Hålogaland was the northernmost of the Norwegian provinces. In the early Viking Age, before Harald Fairhair, Hålogaland was a petty kingdom extending between Namdalen in Nord-Trøndelag and Lyngen in Troms. Perhaps the best known inhabitant was Ottar from Hålogaland.
The first earl of Lade , Håkon Grjotgardsson, ruler of Trøndelag, came from Hålogaland, and sought to extend his kingdom southwards. Here, he met with Harald Fairhair, and joined him.
In the Heimskringla, a man called Gudlög led a number of Norwegian pirates that were fought by the Swedish king Jorund in the Heimskringla, and king Godgest was given a horse by the Swedish king Adils.
The initial population of Hålogaland may be the Adogit (Halogit?) that Jordanes named as the most northern tribe of Scandza.
In modern times, Hålogaland is the landscapes covered by the municipalities Bjarkøy, Gratangen, Harstad, Ibestad, Kvæfjord, Lødingen, Skånland and Tjeldsund.
See also: Nord-Norge
Last updated: 06-02-2005 18:03:21