Stiklestad

The Old Norse form of the name is {{lang|non|Stiklarstaðir}}. The first element is {{lang|non|stikl}} which might have been derived from the verb {{wikt-lang|non|stikla}} which means "to jump" or "hop over stepping stones" (possibly referring to crossing a brook or stream). This might have been the name of a nearby brook. The last element is {{wikt-lang|non|staðr}} which means "farm" or "abode".{{Cite book |last=Rygh |first=Oluf |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/bd_Nordre_Trondhjems_amt_1903/_kFFxvxaufcC?hl=en&gbpv=0 |title=Norske gaardnavne: Nordre Trondhjems amt |date=1903 |publisher=W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri |edition=15 |location=Kristiania, Norge |page=122 |language=no |authorlink=Oluf Rygh}}

In the 13th century Gesta Danorum, or "The History of the Danes," Saxo Grammaticus recorded that the town was named after Stikla, a shield-maiden who was most famous for raiding with the Viking captain Rusla (Rusla was known as "The Red Maiden" for her brutal raids on Irish ships.) Stikla would have settled in the area at some point after her participation in the Battle of Clontarf in 1014.

Given King Olav II’s role in the spread of Christianity in Norway, Stiklestad has been a significant site in Norwegian national culture since the 1030 battle. There has been an Olav memorial there since medieval times.

Between 1934 and 1944 Vidkun Quisling’s Nationalist Nasjonal Samling party held a number of rallies at Stiklestad, in an attempt to link the party to Norway’s historic past.{{Cite book |last=Brevig |first=Hans Olaf |url=http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2007072301097 |title=NS – fra parti til sekt 1933–37 |date=1970 |publisher=Pax Publishers |pages=34–37 |language=no |accessdate=4 September 2019}} A special Nasjonal Samling monument was inaugurated there in July 1944, before being demolished a year later after the fall of Quisling's government.{{Cite book |last=Veimo |first=Morten |url=http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2012062624005 |title=Verdalsboka : Verdal 1940–1945: Krig – Okkupasjon – Motstand. |date=1987 |publisher=Published by Motstandgruppen 1939–1945, Verdal. |pages=197–205 |language=no |accessdate=4 September 2019}}

Since 1954 an annual the Saint Olav Drama, a re-enactment of the days leading up to the battle of 1030, has taken place at a specially built amphitheatre at Stiklestad.{{Cite web |year=2011 |title=The Saint Olav Drama |url=https://stiklestad.no/spelet-om-heilag-olav/ |access-date=4 September 2019 |website=Stiklestad National Culture Centre}}{{Cite web |year=2011 |title=Spelet om Heilag Olav |url=https://snl.no/Spelet_om_Heilag_Olav |access-date=4 September 2019 |website=Store Norske Leksikon}}

In 1995, a Parliamentary decree established Stiklestad National Culture Centre ({{langx|no|Stiklestad Nasjonale Kultursenter}}) at Stiklestad to promote the story and heritage of Saint Olaf, including the annual Saint Olav Drama. There is also a folk museum, that includes a medieval farm, and a hotel housed in the same building as the Culture Centre.{{Cite news |title=Welcome to Stiklestad |url=https://stiklestad.no/ |access-date=2 September 2018 |work=Stiklestad Nasjonale Kultursenter}}

{{wide image|Stikklastad Norway St Olof.jpg|1500px|View of the area (scroll to the right for more of the picture)|left|alt=View of the Stiklestad area}}

• The Saint Olav Drama, an annual ceremony commemorating the historic Battle of Stiklestad
• Stiklestad Church, Twelfth Century Parish Church
• Nasjonal Samling monument, erected by Quisling in 1944

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• [https://www.visitnorway.com/listings/stiklestad-national-culture-centre/88528/ Stiklestad National Culture Centre]

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Category:Verdal

Category:Villages in Trøndelag