Viken war zone, raiding frontier in 1200

The coastlands round the Oslofjord and down the Ranrike coast to the Göta river, where Sverre's levies took war-taxes by force in 1198-99, where his host winters at Oslo, and where the Bagler strike from the sea as soon as they are back from Denmark: Reidar Sendemann against Oslo at Yule 1199-1200, Sigurd Jarlsson against the Birkebeiner in Viken and Ranrike in January 1200, and earlier Sigurd's night raid on Tunsberg that killed Sverre's brother Hide (undated).

In the same weeks the farmers gather against Sverre. Neither side can farm or tax it in peace that winter. Oslo itself, held by Sverre's host, is cut out.

How things stand that morning

Active: Sverre occupies, the farmers resist, the Bagler are returning.

Who raids here

Sverre's Birkebeiner (war-taxes and levies, 1198-99, and the winter host at Oslo) against the farmers; the Bagler (Reidar Sendemann, Sigurd Jarlsson, King Inge's fleet) against Sverre's men in the towns and districts from Yule 1199-1200.

Strongholds

Sverre: Oslo with the king's and the bishop's residences. The Bagler: none held on 1 January 1200; they fortify Berget at Tunsberg during 1200. The old castle site at Konungahella has no garrison recorded.

Last campaign

Strindsjøen (18 June 1199) ended the Bagler fleet; Sverre came east in autumn 1199; the Bagler raids resume at Yule 1199-1200 and the farmers' battle at Oslo is on 6 March 1200.

Where the sources disagree

Evidence: The raids are dated to Yule and January 1200 by snl.no (Reidar Sendemann, Sigurd Jarlsson, Inge Magnusson); the war-taxing of 1198-99 by snl.no (Sverre). The outline is a judgement.

On the map: Drawn along the coast where the raids and the war-taxing fell; the inland edge is not recorded.

Sources and studies

Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.