'Kongen, Lova og Landet'
New book from former CAS project leader Jørn Øyrehagen Sunde!
Norway’s history is full of intriguing details that have shaped the country, and few can bring them to life as vividly as Professor Jørn Øyrehagen Sunde, former project leader at CAS. His new book, Kongen, Lova og Landet, published by Kagge Forlag, explores one of Norway’s most remarkable medieval kings. Sunde, a professor of legal history at the University of Oslo, led the CAS project Social Governance Through Legislation in 2021/2022.
The book focuses on King Magnus VI, better known as Magnus Lagabøte, or “Magnus the Lawmender.” He came to the throne in 1261 after an unusual upbringing under Franciscan monks, living a life marked by humility and poverty. Unlike many of his predecessors, Magnus did not wage war. Instead, he introduced a unified code of laws – the Landslova – which became a cornerstone of Norwegian politics, justice, and society. Breaking with tradition, he was buried at the Franciscan monastery where he had been educated, rather than with other Norwegian kings.
Sunde’s account brings Magnus Lagabøte to life, showing a ruler whose pragmatism and international outlook make him surprisingly relatable even today. Kongen, Lova og Landet is a must-read for anyone interested in how law and leadership shaped medieval Norway.