Harriet Clark

Thesis title:

Kingship, regionalism, and co-rulership in the Norwegian realm, c. 1015 - 1250 CE

Co-rulership arrangements were a common political feature in medieval Norway, occurring both between kings and between jarls. Despite this, little consideration has previously been given to this practice, and how co-rulership arrangements were established and maintained. My project seeks to compare case-studies of co-rulership of the Norwegian realm to evaluate how the practice functioned between kings. A critical reading of the substantial narrative histories of Norway (Ágrip af Nóregskonunga sǫgum, Fagrskinna, Morkinskinna, and Heimskringla) comprises the core research for the project.

Research Area

Languages and Literature

Conferences

Becoming king: the successions of co-rulers in Norway, 1035–1130, delivered the 10th Háskóli Íslands Student Conference on the Medieval North, 15–17 April 2021, online event

A diplomatic crusade: the expedition of Sigurðr Jórsalafari, delivered at the 14th Annual Århus Student Symposium on Viking and Medieval Scandinavian Subjects, 24–26 March 2021, online event

How to be king: co-rulership practices in twelfth century Norway, to be presented at the 14^th Bergen International Postgraduate Symposium in Old Norse Studies, 30 March–2 April 2020, University of Bergen (cancelled due to Covid-19 pandemic)

Cultural Cross-Dressing: Þrymskviða as Old Norse satire or Christian conversion?, delivered at the 12^th Annual MEMSA Conference, 10–11 July 2018, Durham University

From Ilium to Iceland: creating and defending cultural identity in Ynglinga Saga, delivered at the 2^nd Annual Aberystwyth Medieval Conference, 27–29 June 2018, Aberystwyth University

Symbols of Identity: cultural hybridisation in the iconography of Norwegian stave churches, delivered at the 11^th Annual Århus Student Symposium on Viking and Medieval Scandinavian Subjects, 25–26 April 2018, Århus University

Public Engagement & Impact

Co-founder and coordinator for Created Identities Conference 2020, held as an online event.

Other Research Interests

Medieval politics and political development

Medieval warfare

Medieval Scandinavian history

Old Norse-Icelandic literature

Memberships

Member of the Viking Society for Northern Research.