Near the ruins of Sola medieval church stands a monument to Erling Skjalgsson, the most powerful chieftain in western Norway during the late Viking Age. Born around 975, Erling ruled the coast from Rogaland to Sogn from his seat at Sola. His power was cemented when King Olav Tryggvason married him to his sister-in-law Astrid around 996, but Erling refused to accept the title of jarl, saying he would remain a herse, the rank his fathers had held, effectively an independent lord answering to no king.
For over thirty years Erling maintained his autonomy while successive Norwegian kings tried to break the regional power structure. He was an early Christian convert and built one of the first churches on Jæren. His conflict with King Olav Haraldsson, later St. Olav, culminated in a naval battle at Boknafjorden on 21 December 1028. Erling's smaller fleet was overwhelmed. According to Snorri Sturluson's Heimskringla, Erling fought until his men fell around him, then surrendered. Olav offered him mercy, but Åsbjorn Selsbane, one of Olav's men, struck Erling in the head with an axe. Olav reportedly said: "You struck Norway from my hands."
The monument near Sola ruinkirke marks his home territory. Along the old road between Sola church and the coast, a series of large stones called kvilesteinane, the resting stones, traditionally mark the route where Erling's funeral procession carried his body.
For over thirty years Erling maintained his autonomy while successive Norwegian kings tried to break the regional power structure. He was an early Christian convert and built one of the first churches on Jæren. His conflict with King Olav Haraldsson, later St. Olav, culminated in a naval battle at Boknafjorden on 21 December 1028. Erling's smaller fleet was overwhelmed. According to Snorri Sturluson's Heimskringla, Erling fought until his men fell around him, then surrendered. Olav offered him mercy, but Åsbjorn Selsbane, one of Olav's men, struck Erling in the head with an axe. Olav reportedly said: "You struck Norway from my hands."
The monument near Sola ruinkirke marks his home territory. Along the old road between Sola church and the coast, a series of large stones called kvilesteinane, the resting stones, traditionally mark the route where Erling's funeral procession carried his body.
