Kungälv
| Kungälv | |
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 Kungälv
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| Coordinates: 57°52′N 11°58′E / 57.867°N 11.967°ECoordinates: 57°52′N 11°58′E / 57.867°N 11.967°E | |
| Country | Sweden |
| Province | Bohuslän |
| County | Västra Götaland County |
| Municipality | Kungälv Municipality |
| Area[1] | |
| • Total | 11.52 km2 (4.45 sq mi) |
| Population (31 December 2010)[1] | |
| • Total | 22,768 |
| • Density | 1,976/km2 (5,120/sq mi) |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) |
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) |
Kungälv is a city and the seat of Kungälv Municipality in Västra Götaland County, Sweden. It had 22,768 inhabitants in 2010.[1]
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[edit] History
According to Swedish official sources the city was founded in 1612, when the former settlement at Kungahälla was moved to the Bohus Fortress. However, this is disputed due to the fact that other sources indicate that it was the capital of Norway at one point under Sigurd I Magnusson.
Sigurd I Magnusson (Sigurd Jorsalfare/Sigurd the Crusader) was the King of Norway (1103–1130) and is the most well known crusader king of Scandinavia. He was also the first European king to join the crusades at a time where Kungälv was Norwegian territory.
Sigurd returned to Norway in 1111 where he made his capital in Konghelle (Kungälv in present-day Sweden) and built a castle there, where he kept a relic given to him by King Baldwin, a splinter reputed to be from the True Cross. Sigurd died in 1130 and was buried in Hallvardskirken (Hallvards church) in Oslo.
Sigurd I Magnusson marks the first verifiable royal presence in Kungälv which might indicate that the name originated from this era.[2][3]
In the 1120s Pomeranian ships from Szczecin, from the southern coast of the Baltic Sea attacked the Danish coast. On 10 August 1135 Duke Ratibor assaulted the Norwegian towns. Konghelle, was captured and burnt to the ground by the forces of prince Ratibor, assisted by a fleet of 550 ships with cavalry on board (each carrying forty-four men and two horses). They laid the town in ruins, killed a large part of the population, and abducted most of the survivors as thralls to Szczecin. Snorri Sturluson, writing a century later, said that Konghelle never completely recovered.[4]
The Bohus Fortress combined with "Bräckboden" is the most popular tourist attraction in Kungälv.
[edit] Famous people
- Mikael Andersson, Former NHL-forward and Olympian was raised in Kungälv.
- Niklas Andersson, Former NHL-forward and younger brother of Mikael was born and raised in Kungälv.
- P. J. Axelsson, Former Boston Bruins forward and Olympian was born and raised in Kungälv.
- Fredrik Sjostrom, Current NHL-forward was raised in Kungälv.
- Carin Koch, Professional golfer was born and raised in Kungälv.
- Ernst Skarstedt, Swedish-American author, journalist and editor was born in Kungälv.
- Pontus Wernbloom, Professional football player.
[edit] Transport
- European route E06
- Västtrafik regional buses
- Bohusbanan railway (Ytterby station)
[edit] Sports
The following sports clubs are located in Kungälv:
- Ytterby IS
- IK Kongahälla
- Kungälvs simsällskap
[edit] References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Kungälv |
- ^ a b c "Tätorternas landareal, folkmängd och invånare per km2 2005 och 2010" (in Swedish). Statistics Sweden. 14 December 2011. Archived from the original on 10 January 2012. http://www.scb.se/Statistik/MI/MI0810/2010A01/Tatorternami0810tab1_4.xls. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
- ^ Heimskringla - overview Heimskringla - overview
- ^ Sigurd I of Norway Sigurd I of Norway
- ^ Olav Tryggvason's saga (Heimskringla. (Snorri Sturluson, chapter 113)
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Kungälv is one of 133 places with the historical city status in Sweden. |
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