Shaping Medieval Political Ideology in High Medieval Norway: King Hákon Hákonarson as Patron Of Letters and Knight-Erudite
Shaping Medieval Political Ideology in High Medieval Norway: King Hákon Hákonarson as Patron Of Letters and Knight-Erudite

Summary/Abstract: This article presents certain aspects of medieval political ideology by referring to King Haakon IV of Norway based on sources such as the Hákonar saga Hákonarsonar and the Sverris saga. King Hákon Hákonarson was a very active monarch. Despite his great concern for domestic and ecclesiastical matters, he did not ignore the aspects related to foreign policy. The King’s openness to foreign culture can also undoubtedly be attributed to the external prestige that he enjoyed. Arts and literature flourished during the reign of King Hákon Hákonarson, especially the chivalric literature (riddarasögur). The King’s campaign had didactic and scientific purposes much like those of a scholar. Many copies of French chansnos de geste or romans courtois survived that exist solely by the grace of the King Hákon Hákonarson’s initiative. This represents an argument in support of his superior role in the field of letters. As such, his contribution is as significant as that of a sage, if not much greater. Thanks to his campaign, the literary miracle of late medieval Iceland was possible.

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