CHAPTEE XII 



H I S T 11 Y 



Magnus the Law Reformer — The Union of Calmar— Transition to 



Modern Times. 



Hakon's sod, Magnus, had remained behind in Norway 

 when his father set out to the west. He saw the use- 

 lessness of prosecuting the claims which his father had 

 put forward, and, as we have said, ceded by treaty all 

 his rights in Scotland, except that of the suzerainty of 

 the Orkneys. 



Henceforward, save as a trading country, Norway 

 had little to do with foreign affairs. 



What we have now to note is the confirmation of a 

 sovereign power built upon the ruins of the old aristo- 

 cracy — the ruins of the adventurous and turbulent 

 spirit of bygone days ; and in place of these a new 

 industry at home, a new attachment to the works of 

 peace, and a longing on all sides for a reign of law and 

 order. To meet this longing rose Magnus, who is known 

 in history as Magnus Lagahcvtir, or Magnus the Law- 

 Reformer (1263-1280). As we are not concerned 

 with constitutional history, it is not necessary to enter 

 into the details of Magnus' law reforms. The general 

 effect of them was to carry on the work of centralisation 



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