The Aristocratic Landscape at Bergkvara Castle, Småland, Sweden
Author
Editor
- Anders Gutehall
- Chatarina Ödman
Summary, in English
Abstract in Undetermined
Castles research has for a long period of time been concentrated to single sites: the origin of the individual castle, its different phases and dating and the castle’s place and importance in the political process. At the same time, castle studies have mainly seen the castle as a military structure. Today a broader view of the castle has emerged. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the presence of a late medieval elite aristocratic landscape at the castle of Bergkvara in Småland. At this castle we find many typical aristocratic elements that in a European perspective are connected to aristocratic milieus like castles. At Bergkvara we have a fortified residence in a watery setting, with moats, fishponds, a garden and a mill as well as a nearby church connected to the lord of the castle. Medieval space was here embedded with social meanings and for the lord of the castle a valuable asset in the struggle to maintain and reproduce lordship. One way to fulfil the aristocratic ideology was to recreate aristocratic culture in space and the landscape. The landscape at Bergkvara is a tangible materialisation of aristocratic medieval culture in a Scandinavian version.
Castles research has for a long period of time been concentrated to single sites: the origin of the individual castle, its different phases and dating and the castle’s place and importance in the political process. At the same time, castle studies have mainly seen the castle as a military structure. Today a broader view of the castle has emerged. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the presence of a late medieval elite aristocratic landscape at the castle of Bergkvara in Småland. At this castle we find many typical aristocratic elements that in a European perspective are connected to aristocratic milieus like castles. At Bergkvara we have a fortified residence in a watery setting, with moats, fishponds, a garden and a mill as well as a nearby church connected to the lord of the castle. Medieval space was here embedded with social meanings and for the lord of the castle a valuable asset in the struggle to maintain and reproduce lordship. One way to fulfil the aristocratic ideology was to recreate aristocratic culture in space and the landscape. The landscape at Bergkvara is a tangible materialisation of aristocratic medieval culture in a Scandinavian version.
Department/s
Publishing year
2015
Language
English
Pages
89-98
Publication/Series
Archaeologia Medii Aevi Finlandiae
Volume
XX
Full text
Document type
Conference paper
Publisher
Society for Medieval Archaeology in Finland
Topic
- Archaeology
Keywords
- Aristocracy
- Landscape
- Ideology
- Medieval Castles
Conference name
Castella Maris Baltici XI
Conference date
2012-05-27 - 2012-06-02
Conference place
Malmö and Osby, Sweden
Status
Published
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISSN: 1236-5882
- ISSN: 0580-521X
- ISBN: 9789526732954
- ISBN: 9789185341474