Haakon II of Norway

Haakon II Sigurdsson (1147 – 7 July 1162), also known as Haakon Herdebrei, was King of Norway from 1157 until 1162 during the Civil war era in Norway.^[1]

Biography

His nickname, Herdebrei, means broad-shouldered. An illegitimate son of Sigurd Munn, in 1157 he was named heir of his uncle Eystein II, who had been co-ruler of Norway together with his brothers Inge Haraldsson and Sigurd Munn. Inge had become the sole ruler of Norway after the death of Eystein and Sigurd Munn.

The former supporters of Sigurd Munn and Eystein II united behind Haakon, renewing the fight against Inge under the leadership of Sigurd Håvardsson of Hedmark. On 3 February 116, King Inge I was defeated and killed while leading his men into battle against Haakon II near Oslo, after many of his men, led by his vassal Godred II Olafsson, defected to Haakon’s side.

On 7 July 1162 King Haakon II was killed in the Battle of Sekken not far from the market town Veøya in Romsdalen. After Inge’s fall, his supporters had rallied behind the lendmann Erling Skakke and his son, Magnus Erlingsson. Haakon II was succeeded as king of Norway by King Magnus V.^[2]

Historic context

The Civil war era in Norway extended over a 110-year period. It started with the death of King Sigurd I of Norway in 1130 and ended with the death of Duke Skule Baardsson in 1240. During this period there were several interlocked conflicts of varying scale and intensity. The background for these conflicts were the unclear Norwegian succession laws, social conditions and the struggle between Church and King. There were then two main parties, firstly known by varying names or no names at all, but finally condensed into parties of Bagler and Birkebeiner. The rallying point regularly was a royal son, who was set up as the head figure of the party in question, to oppose the rule of king from the contesting party.

References

Other sources

Krag, Claus Norges historie fram til 1319 (Oslo, 2000)

Regnal titles
Haakon Herdebrei House of Hardrada Cadet branch of the Fairhair dynasty Born: 1147 Died: July 7 1162
Preceded by Inge I & Eystein II	King of Norway 1157–1162 with Inge I (1157–1161) Magnus V (1161–1162)	Succeeded by Magnus V

Monarchs of Norway

I. Independent Norway

Foreign and non-royal
rulers in italics, disputed
monarchs in brackets

872–1387

Harald I Fairhair
Eric I Bloodaxe
Haakon I the Good
Harald II Greycloak
Harald Bluetooth ^d & Haakon Sigurdsson ^r
Olaf I Tryggvason
Sweyn Forkbeard ^de & Eric Haakonsson ^r & Sweyn Haakonsson ^r
Olaf II the Saint
Cnut the Great ^de & Haakon Ericsson ^r & Sweyn Knutsson ^r (Ælfgifu ^r)
Magnus I the Good ^d
Harald III Hardrada
Magnus II Haraldsson
Olaf III Kyrre
Haakon Magnusson
Magnus III Barefoot
Olaf Magnusson
Eystein I Magnusson
Sigurd I the Crusader
Harald IV Gille
Magnus IV the Blind
Sigurd II Munn
Inge I Haraldsson
Eystein II Haraldsson
(Magnus Haraldsson)
Haakon II Broadshoulder
Magnus V Erlingsson
Sverre Sigurdsson
Haakon III Sverresson
(Guttorm Sigurdsson)
Inge II Bårdsson
Haakon IV Haakonsson
(Haakon the Young)
Magnus VI the Law-mender
Eric II Magnusson
Haakon V Magnusson
Magnus VII Ericsson ^s
Haakon VI Magnusson ^s
Olaf IV Haakonsson ^d

Kalmar Union

1387–1523	Margaret ^ds Eric III ^ds Christopher ^ds Charles I ^s Christian I ^ds John ^ds Christian II ^ds

Denmark–Norway

1524–1814	Frederick I ^d Christian III ^d Frederick II ^d Christian IV ^d Frederick III ^d Christian V ^d Frederick IV ^d Christian VI ^d Frederick V ^d Christian VII ^d Frederick VI ^d

II. Independent Norway

Only 1814	Christian Frederick

Union with Sweden

1814–1905	Charles II ^s Charles III John ^s Oscar I ^s Charles IV ^s Oscar II ^s

III. Independent Norway

Since 1905	Haakon VII Olav V Harald V

^r Regent
^d Also Danish monarch
^e Also English monarch
^s Also Swedish monarch

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