Discover Denmark’s Viking Age Ring-Shaped Fortresses

There are five major Viking Age ring-shaped fortresses that have been discovered in Denmark thus far. In addition to the five Viking ring citadels from Denmark, there are others located in Scania, southern Sweden. There is another possible ring fortress in Rygge, Østfold, Norway as well as another possible one in Helsingborg, Sweden (suggested in 2009).

These medieval architectural structures are alternatively known as ‘trelleborgs‘ and are closely associated with either King Harald I of Denmark (also known as Harald Bluetooth) or with Sweyn Forkbeard. All of these fortifications were built during the Viking Age, sometime throughout the late 10th century and/or early 11th century, being used as either trading posts or military bases for the Norsemen’s subsequent conquest of London in 1013.

The Viking Age ring fortress is an important symbol of early medieval architecture and many history buffs can use the building’s iconography to create a variety of Viking-themed souvenirs, such as commemorative coins, customized pins, and more. These souvenirs are also a reminder of history and a tribute to the wisdom and knowledge of the Norsemen from the Middle Ages.

In Denmark, the five trelleborgs are Aggersborg (the largest Viking ring fortress discovered to date and one of the largest archaeological sites in the country, located in the proximity of Limfjord, northern Jutland), Nonnebakken (located in Odense), Borrering (located in the proximity of Køge, on the island of Zealand), Trelleborg (also situated on the island of Zealand, westward of the small town of Slagelse), and Fyrkat (located in the proximity of Hobro).

The Aggersborg fort is thought to have comprised about 48 houses within its walls, while Fyrkat and Trelleborg had 16 (although a different estimation for the latter puts the total number of houses at a maximum of 30). Their inner diameter is as follows: Aggersborg (240 metres), Borrering (122 metres), Fyrkat and Nonnebakken (120 metres each), and Trælleborg (136 metres).

With respect to their rampart width, Aggersborg has 11 metres, Borrering 10 to 11 metres, Fyrkat 13 metres, and Trelleborg 19 metres (the largest rampart width of them all).

All ring fortresses have a common circular shape, as well as gates to east, west, north and south. Their design is rather unique by the standards of other fortifications built during the early Middle Ages. Furthermore, all trelleborgs are actually planned to be submited to UNESCO as World Heritage Sites, both by Denmark and by Sweden.

Below you can watch a 21 minute documentary on the Viking ring fortress of Trælleborg in Danish (click for English subtitles):

Additionally, you can also take a virtual tour of all Viking ring citadels in Denmark by watching this Google Maps close-up tracking on youtube:

Documentation sources and external links:

• Viking ring fortress on www.wikipedia.org (in English)
• Trelleborg near Slagelse on www.wikipedia.org (in English)
• Aggersborg on www.wikipedia.org (in English)
• Borrering on www.wikipedia.org (in English)
• Fyrkat on www.wikipedia.org (in English)
• Nonnebakken on www.wikipedia.org (in English)
• Viking ‘ring fortress’ discovered in Denmark on www.telegraph.co.uk
• Viking ‘ring fortress’ discovered in Denmark may have been used for invasion of England in 1013 on www.dailymail.co.uk
• Trelleborg Viking Fortress in Slagelse, Denmark on www.vikingdenmark.com
• Trelleborg – Viking Ring Fortresses – (Viking Castles) on www.danishnet.com
• Trelleborg Viking Fortress on www.natmus.dk
• Viking-Age Aggersborg on www.medievalhistories.com
• Internet Archaeology 2014, Vol. 36 issue 2: Making Place for a Viking Fortress. An archaeological and geophysical reassessment of Aggersborg, Denmark by Hannah Brown, Helen Goodchild, and Søren M. Sindbæk on www.intarch.co.uk
• Danemark, Slagelse, Trelleborg on www.medieval.mrugala.net (in French)