Oslo

===1000–1600===
{{Main|Old Town, Oslo}}
Under the reign of [[Olaf III of Norway]] (1067-1093), Oslo became a cultural centre for [[Eastern Norway]]. [[Hallvard Vebjørnsson]] became the city's [[patron saint]] and is depicted on the city's seal.

In 1174, [[Hovedøya Abbey]] was built. The churches and abbeys became major owners of large tracts of land, which proved important for the city's economic development, especially before the Black Death.

At the end of the 12th century, [[Hanseatic League]] traders from [[Rostock]] moved into the city and gained major influence in the city. 

On 25 July 1197, [[Sverre of Norway]] and his soldiers attacked Oslo from [[Hovedøya]].<ref name="AttackFromHovedøya">{{cite news |author1=Leif Gjerland |title=Kongen som angrep Oslo fra Hovedøya |newspaper=Aftenposten |date=25 July 2014 |author1-link=Leif Gjerland}}</ref> 

During the [[Middle Ages]], Oslo reached new heights during the reign of [[Haakon V of Norway]] (1299–1319). He was the first king to reside permanently in the city, and it has been regarded as the capital city of Norway since his reign. He also started the construction of the [[Akershus Fortress]] and the Oslo [[Kongsgård]]. 

The Black Death came to Norway in 1349 and, like other cities in Europe, the city suffered greatly. The churches' earnings from their land dropped so much that the Hanseatic traders dominated the city's foreign trade in the 15th century.

In 1380, Norway was the weaker part in a [[personal union]] with Denmark, and Oslo's role was reduced to that of provincial administrative centre, with the monarchs residing in [[Copenhagen]].