Stones of Mora

The Stone of Mora was a monument to the Svea in the Middle Ages held their election of a king. The monument was about 10 kilometers southeast of Uppsala in today's Swedish community Knivsta. The place was about in the middle between the court squares of the ancient regions Attundaland and Tiundaland.

Mora marketing

There is a choice of the medieval Swedish kings a meeting was held at the monument. After the election, the new king stood on a flat stone and the audience paid him homage.

Due to applicable laws, the new king had to move through the different parts of the country and can be confirmed by the superiors of the respective jurisdiction. This trip was called Eriksgata.

Selected kings

Mora stenar

In addition to the monument, there was also another memorial stones that reported earlier kings and their choice. After the election of a new king, a smaller stone for the duration of the government was placed on the monument. After the end of the reign period, this stone was erected next to the monument. Fragments of these stones are kept in a protected building since 1770. One of these fragments is known under the name Stenen Tre Kronor, as it is one of the earliest examples of the use of the three crowns Swedish Empire symbol. The fragment is from the memorial stone for the election of Albrecht of Mecklenburg.

The monument itself was probably deliberately destroyed in 1515. There are reports that both Gustav Vasa and his son John III. tried in vain to restore the place. On the other hand, Gustav Vasa may also have been involved in the disappearance of the monument because he wanted to introduce the hereditary succession to the throne, which was not compatible with a choice of a king.