Birkebeiner

This article is about the Norwegian political movement that produced the Birkebeinerrennet cross-country ski race. For the American race equivalent, see American Birkebeiner.

The Birkebeiner, Birkebeinar or Birkebein Party (Old Norse: Birkibeinar; Norwegian: Birkebeinarane (nynorsk) or Birkebeinerne (bokmål)) were a rebel group in the Civil War period in Norway, formed in 1174 around Eystein Meyla, a pretender to the throne. The name has its origins in propaganda from the established party that the rebels were so poor that they wrapped their legs with birch bark. Although originally a pejorative, the opposition adopted the Birkebeiner name for themselves, and continued using it after they came to power in 1184.

Today, the Birkebeiner are popularly celebrated for two of them having skiied with the one-year-old Haakon Haakonsson, an heir to the Norwegian throne, from Lillehammer through Østerdalen to Trondheim, a long and perilous journey through treacherous mountains and forests. In Norway, their feat is commemorated through the Birkebeinerrennet cross-country ski race, the Birkebeinerrittet mountain bike race, and the Birkebeinerløpet cross-country run.

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