Loan of five manuscripts to Norway
On 1 February 2024, a large medieval exhibition opens in Oslo, where five of the the library's valuable manuscripts play an important role.
Photo: Gorm K. Gaare
The Royal Danish Library has lent a number of manuscripts to the National Library in Norway long-term. Now they are being exhibited by our Norwegian friends.
The exhibition "Med lova i hand" marks the fact that in 2024 it will be 750 years since the Norwegian king Magnus Lagabøte passed a new law, the so-called Landslov, which was to apply to the entire Norwegian kingdom. The law was quite unique in the European context, as it was common at the time for the different provinces or landscapes of a kingdom to have their own laws. This was also the case in Denmark, where there was Jutland law, Scania law and so on.
Magnus' land law was so durable that it was used throughout the Middle Ages, even after Norway came under Danish rule. It was not until 1604 that King Christian IV gave a new law for Norway, but this was, however, largely based on the old national law.
The five manuscripts
The lent manuscripts are three manuscripts with country and landscape laws (Codex Hardenbergianus, Codex Tunsbergensis and Rantzaubogen), a prayer book (Kristin Håkonsdatter's Psalter) and a music manuscript (Nidarossantifonariet).
The manuscripts were mainly created in what is now Norway in the Middle Ages. They came to Denmark while Denmark-Norway was a commonwealth (1536-1814).
You will find the exhibition at the National Library in Oslo. It is open from 1 February 2024 – 14 September 2024. Admission is free.