King Sverri has taken power over most of Norway, when his conflict with the Norwegian church flares up, which even the pope gets involved in. The church excommunicates Sverri and later the pope reads his great interdict against King Sverri in Rome. All ecclesial activities cease, and the priestly class is told to leave the country. The churches are no longer houses of God. If you do not join the struggle against King Sverri, you are condemned to hell. The Baglarar grow strong and a civil war erupts between the spiritual and secular forces. A horrible fight that King Sverri does not loose.