1. W. S. Schlesinger, "Über germanisches Heerkönigtum," in Das Königtum: Seine geistigen und rechtlichen Grundlagen ed. Th. Mayer, (Vorträge und Forschungen 3, 1955; reprinted Sigmaringen, 1973), 105-141. Based on the results of excavations of Danish military installations (e.g., in Trelleborg) during the past decades, A. E. Christensen, Vikingetidens Danmark (Copenhagen, 1977), stresses the military strength and power of the kings.

2. This point of view, which regarded the thing and the royal "election" as democratic institutions was prevalent until the 1960s; see, e.g., Hal Koch, Af Folkets Saga. Dansk Daad (Copenhagen, 1941); A. E. Christensen, Kongemagt 0 Aristokrati (Copenhagen, 1945; reprinted 1968).

3. O. Höfler, Germanisches Sakralkönigtum (Tübingen, 1952); E. Hoffmann, Die hiligen Könige bei den Angelsachssen (Neumünster, 1975); E. Hoffmann, Königserhebung und Thronfolgeordnung in Dänemark bis zum Ausgang des Mittelalters (Berlin, 1976). J. Fleck, in " : A Knowledge Criterion for Succession to the Germanic Sacred Kingship," Scandinavian Studies 42 (1970): 41 ff., argues that ritual numinous education (such as runic knowledge) was decisive in succession; see also his "The 'Knowledge-Criterion' in the Grimnismál: The Case Against 'Shamanism,'" Arkiv för Nordisk Filologi 85 (1971): 58-59.

4. Some scholars attempt to combine these approaches; Hoffmann, Königserhebung , 7, argues that folk-kingship and war-kingship were successive stages and that the transition took place during the age of the Völkerwanderung .

5. See Konungabalken 1-3, in "Upplandslagen," Svenska Landskaplager 1 (Stockholm, 1933); Rättegangsbalken 1, in "Äldre Västgötalagan," Landskapslager , ed. Å. Holmbäck and E. Wessén, vol. 3 (Stockholm, 1939). "Hirdskrá," chap. 5 in Norges Gamle Love IV (Christiania 1846-1895), R. Keyser and P. A. Munch, eds.

6. See, e.g., Saxo Grammaticus, Gesta Danorum , ed. F. Winkel Horn (Copenhagen, 1898, reprinted 1975); Sven Aggesøn historiske skrifter , ed. M. C. Gertz (Copenhagen, 1916-1917); Adam of Bremen, Gesta Hammaburgensis ecclesiae pontificum , ed. C. L. Henriksen (Copenhagen, 1968); Rimbert, Vita Anskarii , ed. P. A. Fenger (Copenhagen, 1926).

7. One of the most elaborate descriptions of Norwegian inauguration is found in Snorri Sturluson, "Haraldz saga ins hárfagra," Heimskringla , ed. F. Jonsson (Copenhagen, 1911), 45 ff. This corresponds with the rules of private inheritance found in the provincial law, the Gulathingslovi , section 115: "Now a man is dead. The heir has to place himself in the highseat." See also A. Taranger, "Om kongevalg i Norge i Sagatiden," Historisk Tidsskrift (Oslo, 1934-1936) 30: 120-124. However, we are unable to date when the change from the stone to the highseat took place nor do we have reliable sources on the details.

8. Snorri, "Haraldz saga," 45.

9. As consequence of a long period of bad harvests and famine the Danish king Oluf I Hunger (1086-1095) had to leave office and was succeeded by his brother Erik the Good.

10. See, e.g., Chaps. 15 and 43 of "Ynglinga saga" in the Heimskringla , ed. F. Jonsson (Copenhagen, 1911), 12-13, 31.

11. See, e.g., Upplandlagen enligt Cod. Holm. B 199 och 1607 Års Utgåva , ed. S. Henning (Uppsala, 1967), 59; G. Hasselberg, "Eriksgata," in Kulturhistorisk Leksikon for Nordisk Middelalder (Copenhagen-Stockholm-Oslo, 1959) 4: 22-27.

12. Many references are found, among others, to blót , that is "worship," often including sacrifice; for example in Landnámabók , ed J. Benediktsson (Reykjavik, 1968, Izlenzk Fornrit 1), 37, 42 124-126, 163-164, 358. The list could be easily continued.

13. G. Neckel, ed., Edda. Die Lieder des Codex Regius nebst verwandten Denkmälern ; 5th ed., ed. H. Kuhn (Heidelberg, 1983), 69-70.

14. See above, n. 8

15. See Erich Hoffman in this volume.

16. "Uphaf sogu hákonar ," chaps. 30-31, Heimskringla (as n. 10), 88-90.

17. E. Vestergaard, "The perpetual reconstruction of the past," in Archaeology as Long-Term History , ed., Ian Hodder (Cambridge, 1987), 65 f.

18. T. A. Vestergaard, "On Kinship Theory, Clocks, and Steamengines: The Problem of Complex Structures," in The Future of Structuralism , ed. J. Osten and A. de Ruijter (Göttingen, 1983), 444-446.

19. See Erich Hoffman in this volume.