Magnus Sigurdsson (c. 1115 – 12 November 1139), also known as Magnus the Blind, was King of Norway (being Magnus IV) 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.[1]
Magnus was the son of King Sigurd I of Norway and Borghild Olavsdotter. When King Sigurd died in 1130, Magnus became king of Norway together with his uncle Harald Gille. After four years of uneasy peace, Magnus began to openly prepare for war on Harald. On August 9, 1134, he defeated Harald in the decisive Battle at Färlev near Färlev in Stångenäs herred in Båhuslen. Harald fled to Denmark.
Against the advice of his councilors, Magnus disbanded his army and traveled to Bergen to spend the winter there. Harald then returned to Norway with a new army and the support of the Danish King Erik Emune. Meeting little opposition, he reached Bergen before Christmas. Magnus had few men, and the city fell easily to Harald's army on January 7, 1135. Magnus was captured and dethroned. He was blinded, castrated and had one leg cut off. After this he was known as Magnus the Blind (Magnus Sigurdsson den blinde).
Magnus was put in Nidarholm Abbey on the island of Munkholmen in Trondheim Fjord, where he spent some time as a monk. Harald Gille was killed in 1136 by Sigurd Slembe, another royal pretender who had himself proclaimed king in 1135. To back his claim, Sigurd Slembe brought Magnus back from the abbey and made him co-king. They decided to split up their forces, and Magnus headed for eastern Norway, where he had most popular support. There, he was defeated at the Battle of Minne by the forces of King Inge I. He then fled to Götaland and subsequently to Denmark, where he tried to get support for his cause. An attempted invasion of Norway by King Erik Emune of Denmark failed miserably.[2]
Magnus then rejoined Sigurd Slembe's men, but they continued to have little support in Norway. After some time spent more like bandits than kings, they met the forces of King Inge I and King Sigurd II in a final battle on November 12, 1139. Magnus fell during the naval Battle of Holmengrå south of Hvaler in the Oslofjord. The loyal guard Reidar Grjotgardsson lifted his king at the final battle, but a spear impales them both. Magnus was buried in the Church of St. Hallvard in Oslo. There is a monument erected in memory of King Magnus the Blind at the Storedal farm in Skjeberg in Østfold county.[3]
Norwegian civil warEdit
During the civil wars period of Norwegian history (1130–1240) 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. ((Baglers and Birkebeiners did not exist before until about 30 years later, so this entry is not relevant to the subject matter, as it was a completely different war, in the same historical series of conflicts))
ReferencesEdit
^Magnus 4 Sigurdsson Blinde (Helge Salvesen. Store norske leksikon)
magnus, norway, magnus, sigurdsson, 1115, november, 1139, also, known, magnus, blind, king, norway, being, magnus, from, 1130, 1135, again, from, 1137, 1139, period, king, marked, beginning, civil, norway, which, lasted, until, 1240, magnus, blindking, norwayr. Magnus Sigurdsson c 1115 12 November 1139 also known as Magnus the Blind was King of Norway being Magnus IV 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 1 Magnus the BlindKing of NorwayReign1130 1135PredecessorSigurd ISuccessorHarald IVReign1137 1139PredecessorHarald IVSuccessorSigurd II and Inge IBornc 1115Died12 November 1139Holmengra HvalerConsortChristine of DenmarkNamesMagnus SigurdssonHouseHardradaFatherSigurd I of NorwayMotherBorghild Olafsdatter concubine Contents 1 Biography 2 Norwegian civil war 3 References 4 External linksBiography EditMagnus was the son of King Sigurd I of Norway and Borghild Olavsdotter When King Sigurd died in 1130 Magnus became king of Norway together with his uncle Harald Gille After four years of uneasy peace Magnus began to openly prepare for war on Harald On August 9 1134 he defeated Harald in the decisive Battle at Farlev near Farlev in Stangenas herred in Bahuslen Harald fled to Denmark Against the advice of his councilors Magnus disbanded his army and traveled to Bergen to spend the winter there Harald then returned to Norway with a new army and the support of the Danish King Erik Emune Meeting little opposition he reached Bergen before Christmas Magnus had few men and the city fell easily to Harald s army on January 7 1135 Magnus was captured and dethroned He was blinded castrated and had one leg cut off After this he was known as Magnus the Blind Magnus Sigurdsson den blinde Magnus was put in Nidarholm Abbey on the island of Munkholmen in Trondheim Fjord where he spent some time as a monk Harald Gille was killed in 1136 by Sigurd Slembe another royal pretender who had himself proclaimed king in 1135 To back his claim Sigurd Slembe brought Magnus back from the abbey and made him co king They decided to split up their forces and Magnus headed for eastern Norway where he had most popular support There he was defeated at the Battle of Minne by the forces of King Inge I He then fled to Gotaland and subsequently to Denmark where he tried to get support for his cause An attempted invasion of Norway by King Erik Emune of Denmark failed miserably 2 Magnus then rejoined Sigurd Slembe s men but they continued to have little support in Norway After some time spent more like bandits than kings they met the forces of King Inge I and King Sigurd II in a final battle on November 12 1139 Magnus fell during the naval Battle of Holmengra south of Hvaler in the Oslofjord The loyal guard Reidar Grjotgardsson lifted his king at the final battle but a spear impales them both Magnus was buried in the Church of St Hallvard in Oslo There is a monument erected in memory of King Magnus the Blind at the Storedal farm in Skjeberg in Ostfold county 3 Norwegian civil war EditDuring the civil wars period of Norwegian history 1130 1240 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 Baglers and Birkebeiners did not exist before until about 30 years later so this entry is not relevant to the subject matter as it was a completely different war in the same historical series of conflicts References Edit Magnus 4 Sigurdsson Blinde Helge Salvesen Store norske leksikon Sigurd Slembe Store norske leksikon Magnus 4 Sigurdsson Blinde utdypning Nils Petter Thuesen Store norske leksikon External links Edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Magnus IV of Norway The saga of Magnus the Blinde and Harald Gille The saga of the sons of Harald GilleMagnus the BlindHouse of HardradaCadet branch of the Fairhair dynastyBorn 1115 Died 1139Regnal titlesPreceded bySigurd I King of Norway1130 1135with Harald IV Succeeded byHarald IVPreceded byHarald IV King of Norway1137 1139with Sigurd II Inge I Succeeded bySigurd IIInge I Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Magnus IV of Norway amp oldid 1160044826, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
