Knut Haakonsson
Encyclopedia
Knut Haakonsson (c. 1208–1261) was a Norwegian nobleman and claimant to the throne during the Civil war era in Norway
.
and Swedish noble-woman Kristina Nikolasdotter. His father had been leader of the Norwegian army and steward of the kingdom during the short reign of King Guttorm of Norway
. His maternal grandfather was Eric the Saint who reigned as King Eric IX of Sweden
. After the death of his father in 1214, Knut and his mother returned to Västergötland
, Sweden
where she married Swedish nobleman, Eskil Magnusson
.
In 1226, upon the death of Sigurd Ribbung
, Knut was chosen as the new pretender of the Ribbung party. The Ribbunger forces were soon beaten militarily. Knut resigned his pretender crown and made peace with King Haakon IV of Norway
in 1227. He subsequently married Ingrid, a daughter of jarl Skule Baardsson, who had a form of power sharing with King Haakon.
Tensions between Skule Baardsson and King Haakon existed and in an effort to facilitate a compromise, Skule was given the title Duke
in 1237. However, Skule rose to open revolt in 1239 and tried to win Knut over to his side. Knut rejected Skule's advances and remained loyal to King Haakon, who subsequently elevated him to jarl. Skule's rebellion met an unsuccessful end in 1240 and the duke was killed. After Skule's death, no one was able to challenge King Haakon's position in Norway.
For the rest of his life, Knut retained the title of jarl, which formally made him the highest ranking man in the country after the king and his sons. Whether he held much real power over affairs of state is doubtful. In September 1261, he carried the crown at the coronation ceremony of Haakon's son, King Magnus VI of Norway
. Later that same year, Knut died and was buried in Bergen Cathedral
( Bergen Domkirke).
and the Bagler
. After these two parties were reconciled in 1217, a more ordered system of government centered around the king was gradually able to bring an end to the frequent risings. The failed rising of duke Skule Bårdsson
in 1240 was the final event of the civil war era.
Civil war era in Norway
The Civil war era of Norwegian history is a term used for the period in the history of Norway between 1130 and 1240. During this time, a series of civil wars were fought between rival kings and pretenders to the throne of Norway. The reasons for the wars is one of the most debated topics in...
.
Biography
Knut Haakonsson was born the son of jarl Haakon the CrazyHaakon the Crazy
Håkon the Crazy was a Norwegian earl and Birkebeiner chieftain during the civil war era in Norway. He was born no later than the 1170s and died in 1214...
and Swedish noble-woman Kristina Nikolasdotter. His father had been leader of the Norwegian army and steward of the kingdom during the short reign of King Guttorm of Norway
Guttorm of Norway
Guttorm Sigurdsson was King of Norway during 1204.-Background:Guttorm Sigurdsson was the son of Sigurd Lavard and grandson of King Sverre. Sigurd Lavard died in 1200 or 1201 during the reign of King Sverre...
. His maternal grandfather was Eric the Saint who reigned as King Eric IX of Sweden
Eric IX of Sweden
Eric "IX" of Sweden, , also called Eric the Lawgiver, Erik the Saint, Eric the Holy and in Sweden Sankt Erik meaning Saint Eric was a Swedish king c.1155 – 1160...
. After the death of his father in 1214, Knut and his mother returned to Västergötland
Västergötland
', English exonym: West Gothland, is one of the 25 traditional non-administrative provinces of Sweden , situated in the southwest of Sweden. In older English literature one may also encounter the Latinized version Westrogothia....
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
where she married Swedish nobleman, Eskil Magnusson
Eskil Magnusson
-Biography:He was the son of Magnus Minniskiöld, and the elder brother of Birger Jarl, one of the most powerful men of his time in Scandinavia.Due to the location of his jurisdiction and his marriage to Kristina, the widow of the Norwegian earl Hakon the Mad , Eskil had good contacts in Norway and...
.
In 1226, upon the death of Sigurd Ribbung
Sigurd Ribbung
Sigurd Erlingsson Ribbung was a Norwegian nobleman and pretender to the throne of Norway during the civil war era in Norway.-Biography:...
, Knut was chosen as the new pretender of the Ribbung party. The Ribbunger forces were soon beaten militarily. Knut resigned his pretender crown and made peace with King Haakon IV of Norway
Haakon IV of Norway
Haakon Haakonarson , also called Haakon the Old, was king of Norway from 1217 to 1263. Under his rule, medieval Norway reached its peak....
in 1227. He subsequently married Ingrid, a daughter of jarl Skule Baardsson, who had a form of power sharing with King Haakon.
Tensions between Skule Baardsson and King Haakon existed and in an effort to facilitate a compromise, Skule was given the title Duke
Duke
A duke or duchess is a member of the nobility, historically of highest rank below the monarch, and historically controlling a duchy...
in 1237. However, Skule rose to open revolt in 1239 and tried to win Knut over to his side. Knut rejected Skule's advances and remained loyal to King Haakon, who subsequently elevated him to jarl. Skule's rebellion met an unsuccessful end in 1240 and the duke was killed. After Skule's death, no one was able to challenge King Haakon's position in Norway.
For the rest of his life, Knut retained the title of jarl, which formally made him the highest ranking man in the country after the king and his sons. Whether he held much real power over affairs of state is doubtful. In September 1261, he carried the crown at the coronation ceremony of Haakon's son, King Magnus VI of Norway
Magnus VI of Norway
Magnus VI Lagabøte or Magnus Håkonsson , was king of Norway from 1263 until 1280.-Early life:...
. Later that same year, Knut died and was buried in Bergen Cathedral
Bergen Cathedral
Bergen Cathedral is the seat of the Diocese of Bjørgvin. Located in the city centre of Bergen, Norway, the first recorded reference to it is dated 1181. It retains its ancient dedication to St Olaf ....
( Bergen Domkirke).
Historic Prospective
The Norwegian Civil war era (Borgerkrigstida) was the period in the history of Norway between 1130 and 1240. During this time, a series of civil wars were fought between rival kings and pretenders to the throne of Norway. The reasons for the wars is one of the most debated topics in Norwegian medieval history. The goal of the warring parties was always to put their man on the throne, starting with the death of King Sigurd the Crusader in 1130. In the first decades of the civil wars, alliances were shifting, and centered around the person of a king or pretender, but eventually, towards the end of the 12th century, two rival parties emerged, known as the BirkebeinerBirkebeiner
The Birkebein Party or Birkebeinar was the name for a rebellious party in Norway, formed in 1174 around the pretender to the Norwegian throne, Eystein Meyla...
and the Bagler
Bagler
The Bagli Party or Bagler was a faction or party during the Norwegian Civil Wars. The Bagler faction was made up principally of the Norwegian aristocracy, clergy and merchants....
. After these two parties were reconciled in 1217, a more ordered system of government centered around the king was gradually able to bring an end to the frequent risings. The failed rising of duke Skule Bårdsson
Skule Bårdsson
Skule Baardsson or Duke Skule was a Norwegian nobleman and claimant to the royal throne against his son-in-law, King Haakon Haakonsson. Henrik Ibsen's play Kongs-Emnerne is about the dispute between Duke Skule and King Haakon.-Biography:Skule Baardsson was born around 1189...
in 1240 was the final event of the civil war era.
Other sources
- Vigfusson, Gudbrand (editor) Sturlunga SagaSturlunga sagaSturlunga saga is a collection of Icelandic sagas by various authors from the 12th and 13th centuries; it was assembled ca. 1300...
(Oxford: Clarendon Press. 1878) - Koht, HalvdanHalvdan KohtHalvdan Koht was a Norwegian historian and politician representing the Labour Party.As a politician he served as the Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1935 to 1941. He was never elected as a member of the Parliament of Norway, but was a member of Bærum municipal council in 1917–1919 and...
The Scandinavian Kingdoms until the end of the thirteenth century (Cambridge University Press. 1929) - Hartvedt, Gunnar Hagen Bergen ByleksikonBergen ByleksikonBergen Byleksikon is an encyclopedia which covers the city of Bergen in Norway. It was first published in 1994 and is authored by Gunnar Hagen Hartvedt.- External links :* at nb.no...
(Bergen, Norway: 1994)