Birkebeinerne -

The (or Birkebeiners) were a significant political and military faction during the Norwegian Civil War era (1130–1240). Originally a derogatory term for poor rebels who supposedly wore leggings made of birch bark, the name eventually became a symbol of national pride, strength, and endurance. The Legend: The 1206 Rescue

: Two of the group's best skiers, Torstein Skevla and Skjervald Skrukka , carried the two-year-old prince across the treacherous, snow-covered mountains from Lillehammer to Trondheim. Birkebeinerne

: The rescue was successful, and Håkon Håkonsson grew up to become the king who finally united Norway after 1,000 years of civil war, leading the country into its medieval "Golden Age". Modern Legacy: The Birkebeiner Races The (or Birkebeiners) were a significant political and