous development and series of events that made the mouth of
317:
176:
36:
1185:
Huvudstad i omvandling - Stockholms planering och utbyggnad under 700 år
151:
After some 1000 years the first humans settled in the area to start the
714:
stubs supposed to have been abundant on the central island of the city,
570:
518:
471:
446:
444:
Stockholm derives its mythological origin from a dwelling place called
377:
298:
294:
270:
228:
224:
212:
141:
126:
118:
90:
82:
708:
poles erected either to indicate frontiers or temporary market places,
529:(in various manuscripts curiously said to be located east and west of
148:, the steep slopes of which still form barriers in central Stockholm.
686:
641:
592:
455:
368:
from the 14th century. Stymer explains, what today are the islands
314:
220:
164:
86:
261:
parish, today a northern suburb. The Solna Church is one of three
773:
486:
431:
408:
passing north of the old town), a strait in addition guarded by a
339:
321:
252:
237:
204:
190:
168:
133:
69:
15:
772:("The oak") in many contexts. While it is mostly associated with
655:
While the name itself easily splits into two distinct elements -
400:(960s-1021/1022) hoped to trap him by pulling an iron chain over
604:
522:
467:
324:, but as German merchants introduced the sea-going deep-draught
191:
392:(1178–1241). He retells, while King Olav of Norway raided the
761:
stretching over the stream, supposedly built before 1000, and,
750:(see below), thus supposing the original name of the city was
584:
and a larger building located on a pair of islets now part of
573:
surrounded by wooden barriers probably constructed during the
155:
era characterized by a climate similar to that of the present
462:. The first element of this name is, explains the historian
384:
of Norway (995-1030) produced the strait, in the saga called
304:
Lastly, navigation on Lake Mälaren changed dramatically as
985:
983:
736:
for the stream flowing through the city, as mentioned in
546:
While the reliability of these stories remains disputed,
313:
around Stadsholmen can't have been much of a problem for
344:
Agne being hanged by Skjalf and other imprisoned Finns.
136:
stretching north to south through central Stockholm.
1208:
Stockholms årsringar - En inblick i stadens framväxt
949:
947:
945:
723:
the place where the watercourse and/or logs clogs (
858:
856:
509:around 1250 as a lock to the Lake Mälaren region (
827:
825:
823:
505:, written in the 1320s, Stockholm was founded by
768:To add to the enigma, Stockholm has been called
977:Stockholms gatunamn, Namnet Stockholm, p 30-32.
550:examinations of logs driven into the seabed in
780:, the name the city was given by traders from
685:, meaning either marshes or lakes, and - like
1001:
999:
257:On its foundation, Stockholm was part of the
8:
926:
924:
922:
912:
910:
908:
906:
904:
554:, square oak logs, and sunken logs found on
973:
971:
969:
967:
965:
963:
35:, is believed to have been brought from an
39:settlement not far from today's old town.
27:built into a wall in the intersection of
819:
478:, the daughter of the defeated Finnish
269:Birger jarl's elimination of the "true
242:Ruins of the St Olof Church at Sigtuna.
776:today, it is supposedly derived from
595:built on the north-eastern corner of
117:Three million years ago, a series of
7:
346:Lithography by Hugo Hamilton, 1830.
1210:(in Swedish). Stockholmia förlag.
1154:Upptaget - Sankt Eriks årsbok 2002
219:, who wrote about his predecessor
14:
352:Stockholm heter det som sprack av
711:trap logs used to catch animals,
569:Some kind of original primitive
474:. His intentions were to marry
424:refuted this version as drivel.
700:Other interpretations includes
466:(1178–1241), derived from King
1235:History of Stockholm by period
1:
376:was at the time united by an
354:), found in a version of the
1166:Museum of Medieval Stockholm
420:. Snorri however adds, the
217:Archbishop of Hamburg-Bremen
1152:Söderlund, Kerstin (2002).
539:located where still is the
404:("Log Strait", e.g. modern
1256:
1206:Andersson, Magnus (1997).
1187:(in Swedish). Stockholm:
1156:(in Swedish). Stockholm:
1133:(in Swedish). Stockholm:
171:arrowheads used by these
360:by the Icelandic author
1093:Stockholm County Museum
1070:Stockholm County Museum
1047:Stockholm County Museum
1024:Stockholm County Museum
893:Stockholm County Museum
878:Stockholm County Museum
863:Stockholm County Museum
845:Stockholm County Museum
659:, or in modern Swedish
521:, and as there was an "
396:area, the Swedish king
203:region was undoubtedly
129:have been found in the
1189:Sveriges Radios förlag
1131:Slussen vid Söderström
808:History of Scandinavia
704:being an allusion to:
652:existed at that time.
441:
364:, preserved through a
357:Saga of the Saint Olaf
347:
279:Battle of Herrevadsbro
266:
243:
199:The first town in the
196:
81:Stockholm stands on a
78:
74:North-bound cliffs of
40:
1183:Hall, Thomas (1999).
1162:Stockholm City Museum
754:("Log-strait-islet"),
663:, meaning "log", and
603:It is often said the
450:. The second element
435:
343:
308:isolated it from the
256:
241:
194:
73:
19:
1240:Prehistory of Sweden
833:Stockholms årsringar
798:History of Stockholm
628:offered their royal
440:in the 16th century.
275:Battle of Sparrsätra
1112:Stockholms gatunamn
939:Andersson, pp 26-27
577:(i.e. around 1000).
548:dendrochronological
60:its written history
56:origin of Stockholm
1158:Samfundet S:t Erik
1135:Samfundet S:t Erik
1089:"Yngre stenåldern"
1066:"Äldre stenåldern"
616:Origin of the name
609:Three Crown Castle
511:laas fore then sio
442:
348:
267:
244:
197:
79:
41:
23:, a fragment of a
803:History of Sweden
646:Uppsala Cathedral
503:Chronicle of Eric
501:According to the
491:Birger Jarls torn
157:Mediterranean Sea
1247:
1221:
1202:
1179:
1148:
1125:
1107:
1105:
1104:
1095:. Archived from
1084:
1082:
1081:
1072:. Archived from
1061:
1059:
1058:
1049:. Archived from
1038:
1036:
1035:
1026:. Archived from
1006:
1003:
994:
987:
978:
975:
958:
951:
940:
937:
931:
928:
917:
914:
899:
897:Yngre stenåldern
890:
884:
882:Äldre stenåldern
875:
869:
860:
851:
842:
836:
829:
746:and the saga of
738:Snorri Sturluson
541:Stockholm Palace
464:Snorri Sturluson
390:Snorri Sturluson
287:Torgils Knutsson
273:" between 1247 (
175:to catch mostly
173:hunter-gatherers
1255:
1254:
1250:
1249:
1248:
1246:
1245:
1244:
1225:
1224:
1218:
1205:
1199:
1182:
1176:
1151:
1145:
1128:
1122:
1110:
1102:
1100:
1087:
1079:
1077:
1064:
1056:
1054:
1041:
1033:
1031:
1018:
1015:
1010:
1009:
1004:
997:
988:
981:
976:
961:
952:
943:
938:
934:
929:
920:
915:
902:
891:
887:
876:
872:
861:
854:
843:
839:
830:
821:
816:
794:
786:Västgötaknallar
695:Nordens Venedig
691:Johannes Magnus
618:
586:Helgeandsholmen
562:, "Log-Islet".
556:Helgeandsholmen
499:
430:
398:Olof Skötkonung
345:
338:
336:Icelandic sagas
320:or traditional
189:
146:Brunkebergsåsen
131:Brunkebergsåsen
68:
12:
11:
5:
1253:
1251:
1243:
1242:
1237:
1227:
1226:
1223:
1222:
1216:
1203:
1197:
1180:
1174:
1149:
1143:
1126:
1120:
1108:
1091:(in Swedish).
1085:
1068:(in Swedish).
1062:
1045:(in Swedish).
1039:
1022:(in Swedish).
1014:
1011:
1008:
1007:
995:
979:
959:
941:
932:
918:
916:Hall, pp 13-16
900:
885:
870:
852:
837:
818:
817:
815:
812:
811:
810:
805:
800:
793:
790:
766:
765:
762:
755:
752:Stocksundsholm
728:
721:
715:
712:
709:
617:
614:
601:
600:
589:
578:
515:Visbyannalerna
498:
495:
429:
426:
337:
334:
306:land elevation
263:round churches
188:
185:
161:land elevation
140:rocks forming
67:
64:
45:prehistory of
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1252:
1241:
1238:
1236:
1233:
1232:
1230:
1219:
1217:91-7031-068-8
1213:
1209:
1204:
1200:
1198:91-522-1810-4
1194:
1190:
1186:
1181:
1177:
1175:91-974091-1-1
1171:
1167:
1163:
1159:
1155:
1150:
1146:
1144:91-85267-21-X
1140:
1136:
1132:
1127:
1123:
1121:91-7031-042-4
1117:
1113:
1109:
1099:on 2007-09-28
1098:
1094:
1090:
1086:
1076:on 2007-09-28
1075:
1071:
1067:
1063:
1053:on 2007-09-28
1052:
1048:
1044:
1040:
1030:on 2007-09-28
1029:
1025:
1021:
1017:
1016:
1012:
1005:Hall, p 23-25
1002:
1000:
996:
992:
986:
984:
980:
974:
972:
970:
968:
966:
964:
960:
956:
950:
948:
946:
942:
936:
933:
930:Hall, p 48-49
927:
925:
923:
919:
913:
911:
909:
907:
905:
901:
898:
894:
889:
886:
883:
879:
874:
871:
868:
864:
859:
857:
853:
850:
846:
841:
838:
834:
828:
826:
824:
820:
813:
809:
806:
804:
801:
799:
796:
795:
791:
789:
787:
783:
782:Västergötland
779:
775:
771:
763:
760:
756:
753:
749:
745:
744:
743:Ynglinga saga
739:
735:
734:
729:
726:
722:
719:
716:
713:
710:
707:
706:
705:
703:
698:
696:
692:
688:
684:
680:
676:
675:
670:
669:Jacob Ziegler
666:
662:
658:
653:
651:
647:
643:
640:to pay their
639:
635:
631:
627:
623:
615:
613:
610:
606:
598:
594:
590:
587:
583:
579:
576:
572:
568:
567:
566:
563:
561:
557:
553:
549:
544:
542:
538:
534:
533:
528:
524:
520:
516:
512:
508:
504:
496:
494:
492:
488:
483:
481:
477:
473:
469:
465:
461:
457:
454:means 'moist
453:
449:
448:
439:
434:
427:
425:
423:
419:
415:
411:
407:
403:
399:
395:
391:
387:
383:
379:
375:
371:
367:
363:
359:
358:
353:
342:
335:
333:
329:
327:
323:
319:
316:
311:
307:
302:
300:
296:
292:
288:
284:
280:
276:
272:
264:
260:
255:
251:
247:
240:
236:
234:
230:
226:
222:
218:
214:
210:
206:
202:
193:
186:
184:
182:
178:
174:
170:
166:
162:
158:
154:
149:
147:
143:
137:
135:
132:
128:
124:
120:
115:
113:
109:
105:
101:
97:
92:
88:
84:
77:
72:
65:
63:
61:
57:
53:
49:
48:
38:
34:
30:
26:
22:
18:
1207:
1184:
1153:
1130:
1111:
1101:. Retrieved
1097:the original
1078:. Retrieved
1074:the original
1055:. Retrieved
1051:the original
1043:"Stenåldern"
1032:. Retrieved
1028:the original
991:St Erik 2002
990:
954:
935:
896:
888:
881:
873:
866:
848:
840:
832:
785:
777:
769:
767:
751:
741:
731:
724:
717:
701:
699:
694:
682:
672:
671:in his work
664:
660:
656:
654:
650:Swedish jarl
619:
602:
564:
559:
545:
530:
526:
514:
510:
500:
484:
480:tribal chief
475:
451:
445:
443:
414:spring flood
401:
394:Lake Mälaren
385:
362:Stymer Frode
355:
351:
349:
330:
303:
277:) and 1251 (
268:
248:
245:
201:Lake Mälaren
198:
150:
138:
116:
80:
55:
52:Lake Mälaren
44:
42:
989:Söderlund,
953:Söderlund,
831:Andersson,
778:Stockhäcken
725:stockar sig
679:Scandinavia
638:Attundaland
634:Fogdö Abbey
626:Birger Jarl
597:Stadsholmen
507:Birger Jarl
460:Stadsholmen
438:Gustav Vasa
386:Konungssund
374:Stadsholmen
283:Birger jarl
233:Blackfriars
1229:Categories
1103:2007-04-09
1080:2007-04-09
1057:2007-04-09
1034:2007-04-09
1013:References
993:, pp 27-28
957:, pp 11-21
867:Stenåldern
835:, pp 13-17
759:footbridge
748:Saint Olaf
718:fiskestock
575:Viking era
560:Stock-holm
537:Tre Kronor
418:Baltic Sea
382:Saint Olaf
366:manuscript
310:Baltic Sea
291:Tavastland
289:conquered
159:. Due to
100:Magelungen
66:Prehistory
58:pre-dates
33:Kåkbrinken
29:Prästgatan
733:Stocksund
730:the name
683:paludibus
630:patronage
552:Norrström
532:Stocksund
410:castellum
406:Norrström
402:Stocksund
370:Södermalm
318:longships
187:Emergence
153:Stone Age
112:Södermalm
104:Drevviken
76:Södermalm
47:Stockholm
25:runestone
792:See also
784:(called
674:Schondia
622:Valdemar
271:Folkungs
119:ice ages
96:Långsjön
37:Iron Age
1020:"Istid"
955:Slussen
657:stokker
644:to the
607:of the
571:redoubt
527:kastali
519:Sigtuna
472:Finland
447:Agnefit
428:Agnefit
378:isthmus
299:Finland
297:(later
295:Karelia
229:Uppsala
225:Sigtuna
213:Rimbert
142:moraine
127:mammoth
123:ice age
91:granite
83:bedrock
1214:
1195:
1172:
1141:
1118:
687:Venice
642:tithes
593:castle
582:bailey
497:Origin
476:Skjalf
456:meadow
422:Swedes
380:, and
322:knarrs
315:Viking
221:Ansgar
209:Björkö
165:quartz
108:faults
102:, and
87:gneiss
849:Istid
814:Notes
774:slang
702:stock
665:holme
661:stock
487:Birka
259:Solna
205:Birka
181:rocks
177:seals
169:flint
134:esker
1212:ISBN
1193:ISBN
1170:ISBN
1139:ISBN
1116:ISBN
770:Eken
624:and
605:keep
523:Earl
468:Agne
372:and
326:cogs
293:and
285:and
167:and
89:and
43:The
31:and
21:U 53
788:).
740:'s
697:).
632:to
452:fit
207:on
85:of
1231::
1191:.
1168:.
1164:,
1160:,
1137:.
998:^
982:^
962:^
944:^
921:^
903:^
895:,
880:,
865:,
855:^
847:,
822:^
757:a
727:),
591:A
580:A
543:.
215:,
114:.
98:,
1220:.
1201:.
1178:.
1147:.
1124:.
1106:.
1083:.
1060:.
1037:.
677:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
