Jelling: a Central Place or a Royal Place, and what is the Difference in the 10th Century

The first known references to Jelling are from the Danish chroniclers Sven Aggesen (c. 1185) and Saxo Grammaticus (c. 1200). By then, two centuries had passed since the death of King Harald and it cannot wonder if details of events were omitted or forgotten, and the narratives adapted to suit the agenda of their authors. Jelling has long been perceived as a place of burial and royal commemoration, and the monuments have played a key role in discussions of the process of state formation and religious transition, lending name to both the Jelling dynasty and the Jelling centre. The results of the most recent excavations have added both scale and complexity to the site, and it has proved even more impressive in terms of the knowledge and the resources required for its construction. The extravagant dimensions and stringent layout of the site and its components have given rise to new questions. This chapter presents the most recent suggestions for interpretations of the function and purpose of the place in the socio-political milieu of 10th-century Scandinavia and northern Europe.