The city is on fire!

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During the 12th Century the civil wars are raging in Norway.

The city is on fire!

The summer of 1198 is called the «Bjørgvin summer». This year there were several conflicts and fights between the two political rivals called “ Birkebeinerne”” and “Baglerne”which both wanted to control the city of Bjørgvin (Bergen). On August 10, 1198, “Baglerne” were chased from the city, but the same night they returned, led by Bishop Nikolas Arnesson and sat fire to the city. From the ships there where arrows fired at anyone who tried to extinguish the flames… In this story we imagine what it was like to experience attacks and fire in the medieval city of Bjørgvin ,in a summer night over 8oo hundred years ago. What was it like to leave all belongings behind and flee for one’s life? And what means were there to extinguish the fire, besides calling upon the city’s patron saint; St. Sunniva …?