| Arnved Nedkvitne | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 21, 1947 Haugesund |
| Nationality | Norway |
| Fields | Norwegian mediæval history |
| Institutions | University of Trondheim University of Oslo |
| Alma mater | University of Bergen |
Arnved Nedkvitne (born 21 May 1947) is a Norwegian mediæval historian. He is Professor Emeritus of Mediæval History at the University of Trondheim and the University of Oslo. He held the chair of Norwegian mediæval history at the University of Trondheim from 1991 to 1993 and at the University of Oslo from 1993 to 2009. Prof. Nedkvitne is the leading scholar in the field of Norwegian mediæval history. He is a member of the Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and Letters.
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He was born in Haugesund. He obtained his cand.philol. degree in history at the University of Bergen in 1975, and his dr. philos. degree in 1983 on the thesis Utenrikshandelen fra det vestafjelske Norge. He was a professor of mediaeval history at the University of Trondheim from 1991 to 1993, and was appointed as professor of mediaeval history at the University of Oslo in 1993. He has written several books, especially on mediaeval trade relations as well as literacy and beliefs in mediaeval Scandinavia.[1]
According to historian Kåre Lunden, Nedkvitne has "authored several major works of Norwegian economic history. In recent years, he has been an important innovator, linked to the 'cultural turn' in the discipline".[2]
In February, 2009, Nedkvitne was fired from his job by the university board of the University of Oslo[3] as the university claimed that he had harassed his co-workers and refused to be present in meetings called by his employer. Nedkvitne on his side claimed that he had merely criticized his co-workers and the administration of the Department of Archaeology, Conservation and History, as well as Trine Syvertsen, the Dean of the Faculty of Humanities.
The case caused concern among other Norwegian professors and academics (including Jan Helge Solbakk, Henning Jakhelln, Bernt Hagtvet, Kristian Gundersen, Unni Wikan, Arne Johan Vetlesen, Anine Kierulf and Jan Fridthjof Bernt) that academic freedom was not respected by the university administration.[4] On March 11, 2009, it became known that Nedkvitne would bring the case to court with support from the Norwegian Association of Researchers.[5]
The case commenced before Oslo City Court in January 2010. The city court found that the university was entitled to fire Nedkvitne, for the reasons state by the university. Nedkvitne first decided not to appeal to the High Court (Borgarting lagmannsrett) for economic reasons. The court's was criticized by several professors.[6] In February 2010, the Board of the Norwegian Association of Researchers decided to support an appeal financially, due the "principal character" of his case.[7] In March 2011 the High Court's decision upheld the City Court's decision, stating that the University of Oslo was entitled to fire Nedkvitne due to his behavior.
A golden parachute of 2 years pay had been offered to Nedkvitne, by the University of Oslo, if he would turn in his resignation.[8]
He is the only professor to have lost his job for (alleged) reasons not relating to criminal matters, within the universities of Norway.[9]