Summary In the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, Scandinavia was rocked by an ongoing period of ?civil war?, conflicts traditionally characterized by medieval historians as internal struggles that took place in the context of predominantly national, state-centred, political and constitutional frameworks. This volume, however, aims to overturn these established narratives, with carefully curated essays written by experts in the field offering a new pan-Scandinavian perspective on the period in question that emphasizes the importance of fluid, often overlapping social networks, permeable borders between realms, and constant underlying hostilities between rival groups. Through detailed examinations of pivotal moments in Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish history, together with analyses of topographical patterns, gender issues, diplomacy, and three contributions that draw parallels within similar conflicts outside of Scandinavia, this book provides an important corrective to teleological narratives of the medieval ?civil wars? as a necessary stage on the route to state formation and modernity. TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Illustrations Aknowledgements 1. Network Dynamics, Conflict as Context, and Internal War. Outline of a Scandinavian Medieval Case for Comparison Kim Esmark, Hans Jacob Orning, and J n Vi ar Sigur sson Part I. Case Studies Introduction to Part One Kim Esmark, Hans Jacob Orning, and J n Vi ar Sigur sson 2. Networks and flokkar. The Civil Wars in Norway c. 1134?1163 J n Vi ar Sigur sson 3. Messy Conflict. Socio-political Competition and War in Denmark c. 1128?1137 Kim Esmark 4. Constant Crisis in Norway, 1202?1208 Hans Jacob Orning Part II. Thematic Analyses Introduction to Part Two Jenny Benham, Lars Hermanson, and Bj rn Poulsen 5. Spatial Practices in the Twelfth and Early Thirteenth Century Scandinavian Power Game Bj rn Poulsen 6. The Memory of Margrethe. Noblewomen as Power Agents in Multi-Party Conflicts c. 1120?1170 Lars Hermanson 7. Peacemaking and Negotiations in High Medieval Scandinavia Jenny Benham Part III. European Comparisons Introduction to Part Three Gerd Althoff, Warren C. Brown, and Stephen D. White 8. Political Networks in Conflict. A German Perspective Gerd Althoff 9. War Stories. Re-Thinking Rebellion in Anglo-Norman and Angevin England, 1066 to 1217 Stephen D. White 10. Scandinavia in Medieval Europe Warren C. Brown Index