Town · Contested ground · as at first light, 1 January 1200

Borg

St Olav's town by the Sarpsfossen falls on the Glomma, founded about 1016 and named after his fortification (en.wikipedia).

It is the head place of Vingulmark and the meeting place of the Borgarting, the law assembly of Viken, whose law runs from the Göta river to about Risør and takes in Grenland and Telemark (en.wikipedia Borgarting). The Bagler had Inge acclaimed king at the Borgarting in 1196, and Philip Simonsson is chosen there in 1207 (snl.no). On 1 January 1200 the town lies in the Viken Sverre took that autumn, among farmers who rise within weeks; the farmers of its district are among those 'from Svinesund' who march on Oslo.

Who holds it

Name
the king; Sverre's officer that winter is not named
Title
town lord
Since
autumn 1199
Confidence
low

en.wikipedia Sarpsborg, Borgarting; snl.no Inge Magnusson, Sigurd Lavard

Lord in 1200

The king. Sverre has Viken in hand after autumn 1199, but no holder of Borg is named in the sources checked. In 1193 Sverre's son Sigurd Lavard led a Birkebeiner troop here (snl.no Sigurd Lavard).

How things stand that morning

Sverre's by occupation, the farmers' by sympathy; the place where the Bagler made their king.

Charter

None. A royal trading town and assembly place.

Council

None in 1200; the Borgarting meets here.

Communities

Townsmen and clergy; not pinned for 1200.

Militia

The farmers of Borgarsysla join the rising of early 1200.

Walls and castle

St Olav's fortification gave the town its name; its state in 1200 is not pinned.

Trade and crafts

River traffic on the Glomma below the falls; details for 1200 thin.

What the year holds

What happened next, if nothing in play changes it. Each event carries what it depends on and what would stop it.

  1. January to March 1200Farmers of Borgarsysla join the march on Oslo; beaten 6 March 1200.Depends on: The rising. Stopped by: Sverre's men in the district.

Where the sources disagree

Evidence: Little is recorded of Borg itself in these years.

On the map: Near land only.

Sources and studies

  1. Wikipedia: Sarpsborg
  2. Wikipedia: Borgarting
  3. Store norske leksikon (Norsk biografisk leksikon): Inge Magnusson
  4. Store norske leksikon: Sigurd Lavard
  5. Store norske leksikon: Sverre Sigurdsson

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