Malmfred
Encyclopedia
Malmfred of Kiev was a Russian princess and a medieval Norwegian and Danish queen consort, wife first to King Sigurd I of Norway
and second to king Eric II of Denmark
.
Malmfred was born to Grand Prince Mstislav I of Kiev
and Princess Christina Ingesdotter of Sweden
, paternal granddaughter of Gytha of Wessex
and maternal granddaughter of King Inge the Elder of Sweden. Snorre Sturlasson called her Malmfred Haraldsdotter of Holmgard, which was a Norwegian version of her name. Her sister, Ingeborg of Kiev
, was married to the Danish Prince Canute Lavard
. Malmfred was married to Sigurd between 1116 and 1120. She had a daughter, Kristin Sigurdsdatter
, mother of king Magnus V of Norway
. Tradition say the marriage was unhappy. Her husband repudiated her in 1128 and remarried certain Cecilia.
In 1130 her ex-husband's illegitimate son became king and she left for Denmark, were she married Prince Erik Emune
. In 1131, she arranged the marriage between her former stepson Magnus IV of Norway
to her sister's daughter, Princess Christine of Denmark
; they were married in 1133. Christine's husband king Magnus supported the struggle of Malmfrid, Erik and Christine's father, Canute, against King Niels of Denmark
. In 1133, Erik and Malmfrid fled Denmark for Norway and the protection of Magnus. After Queen Christine, however, found out that Magnus had plans to betray them, she warned them and Erik and Malmfrid allied themselwes with the rival of king Magnus, king Harald IV of Norway
. King Magnus then separated from Queen Christine.
In 1134, Eric became king, and she Queen of Denmark. She had no more children. In 1137, her second husband was murdered. Malmfred is not mentioned after this date.
Sigurd I of Norway
Sigurd I Magnusson , also known as Sigurd the Crusader , was King of Norway from 1103 to 1130. His rule, together with his brother Eystein I of Norway , has been regarded by historians as a golden age for the medieval Kingdom of Norway...
and second to king Eric II of Denmark
Eric II of Denmark
Eric II the Memorable was king of Denmark between 1134 and 1137. Eric was an illegitimate son of Eric I of Denmark, who ruled Denmark from 1095 to 1103. Eric the Memorable rebelled against his uncle Niels of Denmark, and was declared king in 1134. He punished his adversaries severely, and...
.
Malmfred was born to Grand Prince Mstislav I of Kiev
Mstislav I of Kiev
Mstislav I Vladimirovich the Great was the Grand Prince of Kiev , the eldest son of Vladimir II Monomakh by Gytha of Wessex...
and Princess Christina Ingesdotter of Sweden
Christina Ingesdotter of Sweden
Princess Christina Ingesdotter of Sweden was a Swedish princess and, by marriage, a princess of Veliky Novgorod, Rostov and Belgorod, spouse of Grand Prince Mstislav I of Kiev....
, paternal granddaughter of Gytha of Wessex
Gytha of Wessex
Gytha of Wessex was one of several daughters of Edith Swanneck by Harold II, the last Anglo-Saxon king of England.According to Saxo Grammaticus, two of Harold's sons and a daughter escaped to the court of their uncle, king Sweyn Estridsson of Denmark. They were treated by Sweyn with hospitality,...
and maternal granddaughter of King Inge the Elder of Sweden. Snorre Sturlasson called her Malmfred Haraldsdotter of Holmgard, which was a Norwegian version of her name. Her sister, Ingeborg of Kiev
Ingeborg of Kiev
Ingeborg Mstislavna of Kiev was a Russian princess, married to the Danish prince Canute Lavard of Jutland.She was the daughter of grand prince Mstislav I of Kiev and Christina Ingesdotter of Sweden and was in about 1116 married to Canute in a marriage arranged by her maternal aunt, the Danish...
, was married to the Danish Prince Canute Lavard
Canute Lavard
Canute Lavard was a Danish prince. Later he was the first Duke of Schleswig and the first border prince who was both a Danish and a German vassal, a position leafing towards the historical double position of Southern Jutland...
. Malmfred was married to Sigurd between 1116 and 1120. She had a daughter, Kristin Sigurdsdatter
Kristin Sigurdsdatter
Kristin Sigurdsdatter was a Norwegian Princess and mother of King Magnus V of Norway.Kristin the daughter of King Sigurd I of Norway and Malmfred of Kiev making her the only legitimate child of King Sigurd. Kristin married Erling Skakke with whom she had a son, Magnus Erlingsson...
, mother of king Magnus V of Norway
Magnus V of Norway
Magnus V Erlingsson was a King of Norway during the Civil war era in Norway.-Biography:Magnus Erlingsson was probably born in Etne in Hordaland. He was the son of Erling Skakke. His father was a Norwegian nobleman who earned his reputation crusading with Rögnvald Kali Kolsson, the Earl of Orkney...
. Tradition say the marriage was unhappy. Her husband repudiated her in 1128 and remarried certain Cecilia.
In 1130 her ex-husband's illegitimate son became king and she left for Denmark, were she married Prince Erik Emune
Eric II of Denmark
Eric II the Memorable was king of Denmark between 1134 and 1137. Eric was an illegitimate son of Eric I of Denmark, who ruled Denmark from 1095 to 1103. Eric the Memorable rebelled against his uncle Niels of Denmark, and was declared king in 1134. He punished his adversaries severely, and...
. In 1131, she arranged the marriage between her former stepson Magnus IV of Norway
Magnus IV of Norway
Magnus IV Sigurdsson , also known as Magnus the Blind, was King of Norway from 1130 to 1135 and again from 1137 to 1139. His period as king marked the beginning of the civil war era in Norway, which lasted until 1240....
to her sister's daughter, Princess Christine of Denmark
Christine of Denmark
Christina Knutsdatter of Denmark, in Norway known as Kristin Knutsdotter, was a Danish princess and a Norwegian Queen consort, spouse of King Magnus IV of Norway....
; they were married in 1133. Christine's husband king Magnus supported the struggle of Malmfrid, Erik and Christine's father, Canute, against King Niels of Denmark
Niels of Denmark
Niels of Denmark was King of Denmark from 1104 to 1134, following his brother Eric Evergood, and is presumed to have been the youngest son of king Sweyn II Estridson. Niels actively supported the canonization of Canute IV the Holy, and his secular rule was supported by the clergy...
. In 1133, Erik and Malmfrid fled Denmark for Norway and the protection of Magnus. After Queen Christine, however, found out that Magnus had plans to betray them, she warned them and Erik and Malmfrid allied themselwes with the rival of king Magnus, king Harald IV of Norway
Harald IV of Norway
Harald Gille was king of Norway from 1130 until his death in 1136. His byname Gille is probably from Gilla Críst, i.e. servant of Christ.-Background:...
. King Magnus then separated from Queen Christine.
In 1134, Eric became king, and she Queen of Denmark. She had no more children. In 1137, her second husband was murdered. Malmfred is not mentioned after this date.