Hov and the “Public Road”

There are so many places associated with early medieval royal rule within the Skänninge-Vadstena-Alvastra triangle that it is impossible to discern a single ­distinct route between them. Bjälbo, Hov, Herrestad and Vadstena are a few halting places, the aristocratic families, who later became royal, were major landowners in the neighbourhood. There is an interplay between the best land, the local chieftans´ settlements, the oldest Christian sepulchres, and the Romanesque churches. The remnants of wooden churches have only been found in Bjälbo and Orlunda, but it is very probable that other sites also had similar churches, even if they have not been located so far. There are also "Eskilstuna cists", which were Christian sepulchres, made of limestone in the 11th ­century. The corpse was placed in a grave under the sepulchre, which was often ornamented in the same way as a rune-stone. The location of the churches also indicates a link with pre-Christian cult sites.

The Bjälbo manor was owned by the Folkunga family until 1353. There was a battle in the “Blood Fields” south of the church in 1169 between the sons of King Sverker Kolsson, Kol and Burislev Sverkersson, on the one hand, and the son of King Erik Jedvardsson, Knut Eriksson on the other side. Knut won the battle, and consolidated the royal power for the Västergötland Erik´s family until 1195.

According to records from the 1070´s, Östergötland and Västergötland were one diocese, christianized about the year 1000, by a certain Thurgot who is known to have been the Bishop of Skara in 1013.
The church in Hov has similarities with churches in Västergötland. This may indicate a link with Västergötland in the western part of Östergötland in ecclesiastical matters. Pieces of about 40 Eskilstuna cists have been found in Hov, which points to strong links with royal authority there. The name “Hov” indicates a pre-Christian cult site and there is also the large Hov manor which was part of “Uppsala öd”, property intended for the main­tenance of the pagan cult in Old Uppsala. After the christianization of Sweden, such manors were transformed into royal demesnes.

Herrestad church from about 1112 is Sweden´s oldest remaining church according to ­dendrochronological estimats. The village of Herrestad belonged to the Stenkil royal family, but was transferred to the bishopric of Linköping in 1177.
The road via Bjälbo-Orlunda-Strå-Herrestad-Western Hollow Way, is called the Public Way” in old records.