Stavanger history

An insignificant fishing village for most of its history, Stavanger was ruled by a long line of independent local chieftains throughout the Viking era. It was also close to the site where Harald Hårfagre (Harold Fair Hair) defeated an alliance of these same chieftains, thereby bringing some law and order to a notoriously lawless region and laying the foundations of what was to become the kingdom of Norway. However, Norway’s independence was short-lived and the country became a junior partner when it was united with Denmark in the 15th century; the union was to last until 1905.

It was the herring industry that finally put Stavanger on the map in the 19th century, crowding its wharves and quays with net makers and menders, canneries and coopers. When the fishery failed – the herring is a notoriously fickle fish – the burgeoning town moved into shipbuilding, making use of its abundant supplies of timber. The arrival of the ironclad ship spelt the end of this industry, but, after a few years on the skids, Stavanger was redeemed by North Sea oil. Today, the city builds the rigs for the offshore oilfields and refines the oil as well.