Stone of Mora
The stone of Mora was a monument where the Svear held their royal election in the Middle Ages. The monument was about 10 kilometers southeast of Uppsala in what is now the Swedish municipality of Knivsta . The square was roughly in the middle between the court squares of the old regions of Attundaland and Tiundaland .
Mora ting
A meeting was held at the monument to elect the medieval Swedish kings. After the election, the new king stood on a flat stone and those present paid homage to him.
Due to current laws, the new king had to go through the different parts of the country and be confirmed by the superiors of the respective jurisdiction. This trip was called Eriksgata .
Elected kings
- Magnus Ladulås was the first king who is documented to have been chosen at the Mora Stone.
- Magnus Birgersson , the grandson of Magnus Ladulås, was executed shortly after his election in 1319.
- Christian I was the last king elected here in 1457.
Mora stenar
In addition to the monument, there were also other memorial stones that reported about previous kings and their choices. After the election of a new king, a smaller stone was placed on the monument for the duration of the government. After the end of the reign, this stone was placed next to the monument. Fragments of these stones have been kept in a protective building since 1770. One of these fragments is known as the Stenen Tre Kronor as it is one of the earliest examples of the use of the three crowns as a Swedish imperial symbol. The fragment comes from the memorial stone for the election of Albrecht von Mecklenburg .
The monument itself was probably deliberately destroyed around 1515. There are reports that both Gustav Wasa and his son Johann III. tried in vain to restore the place. On the other hand, Gustav Wasa may also have been involved in the disappearance of the monument, since he wanted to introduce the hereditary succession to the throne, which was not compatible with the election of a king.
See also
- Old Uppsala
- Fal Stone (Lia Fáil)
- Tara with the Irish Stone of Destiny
- Stone of Scone as the coronation place of the Scots
