Gamleborg, also known as Gamleborg Viking Fortress, was the first fortification on the Danish island of Bornholm. Built around 750 AD, it was the seat of the kings of Bornholm during the Viking age (750–1050) and early Middle Ages (1050–1150). The massive[1] fortress is 264 metres (866 ft) long from north to south and 110 metres (360 ft) wide from east to west, with gates to the north and southwest.[2] Around 1100, significant alterations were made and it was reinforced, but it was abandoned soon afterwards in favour of the fortification of Lilleborg, roughly 700 metres (2,300 ft) to the northeast.[2][3]
The fortress is Bornholm's oldest defence works.[1] Its builder is unknown, but an account of the Baltic Sea travels of Wulfstan of Hedeby in 890 tells us that Bornholm already had its own king at the time.[4] There is, however, firm evidence that the fortress was in use during the reigns of Harald Bluetooth (940–986) and Canute IV (1080–1086).[5] Gamleborg was used as refuge during the tenth century against Viking raids.[6] Gamleborg was abandoned in 1150, the occupants moving to Lilleborg, only 700 metres (2,300 ft) to the northwest. It is not known why the move was made but it does not appear to have been the result of hostilities.[5] Excavations in the 1950s showed the fortifications originated in the Viking period although there is evidence the site was used as a hideout in the Iron Age. The ruins that can be seen today are mainly the result of reconstruction work completed in about 1100.
Architectureedit
The fortress is 27,000 square metres (290,000 sq ft) in size. Part of the wall, built of rocks and boulders set in clay, is still in good condition, and the outline of the fort is still remarkably clear given its age. The fortress at one time had a moat and outer wall, and the walls on the north and south side were higher, around 6 metres (20 ft) in height.[2]
Groundsedit
The fort is located on a hill almost in the centre of the island, part of the Almindingen forest.[6][7] It is several hundred yards off the main road from Rønne to Svaneke.[1] The site is naturally protected by cliffs, especially on the south side, which are up to 20 metres (66 ft) in height.[8] A water pool, located on the northwestern side was the main water supply to the fortress.[2] The ruins are situated in mounds.[9]
The defences first consisted of huge ramparts built of large boulders, consolidated with earth and clay. There were initially gates to the north and south with additional protection from moats and outer ramparts. There were several buildings for the occupants and their stores. Two stone lined embankments can still be seen aside the west entrance. Outside the old western rampart, the site was fortified with a solid stone wall, 275 metres (902 ft) long, 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) wide and up to 6 metres (20 ft) high. The north gate was significantly widened and there was probably a watchtower on the northwest corner of the rampart. The old south gate was walled up and replaced by a larger entrance on the southwest corner.[5]
Referencesedit
^ abcDennis-Jones, Harold (1963). Your Guide to Denmark. A. Redman. p. 110. Retrieved 14 October 2012.
^ abcd"Gamleborg Viking Fortress". Viking Denmark. Retrieved 14 October 2012.
^"Lilleborg". Den Store Danske. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
^"Gamleborg", Kulturarv.dk. (in Danish) Retrieved 16 October 2012.
^ abc"Gammelborg og Lillebord", Naturstyrelsen. (in Danish) Retrieved 16 October 2012.
^ abChristiansen, Eric (2008). Norsemen in the Viking Age. Wiley. p. 104. ISBN978-0-470-69276-9.
^Neumann, Sabine; Schwartz, Horst (1997). Bornholm (in German). DuMont Reiseverlag. p. 194. ISBN978-3-7701-3532-5.
^Ole Klindt-Jensen (1957). Bornholm i folkevandringstiden og forudsaetningerne i tidlig jernalder: Med bidrag af H. Helbaek, U. Mohl o. a. Summaries in English (in Danish). Nationalmuseet. p. 153. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
^Backpacker. Active Interest Media, Inc. October 1978. pp. 36–. ISSN 0277-867X. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
gamleborg, also, known, viking, fortress, first, fortification, danish, island, bornholm, built, around, seat, kings, bornholm, during, viking, 1050, early, middle, ages, 1050, 1150, massive, fortress, metres, long, from, north, south, metres, wide, from, east. Gamleborg also known as Gamleborg Viking Fortress was the first fortification on the Danish island of Bornholm Built around 750 AD it was the seat of the kings of Bornholm during the Viking age 750 1050 and early Middle Ages 1050 1150 The massive 1 fortress is 264 metres 866 ft long from north to south and 110 metres 360 ft wide from east to west with gates to the north and southwest 2 Around 1100 significant alterations were made and it was reinforced but it was abandoned soon afterwards in favour of the fortification of Lilleborg roughly 700 metres 2 300 ft to the northeast 2 3 Gamleborg Almindingen trailGamleborg stonewallGamleborg entrance Contents 1 History 2 Architecture 3 Grounds 4 ReferencesHistory editThe fortress is Bornholm s oldest defence works 1 Its builder is unknown but an account of the Baltic Sea travels of Wulfstan of Hedeby in 890 tells us that Bornholm already had its own king at the time 4 There is however firm evidence that the fortress was in use during the reigns of Harald Bluetooth 940 986 and Canute IV 1080 1086 5 Gamleborg was used as refuge during the tenth century against Viking raids 6 Gamleborg was abandoned in 1150 the occupants moving to Lilleborg only 700 metres 2 300 ft to the northwest It is not known why the move was made but it does not appear to have been the result of hostilities 5 Excavations in the 1950s showed the fortifications originated in the Viking period although there is evidence the site was used as a hideout in the Iron Age The ruins that can be seen today are mainly the result of reconstruction work completed in about 1100 Architecture editThe fortress is 27 000 square metres 290 000 sq ft in size Part of the wall built of rocks and boulders set in clay is still in good condition and the outline of the fort is still remarkably clear given its age The fortress at one time had a moat and outer wall and the walls on the north and south side were higher around 6 metres 20 ft in height 2 Grounds editThe fort is located on a hill almost in the centre of the island part of the Almindingen forest 6 7 It is several hundred yards off the main road from Ronne to Svaneke 1 The site is naturally protected by cliffs especially on the south side which are up to 20 metres 66 ft in height 8 A water pool located on the northwestern side was the main water supply to the fortress 2 The ruins are situated in mounds 9 The defences first consisted of huge ramparts built of large boulders consolidated with earth and clay There were initially gates to the north and south with additional protection from moats and outer ramparts There were several buildings for the occupants and their stores Two stone lined embankments can still be seen aside the west entrance Outside the old western rampart the site was fortified with a solid stone wall 275 metres 902 ft long 2 metres 6 ft 7 in wide and up to 6 metres 20 ft high The north gate was significantly widened and there was probably a watchtower on the northwest corner of the rampart The old south gate was walled up and replaced by a larger entrance on the southwest corner 5 References edit a b c Dennis Jones Harold 1963 Your Guide to Denmark A Redman p 110 Retrieved 14 October 2012 a b c d Gamleborg Viking Fortress Viking Denmark Retrieved 14 October 2012 Lilleborg Den Store Danske Retrieved 1 July 2020 Gamleborg Kulturarv dk in Danish Retrieved 16 October 2012 a b c Gammelborg og Lillebord Naturstyrelsen in Danish Retrieved 16 October 2012 a b Christiansen Eric 2008 Norsemen in the Viking Age Wiley p 104 ISBN 978 0 470 69276 9 Neumann Sabine Schwartz Horst 1997 Bornholm in German DuMont Reiseverlag p 194 ISBN 978 3 7701 3532 5 Ole Klindt Jensen 1957 Bornholm i folkevandringstiden og forudsaetningerne i tidlig jernalder Med bidrag af H Helbaek U Mohl o a Summaries in English in Danish Nationalmuseet p 153 Retrieved 16 October 2012 Backpacker Active Interest Media Inc October 1978 pp 36 ISSN 0277 867X Retrieved 16 October 2012 55 6 51 N 14 54 24 E 55 11417 N 14 90667 E 55 11417 14 90667 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gamleborg amp oldid 1086805522, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
