Text: Frank A. Jenssen. From the book“My Lofoten”
The town of Vågar, the plural form of våg, meaning harbor, originated at Kabelvåg in Lofoten around the 11th century and had its heyday until 1350. Then it disappeared in favor of today’s Kabelvåg.
How big was this city? How did it function? Was it a city at all, or just a trading post?
There are many written sources that show that Vågar was of great importance. Until 1282, Vågar had its own law book. It was then replaced by Magnus Lagabøte’s law. Vågaboka has never been found, we only know that it existed.
We also know with certainty that from the 14th century the city loses its position. This is evident from a letter written by a concerned King Olav IV, dated 1384:
“We and our council, both bishops, knights and several others, both scholars and laymen, can in truth well notice that our trading places Bergen, Trondheim and Vågan are corrupted and destroyed because seafaring men here with you do not sail with their merchandise to the trading ports that have been from old”.
Vågar is thus equated with Bergen and Trondheim, which once again confirms the importance of Lofoten and Lofoten fishing to the nation.
By 1313, the Lofoten fishery had become so important that a decree from King Håkon V stipulated that all lawsuits in Hålogaland (north of Namdalen and south of Lyngen) were to rest during the skrei fishery between 2. February and 25. March. In other words, according to the central authorities, the Lofoten fishery was too important for people to waste time arguing and disagreeing.
Source:
Content taken from
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