The Norwegian Civil War in the 12th–13th Centuries as Reflected in the ‘Constant Crisis’ Theory

This review examines a monograph by Hans Jacob Orning, professor of history at the Uni-versity of Oslo, published in May 2025 (Orning H. J. Constant Crisis Deconstructing the Civil Wars in Norway, ca. 1180–1220. Ithaca, New York: Cornell University Press, 2025. (Islandica; LXVI). 276 p. ISBN: 978-0-935-99531-2 https://doi.org/10.7298/R1RJ-F850). This work offers a revolutionary approach to the study of the era of civil wars (borgerkrigstida). Orning provides a profound analysis of the sociopolitical structure of Norwegian society in the 12th and 13th centuries, challenging the traditional perception of civil wars solely as a destructive stage preceding the formation of a unified Norwegian state. By examining the social interconnec-tions of various strata of Norwegian society, Orning not only significantly expands the chronological and territorial boundaries of the transformation of Scandinavian society but also refutes the widespread belief that the civil conflicts of that period were excessively bru-tal. Moreover, he convincingly demonstrates that the social conflicts of that era, far from be-ing a sign of social ill-being, served as one of the mechanisms for regulating public life. The main conclusion of the work is that such “wars” were a characteristic feature of medieval Scandinavian society and served as an instrument of social regulation and maintaining the balance of power. To designate this special form of conflict, Orning introduces an innovative term – ‘constant crisis’, which emphasizes their specific nature.