Erling Vidkunsson
Encyclopedia
Erling Vidkunsson was Lord High Justiciar of Norway
, Lord of Bjarkoy and Giske
and the Norwegian regent. Erling received the position of drottsete (High Justiciar) of the country and was probably the most important and wealthy Norwegian noble of his era.
Erling Vidkunsson was born into a noble
family of Bjarkøy
which held lands principally in northern Norway. The ancestral seat was in Hålogaland
, in the region of Tromsø
. Erling Vidkunsson became the largest holder of noble estate in Norway. From his father, Vidkun Erlingsson, Erling inherited Bjarkøy and from his mother Gyrid Andresdottir, a descendant of the son of King Inge Stenkilsson of Sweden, he inherited land in Stodreim (Stårum, Stovrheim). He inherited Giske from his uncle Bjarne Erlingsson upon the death of that man's childless daughter Kristin who died young.
In 1319 Magnus IV of Sweden
, a child three years old, succeeded to the Norwegian throne. A regency was set up for the young king, with Erling's regency extending from 1323-32. The regency-like system continued also because Magnus primarily resided not in Norway, but in neighboring Sweden. Magnus was acclaimed as hereditary king of Norway at Haugathing in Tønsberg
in August 1319 under the Regency of his mother, Ingeborg Håkonsdotter. In February 1323, the Norwegian regency council rebelled against Queen Ingeborg. During the years 1323-31, Erling Vidkunsson led the Norwegian State Board of Royal Authority (norske riksstyret med kongelig myndighet) and held the title of drottsete until Magnus was declared to have come of age at 15.
By 1343, Norway desired to be more independent of Sweden. King Magnus agreed that his younger son, the future Haakon VI of Norway
would be king of Norway. Although the young prince was nominally under regency of his father, Norway received a level of independence and the administration continued under Erling. Later when the young king was sent to Norway, Erling was to lead his education.
Erling's only son Bjarne Erlingsson predeceased him. His inheritance was left to his daughters, of whom Ingeborg Erlingsdottir, who married Sigurd Havtoreson of Sudreim, received Giske
. Gyrid Erlingsdottir married Eiliv Eilivsson of Naustdalsætten and Gjertrud Erlingsdottir who married Otte Rømer, received the Stårum land. Many of Norway's highest nobles for the next three centuries would be descended from him.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, Lord of Bjarkoy and Giske
Giske
Giske is an island and municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It lies north-northwest of the town of Ålesund in the Sunnmøre traditional district. The municipal center is the village of Nordstrand on the island of Valderøy. Other population centers include the villages of Roald and...
and the Norwegian regent. Erling received the position of drottsete (High Justiciar) of the country and was probably the most important and wealthy Norwegian noble of his era.
Erling Vidkunsson was born into a noble
Nobility
Nobility is a social class which possesses more acknowledged privileges or eminence than members of most other classes in a society, membership therein typically being hereditary. The privileges associated with nobility may constitute substantial advantages over or relative to non-nobles, or may be...
family of Bjarkøy
Bjarkøy
Bjarkøy is a municipality in Troms county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Bjarkøy. The municipality is spread across several smaller islands, the biggest being the northern side of Grytøya...
which held lands principally in northern Norway. The ancestral seat was in Hålogaland
Hålogaland
Hålogaland was the northernmost of the Norwegian provinces in the mediaeval Norse sagas. In the early Viking Age, before Harald Fairhair, Hålogaland was a petty kingdom extending between Namdalen in Nord-Trøndelag and Lyngen in Troms.-Etymology:...
, in the region of Tromsø
Tromsø
Tromsø is a city and municipality in Troms county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Tromsø.Tromsø city is the ninth largest urban area in Norway by population, and the seventh largest city in Norway by population...
. Erling Vidkunsson became the largest holder of noble estate in Norway. From his father, Vidkun Erlingsson, Erling inherited Bjarkøy and from his mother Gyrid Andresdottir, a descendant of the son of King Inge Stenkilsson of Sweden, he inherited land in Stodreim (Stårum, Stovrheim). He inherited Giske from his uncle Bjarne Erlingsson upon the death of that man's childless daughter Kristin who died young.
In 1319 Magnus IV of Sweden
Magnus IV of Sweden
Magnus Eriksson as Magnus IV was king of Sweden , including Finland, as Magnus VII King of Norway , including Iceland and Greenland, and also ruled Scania . He has also vindictively been called Magnus Smek...
, a child three years old, succeeded to the Norwegian throne. A regency was set up for the young king, with Erling's regency extending from 1323-32. The regency-like system continued also because Magnus primarily resided not in Norway, but in neighboring Sweden. Magnus was acclaimed as hereditary king of Norway at Haugathing in Tønsberg
Tønsberg
is a city and municipality in Vestfold county, southern Norway, located around north-east of Sandefjord. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Tønsberg....
in August 1319 under the Regency of his mother, Ingeborg Håkonsdotter. In February 1323, the Norwegian regency council rebelled against Queen Ingeborg. During the years 1323-31, Erling Vidkunsson led the Norwegian State Board of Royal Authority (norske riksstyret med kongelig myndighet) and held the title of drottsete until Magnus was declared to have come of age at 15.
By 1343, Norway desired to be more independent of Sweden. King Magnus agreed that his younger son, the future Haakon VI of Norway
Haakon VI of Norway
Haakon VI of Norway was King of Norway from 1343 until his death and King of Sweden from 1362 until 1364, when he was deposed by Albert of Mecklenburg in Sweden.-Background:...
would be king of Norway. Although the young prince was nominally under regency of his father, Norway received a level of independence and the administration continued under Erling. Later when the young king was sent to Norway, Erling was to lead his education.
Erling's only son Bjarne Erlingsson predeceased him. His inheritance was left to his daughters, of whom Ingeborg Erlingsdottir, who married Sigurd Havtoreson of Sudreim, received Giske
Giske
Giske is an island and municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It lies north-northwest of the town of Ålesund in the Sunnmøre traditional district. The municipal center is the village of Nordstrand on the island of Valderøy. Other population centers include the villages of Roald and...
. Gyrid Erlingsdottir married Eiliv Eilivsson of Naustdalsætten and Gjertrud Erlingsdottir who married Otte Rømer, received the Stårum land. Many of Norway's highest nobles for the next three centuries would be descended from him.
Other sources
- Boyesen, Hjalmar HjorthHjalmar Hjorth BoyesenHjalmar Hjorth Boyesen was a Norwegian-American author and college professor.-Biography:He was born at the Norwegian naval base Fredriksvern, near the village of Stavern in Vestfold County, Norway. Boyesen grew up in Fredriksvern, then in Kongsberg, and, from 1854, at Systrand in Sogn...
The Story of Norway (1923)