Cross and Scepter: The Rise of the Scandinavian Kingdoms from the Vikings to the Reformation

by Sverre Bagge

"Cross and Scepter" is an essential introduction to Scandinavian medieval history, from the age of the Vikings to the Reformation. Christianity and European-style monarchy--the cross and the scepter--were introduced to Scandinavia in the tenth century, a development that was to have profound implications for all of Europe. Scandinavia's leading medieval historian Sverre Bagge shows how the rise of the three kingdoms not only changed the face of Scandinavia, but also helped make the territorial state the standard political unit in Western Europe. He describes Scandinavia's momentous conversion to Christianity and the creation of church and monarchy in the region, and traces how these events transformed Scandinavian institutions--offering vital new insights into state formation and cultural change in Europe.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Medieval, European History

336 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

Sverre Håkon Bagge is a Norwegian historian.

He took his doctorate with the thesis 'Den politiske ideologi i Kongespeilet', published in 1979. From 1974 to 1991 he worked as an associate professor (førsteamanuensis) at the University of Bergen, and he became a professor there in 1991.
Since 2003 he is the leader of the Centre for Medieval Studies, Bergen.

He is a member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters.

Reviews

[Ian Curry · Rating 3 out of 5]

A brief but scholarly overview of the development of the Scandanavian kingdoms of Norway, Sweden and Denmark, a overlooked period of western history that offers just as much interest as the history of other European states.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

With the dense writing of a scholarly book and the organization by topic rather than strictly chronological, plus the repetition of kings' names (many Eriks, Knuts, Haakons, Svens, etc.), I found this fairly difficult to follow. I will keep it to reread sometime though.

I'm very surprised that Princeton University Press allowed the poor index to be published though. It has few subentries (long strings of page numbers for many entries), very few cross-references, and the title "The King's Mirror" is in the T section, not the K section! The only good thing about the index is the inclusion of reign years for the kings, a good reference for trying to tell the ones with the same/similar names apart.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a pretty excellent overview of Scandinavian History, though it isn't without its formatting and publishing issues. I find Sverre Bagge writes an excellent history through the text, though it can be difficult to follow at times. Still, I believe his scholarship is an excellent starting point in any project on Scandinavian History, which is the capacity in which I read this work of scholarship.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was recommended by Viking Cruise Line as background information for a trip to Norway later this year. Lots of interesting and useful info. Book read much like a textbook for a Medieval history class. Informative but not enjoyable.

[Nikky · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cross and Scepter largely does a good job of tracing the history of Scandinavian state formation and the relationship it had with christianity. However, Bagge treats this as the natural conclusion to a research project and writes in a dry academic style that will make all but the most committed reader soon wish it was around 100 pages shorter than it actually is.