The fragmentary medieval chronicle, Historia Norwegie, is the oldest piece of historical writing from Norway, and probably the first specimen of Norwegian literature. It was composed in Latin in the second half of the 12th century, perhaps also in the Oslo area. We possess only the beginning of the work, but it offers, among other things, a detailed report of a shamanic seance among the Sami as well as a unique early geographical description of Norway and the North Sea realm.