Scandinavian Kings

 

2017: 450th Anniversary - City of Fredrikstad (Design Magnus Rakeng)

 

The statue of Frederik II of Denmark and Norway (1534-1588) stands in the city he founded - Fredrikstad.

2017: Maximum Card 1 of 1. (Card Illustration - Annikan Riiser)

I  acquired this Maxi Card when buying something else and at first sight had an irresistible urge to add to my basket. So we have the city of Fredrikstad personified and named after Frederik II'  Like father like son

2000: Oslo 1000 Years

Christian IV of Denmark and Norway (1577-1648) rebuilt the town of Oslo after a fire and renamed it Christiana. He came to the throne aged only 11 and is considered a renaissance king who brought prosperity to his nations.  The statue was erected in 1888 and the city reclaimed its name of Oslo in 1925.

Lastly is a king that lives on through the sagas. This is King Olaf II or Olaf Haralsson, King of Norway (the Faroe Islands were part of the Kingdom of Norway at this time).

1995: St Olaf (Design and Engraver - Martin Morck)

King Olaf died at the battle of Stiklestad in 1030.  He was later canonised and became St Olaf and is the patron saint of Norway.  The Faroe Islands National Day of 29th July is his saints day although they celebrate for 2 days, and why not it is high summer.  The stamp shows the wooden sculpture from Sund Chuch, Aland with a map of 1570. This was a joint issue between Aland and the Faroes on the Millinery of his birth. 

There are many churches today that bear his name and indeed we have one locally in the valley of Wasdale where the Vikings settled.. St Olaf is England's smallest church, near its deepest lake and its highest mountain.  There have been earlier churches on the site but the present one is though to date from the 16th Century.

St Olaf surrounded by Yew trees with the appropriately named Kirk Fell in the background.   

Sunday Stamps II theme this week is statues or monuments - See It On A Postcard.

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