Hovgården on Adelsö – Birka Royal Estate
Hovgården · Hovgården Adelsö · Alsnö hus Adelsö
Vendel Period to Middle Ages (c.600–1279 CE)·Scandinavian Viking Age to Medieval·🇸🇪 Stockholm County, Ekerö Municipality, Adelsö island, Sweden
About
About Hovgården on Adelsö – Birka Royal Estate
Royal estate on Adelsö opposite Birka, with thing mound (Skansberget), harbour, cemetery and ruins of Magnus Ladulås' brick palace Alsnö Hus (1279). Hovgården housed the king who controlled Birka (Vita Anskarii). Features large burial mounds, rune stones and assembly site. UNESCO 1993 with Birka. Continuity from Vendel to medieval 1279 Alsnö meeting that formulated Swedish medieval law.
Why it mattersRoyal estate on Adelsö opposite Birka, with thing mound (Skansberget), harbour, cemetery and ruins of Magnus Ladulås' brick palace Alsnö Hus (1279). Hovgården housed the king who controlled Birka (Vit
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Location of Viking royal hall pre-Alsnö
- 02Relation to Birka's abandonment
Theories
- 01Hovgården as shire king's seat exacting toll from Birka trade
- 02Alsnö Hus as Magnu's Baltic policy centre
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- Viking estate c.750 CE; Alsnö Hus c.1270
- Period
- Vendel Period to Middle Ages (c.600–1279 CE)
- Culture
- Scandinavian Viking Age to Medieval
- Purpose
- Royal manor controlling Birka emporium and later medieval palace
- Abandoned
- c. 1300 CE
- Rediscovered
- Medieval sources; excavation 1916–
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
Viking estate c.750 CE; Alsnö Hus c.1270
Initial construction
c. 1695 CE
Major expansion
On the ground
Structures & features
59.3606° N · 17.5331° E · 18 m · 2 mapped features
Alsnö Hus Palace Ruins
palaceBrick palace ruins 1279 where Alsnö statutes issued
59.3608° N · 17.5340° EHovgården Mound Field
cemeteryViking royal mound cemetery on hill
59.3610° N · 17.5320° E