At the eastern end of Breidablikk stands a modern statue of King Øystein Magnusson, created by sculptor Arthur Gustavson in 1935. This is first and foremost a memorial to the historical interest in the modern Vågan community.
In the early local history literature of the first part of our century, King Øystein Magnusson (1103 – 1123) appeared as the founder of Vågar. It was natural to imagine an initiative from the top for such an important social change as the emergence of an economic, cultural and political center for the whole of Hålogaland.
Several saga versions mention that King Øystein praised himself for taking the initiative to build the first church in Vågar and for arranging for poor fishermen to be housed here.
There is no definite information that Øystein was in Vågar, but it is likely because he sailed north to Lofoten and Trondenes in 1114. In any case, it is certain that Vågar was an important center at least a hundred years before Øystein’s time.
King Øystein himself, together with his brothers, Sigurd and Olav, also regulated the taxation of fishing in Vågar many years before the alleged founding took place. In any case, there is reason to honor and remember this important king in Norwegian history.
We can also let him be a representative of the royal power that had great influence on the development of Vågar, fishing and the stockfish trade. This business was important to the king already from the beginning of the millennium and at least until the 14th century. Somewhat curiously, King Øystein is facing the settlement in Kabelvåg and has his back to the courthouse and the central harbor area in Storvågan.
Kabelvåg was also an important part of Vågar, but for the archbishop, not the king. Prior to the erection of the statue, historically interested people in Kabelvåg turned to Tromsø Museum to investigate finds in Storvågan because, in their opinion, that was where central Vågar had been.
Tromsø Museum’s conclusion was negative and it was deemed safest to let the king look down on the village of Kabelvåg, which in any case had to have its roots in ancient Vågar. Now, forty years later, there could be just as good a reason to turn the statue westwards.
Source: Fotefar to the north Photo: Ronny Nilsen
