Editing Hamar (section)

===Middle Ages===
At some point, presumably after 1030 but clearly before 1152, the centre was moved from Åker to the [[List of peninsulas|peninsula]] near Rosenlundvika (today Domkirkeodden) in what is now the town of Hamar. There are some indications [[Harald Hardråde]] initiated this move because he had property at the new site.

Much of the information about medieval Hamar is derived from the [[Hamar Chronicle]], dated to about 1550. The town is said to have reached its apex in the early 14th century, dominated by the [[Cathedral Ruins in Hamar|Hamar Cathedral]], the bishop's manor, and a fortress, plus the surrounding urbanization. The town was known for its fragrant apple [[orchard]]s, but there were also merchants, craftsmen, and fishermen in the town.

After the [[Christianization]] of Norway in 1030, Hamar began to gain influence as a centre for trade and religion. In 1152, the episcopal representative [[Pope Adrian IV|Nikolaus Breakspear]] founded [[Ancient Diocese of Hamar|Hamar Kaupangen]] as one of five [[diocese]]s in medieval Norway. This diocese included all of [[Hedemarken|Hedemarkens Amt]] and [[Oppland|Christians Amt]], which were both separated from the [[Diocese of Oslo]] in 1152. The first [[Ancient Diocese of Hamar|bishop of Hamar]] was Arnold, Bishop of [[Gardar, Greenland]] (1124–1152). He began to build the (now ruined) Cathedral of Christ Church, which was completed about the time of Bishop Paul (1232–1252). Bishop [[Thorfinn of Hamar|Thorfinn]] (1278–1282) was exiled and died at [[List of Christian religious houses in Belgium|Ter Doest abbey]] in Flanders, and was later [[canonised]]. Bishop Jörund (1285–1286) was transferred to [[Trondheim]]. A provincial council was held in 1380. Hamar remained an important religious and political centre in Norway, organized around the cathedral and the bishop's manor until the [[Protestant Reformation|Reformation]] that took place in 1536–1537. At this time, Hamar lost its status as the seat of the Diocese after the last Catholic bishop, [[Mogens Lauritssøn]] (1513–1537), was taken prisoner in his castle at Hamar by [[Truid Ulfstand]], a [[Danish nobility|Danish noble]], and then sent to [[Antvorskov]] in Denmark, where he was mildly treated until his death in 1542. At Hamar's peak, there was a Cathedral chapter with ten [[Canon regular|canons]], a school, a [[Dominican Order|Dominican]] [[Priory]] of St. Olaf, and a [[monastery]] of the [[Hospital Brothers of St. Anthony|Canons Regular of St. Anthony of Vienne]].<ref>{{Catholic|wstitle=Ancient See of Hamar|inline=1}}</ref>

Hamar, like most of Norway, was severely diminished by the [[Black Plague]] in 1349, and by all accounts continued this decline until the Reformation, after which it disappeared.

The Reformation in Norway took less than ten years to complete, from 1526 to 1536. During this time, the fortress in Hamar was made into the residence of the sheriff and renamed [[Hamarhus]] fortress. The cathedral was still used as a regular church, but it fell into disrepair culminating with the [[Sweden|Swedish]] army's siege and attempted demolition in 1567, during the [[Northern Seven Years' War]]. The old bishop's manor was also devastated during this siege.