The Battle of Holmengrå (Norwegian: Slaget ved Holmengrå) was a naval battle fought on 12 November 1139 near the island Holmengrå south of Hvaler, between the forces of the child kings Sigurd Haraldsson and Inge Haraldsson on the one side, and on the other side the pretender Sigurd Slembe and his ally King Magnus the Blind (by Sigurd's claim his nephew). Inge and Sigurd Haraldsson were sons of the previous king Harald Gille, who had been killed by Sigurd Slembe in 1136. The sons of Harald Gille emerged victorious from the battle. Magnus the Blind was killed in action, while Sigurd Slembe was betrayed, captured, and later tortured and executed.
Family relations for the conflict leading to the battle (only kings). Individuals who were active during the battle are bolded
After Sigurd Slembe reportedly was told by his mother that he was a son of King Magnus Barefoot, he travelled to Scotland where he gained military experience, and went on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.[2] Sigurd returned to Norway in 1136 and arranged a meeting with King Harald Gille, requesting to be recognised as his brother (Harald had also claimed to be a son of Magnus Barefoot), but instead found himself accused of a murder in Orkney and outlawed by Harald. Sigurd managed to escape, and after some time in hiding, he and some supporters assassinated Harald in Bergen. While Sigurd took responsibility for the murder, the people responded that they did not want a man who murdered his brother for a king, or alternatively, if he was not Harald's brother, that he had no right to the throne.[2][3]
After Harald's death, his queen Ingrid Ragnvaldsdotter and the chieftains quickly arranged to have Harald's sons, still children, proclaimed as kings. Sigurd Haraldsson was proclaimed king at the Øyrating in Trøndelag, while Inge Haraldsson was proclaimed king at the Borgarting in the south-east. Since they had been brought up in different parts of the country, both were proclaimed kings by their respective supporters, but the two factions soon joined forces in light of the threat from Sigurd Slembe.[4][5]
Sigurd Slembe was again outlawed, and in an attempt to increase his support he allied himself with Magnus the Blind, who had been deposed by Harald Gille in 1135, and had him reinstated as king.[2] When he was deposed, Magnus was blinded, castrated, and had one of his feet cut off, after which he had been placed in a monastery. Following his release by Sigurd, he managed to raise an army in the Uplands by himself, but he was defeated by Harald's sons in the Battle of Minne and fled to Denmark.[6] Sigurd also went to Denmark with a small army, and thereafter turned towards raiding the Norwegian coast. Although Sigurd won little support, he gained much loot from the raids, which after a while allowed him to purchase troops in Denmark.[2][7]
The execution and flaying of Sigurd Slembe, as imagined by Wilhelm Wetlesen (1899)
The battle
The fleet of Sigurd Slembe and Magnus the Blind finally met the fleet of the child kings Sigurd and Inge Haraldsson on 12 November 1139, near the island Holmengrå south of Hvaler. After the first clash, Sigurd Slembe's contingent from Denmark retreated with their 18 ships, out of Sigurd's fleet of a total 30 ships. The casualties in the battle were heavy.[2]
Magnus was struck by a spear and killed along with one of his men, Hreidar Griotgardson, who had attempted to carry the king to safety over to another ship.[1] Sigurd Slembe attempted to escape by jumping in the water and hiding under his shield, but he was captured after being betrayed by one of his men, who told his enemies where Sigurd was in exchange for being spared his life.[8]
Sigurd Slembe was executed after the battle following brutal torture and mutilation. Although the chiefs had wanted to execute Sigurd instantly, according to Snorri Sturluson, "the men who were the most cruel, and thought they had injuries to avenge, advised torturing him."[9] Sigurd's arms and calves were crushed with axe-hammers, the skin on his head was cleaved, his back was flayed and flogged, and his spine was broken, after which he was hanged, decapitated, and thrown into a scree of rocks.[2]
References
^ abSaga of Sigurd, Inge, and Eystein, the sons of Harald, chapter 10
^ abcdefArstad, Knut Peter Lyche. "Sigurd Slembe". Norsk biografisk leksikon (in Norwegian). Retrieved 4 April 2013.
battle, holmengrå, norwegian, slaget, holmengrå, naval, battle, fought, november, 1139, near, island, holmengrå, south, hvaler, between, forces, child, kings, sigurd, haraldsson, inge, haraldsson, side, other, side, pretender, sigurd, slembe, ally, king, magnu. The Battle of Holmengra Norwegian Slaget ved Holmengra was a naval battle fought on 12 November 1139 near the island Holmengra south of Hvaler between the forces of the child kings Sigurd Haraldsson and Inge Haraldsson on the one side and on the other side the pretender Sigurd Slembe and his ally King Magnus the Blind by Sigurd s claim his nephew Inge and Sigurd Haraldsson were sons of the previous king Harald Gille who had been killed by Sigurd Slembe in 1136 The sons of Harald Gille emerged victorious from the battle Magnus the Blind was killed in action while Sigurd Slembe was betrayed captured and later tortured and executed Battle of HolmengraPart of the Civil war era in NorwayDate12 November 1139LocationNear Holmengra south of HvalerResultDecisive Sigurd Inge Gille victoryBelligerentsGille dynastyHardrada dynastyCommanders and leadersSigurd HaraldssonInge HaraldssonSigurd Slembe Magnus the Blind Strength20 ships 1 12 Norwegian ships18 Danish ships mercenariesCasualties and lossesUnknownHeavy Norwegian lossesDanish ships retreated Contents 1 Background 2 The battle 3 References 4 BibliographyBackground Edit Family relations for the conflict leading to the battle only kings Individuals who were active during the battle are bolded After Sigurd Slembe reportedly was told by his mother that he was a son of King Magnus Barefoot he travelled to Scotland where he gained military experience and went on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land 2 Sigurd returned to Norway in 1136 and arranged a meeting with King Harald Gille requesting to be recognised as his brother Harald had also claimed to be a son of Magnus Barefoot but instead found himself accused of a murder in Orkney and outlawed by Harald Sigurd managed to escape and after some time in hiding he and some supporters assassinated Harald in Bergen While Sigurd took responsibility for the murder the people responded that they did not want a man who murdered his brother for a king or alternatively if he was not Harald s brother that he had no right to the throne 2 3 After Harald s death his queen Ingrid Ragnvaldsdotter and the chieftains quickly arranged to have Harald s sons still children proclaimed as kings Sigurd Haraldsson was proclaimed king at the Oyrating in Trondelag while Inge Haraldsson was proclaimed king at the Borgarting in the south east Since they had been brought up in different parts of the country both were proclaimed kings by their respective supporters but the two factions soon joined forces in light of the threat from Sigurd Slembe 4 5 Sigurd Slembe was again outlawed and in an attempt to increase his support he allied himself with Magnus the Blind who had been deposed by Harald Gille in 1135 and had him reinstated as king 2 When he was deposed Magnus was blinded castrated and had one of his feet cut off after which he had been placed in a monastery Following his release by Sigurd he managed to raise an army in the Uplands by himself but he was defeated by Harald s sons in the Battle of Minne and fled to Denmark 6 Sigurd also went to Denmark with a small army and thereafter turned towards raiding the Norwegian coast Although Sigurd won little support he gained much loot from the raids which after a while allowed him to purchase troops in Denmark 2 7 The execution and flaying of Sigurd Slembe as imagined by Wilhelm Wetlesen 1899 The battle EditThe fleet of Sigurd Slembe and Magnus the Blind finally met the fleet of the child kings Sigurd and Inge Haraldsson on 12 November 1139 near the island Holmengra south of Hvaler After the first clash Sigurd Slembe s contingent from Denmark retreated with their 18 ships out of Sigurd s fleet of a total 30 ships The casualties in the battle were heavy 2 Magnus was struck by a spear and killed along with one of his men Hreidar Griotgardson who had attempted to carry the king to safety over to another ship 1 Sigurd Slembe attempted to escape by jumping in the water and hiding under his shield but he was captured after being betrayed by one of his men who told his enemies where Sigurd was in exchange for being spared his life 8 Sigurd Slembe was executed after the battle following brutal torture and mutilation Although the chiefs had wanted to execute Sigurd instantly according to Snorri Sturluson the men who were the most cruel and thought they had injuries to avenge advised torturing him 9 Sigurd s arms and calves were crushed with axe hammers the skin on his head was cleaved his back was flayed and flogged and his spine was broken after which he was hanged decapitated and thrown into a scree of rocks 2 References Edit a b Saga of Sigurd Inge and Eystein the sons of Harald chapter 10 a b c d e f Arstad Knut Peter Lyche Sigurd Slembe Norsk biografisk leksikon in Norwegian Retrieved 4 April 2013 Helle 1974 p 43 Brathetland Bente Opheim Inge 1 Haraldsson Krokrygg Norsk biografisk leksikon in Norwegian Retrieved 8 April 2013 Helle Knut Sigurd 2 Haraldsson Munn Norsk biografisk leksikon in Norwegian Retrieved 8 April 2013 Thuesen Nils Petter Magnus 4 Sigurdsson Blinde Norsk biografisk leksikon in Norwegian Retrieved 4 April 2013 Helle 1974 p 44 Saga of Sigurd Inge and Eystein the sons of Harald chapter 11 Saga of Sigurd Inge and Eystein the sons of Harald chapter 12Bibliography EditPrimary sourcesSturluson Snorri c 1230 Saga of Sigurd Inge and Eystein the sons of Harald in Heimskringla English translation Samuel Laing London 1844 Modern literatureHelle Knut 1974 Norge blir en stat 1130 1319 Handbok i Norges historie Vol 3 Universitetsforlaget ISBN 978 82 00 01323 5 Coordinates 58 56 15 N 11 06 30 E 58 93750 N 11 10833 E 58 93750 11 10833 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Battle of Holmengra amp oldid 994836402, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
