The city has medieval foundations by settlers around the Norrk�ping twin city with Link�ping Motala stream estuary, who used the falls and rapids to power their mills. The stream was also full of fish such as salmon. Exact dates are uncertain, but there are mentions of a church in the 12th century. It was dedicated to Saint Olaf, Norway'spatron.
The first trace of the city's name is from 1283, when wealthy David Appelgren - [Lord of �sterg�tland] - donated his rights of salmon fishing to the Sk�nninge monastery. The town is estimated to have received city status in the early 14th century, although no written documents exist prior to a document from 1384. This document, signed byAlbrekt of Sweden is stored in the city archive today. K�ping means there was a market there.
The city was the location of several battles in the ensuing centuries. As a consequence, nothing of the medieval Norrk�ping remains today. During the Northern Seven Years' War (1563�1570), the entire southern part of Norrk�ping was burnt. It was rebuilt by John III of Sweden, who designed the current street pattern.
In 1618, a weapon industry was established by supervision of Gustavus Adolphus. The harbour also attracted ships due to its proximity to the industries of Finsp�ng. In addition to the weapon industry, a large scale industry of textile was also initiated. An important benefactor was the industrial man Louis De Geer (1587-1652). At De Geer's death, Norrk�ping had 6,000 inhabitants and was Sweden's second largest city.
The city again burnt in 1655, and again in 1719 during the Great Northern War when the Russians burnt it to the ground. Stones from the Johannisborg castle were used to build new houses, and today only a few stones remain.
During the 18th century it was rebuilt and several industries soon got a stronghold: In the 1740s, Norrk�ping boosted three sugar refineries; in the 1750s the large scale influential snus industry was established. From
