Haakon IV

2009-07-06T21:22:42Z

190.212.18.221: /* Background and childhood */

{{Infobox Monarch | name=Håkon Håkonsson
| title= King of Norway
| image=[[Image:HakonTheOldAndSon-Flateyjarbok.jpg|200px]]
| caption= An illustration of Hákon, King of Norway, and his son Magnus, from [[Flateyjarbók]]
| reign= 1217 – [[December 16]] [[1263]]
| date1= 1217
| date2= [[December 15]] [[1263]]
| coronation= [[July 29]] [[1247]], old cathedral of [[Bergen]]
| queen= [[Margrét Skúladóttir]]
| Royal house= Fairhair
| father= [[Haakon III of Norway|Håkon III Sverreson]]
| mother= Inga of Varteig (died 1234)
| issue= ''Olav (Óláfr)'' (1226-29) ''[[Haakon Haakonsson the Young|Håkon]] (Hákon) (Håkon the Young)'' (1232-1257) ''[[Princess Kristina of Norway|Christina]] (Kristín)'' (1234-62) ''[[Magnus VI of Norway|Magnus]] (Magnús)'' (1238-1280)
 
By his mistress, ''Kanga the young'': 
''Sigurd (Sigurðr)'' (<1225-1254) 
''Cecilia'' (<1225-1248)
| date of birth= 1204
| place of birth= [[Varteig]]
| date of death= {{death date|1263|12|16|mf=y}}
| place of death= [[Kirkwall]], [[Orkney Islands]]
| place of burial= Old cathedral of [[Bergen]]
}}
'''Haakon Haakonsson''' (1204 – [[December 15]], [[1263]]) ([[Norwegian language|Norwegian]] ''Håkon Håkonsson'', [[Old Norse]] ''Hákon Hákonarson''), also called '''Haakon the Old''', was [[List of Norwegian monarchs|king]] of [[Norway]] from 1217 to 1263. Under his rule, medieval Norway reached its peak.

==Background and childhood==
Håkon's mother was Inga of Varteig. She claimed he was the illegitimate son of [[Haakon III of Norway|Håkon III of Norway]], the leader of the [[birkebeiner]] faction in the ongoing civil war against the [[bagler]]. Håkon III had visited Varteig, in what is now [[Østfold]] county, the previous year. He was dead by the time Håkon was born, but Inga's claim was supported by several of Håkon III's followers, and the birkebeiner recognized Håkon as a king's son.

The [[civil war era in Norway|civil war era]] in [[History of Norway|Norwegian history]] lasted from 1130 to 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 different aristocratic parties and between Church and King. There were opposing factions, firstly known by varying names or no names at all, but finally condensed into the two parties [[birkebeiner]] and [[bagler]]. The rallying point regularly was a royal son, who was set up as the figurehead of the party in question, to oppose the rule
of king from the contesting party. Håkon's putative father Håkon III had already sought some reconciliation with the Bagler party and with exiled bishops. His death was early and poisoning was suspected. He was not married. After his death, the bagler started another rising leading to the de facto division of the country into a bagler kingdom in the south-east, and a birkebeiner kingdom in the west and north.

Håkon was born in territory which was controlled by the [[Bagler]] faction, and his mother's claim that he was a birkebeiner royal son placed them both in a very dangerous position. When in 1206 the Bagler tried to take advantage of the situation and started hunting Håkon, a group of Birkebeiner warriors fled with the child, heading for King [[Inge II of Norway]], the birkebeiner king in Nidaros (now [[Trondheim]]). On their way they came into a blizzard, and only the two mightiest warriors, Torstein Skevla and Skjervald Skrukka, continued on [[ski]]s, carrying the child in their arms. They managed to bring the heir to safety. This event still is commemorated in one of Norway's most important annual skiing event, [[Birkebeinerrennet|the Birkebeiner ski race]].
[[Image:Birkebeinerne ski.jpg|thumb|right|19th century impression of the birkebeiner bringing the infant Håkon to safety by artist [[Knud Bergslien]].]]

==Early reign==
The rescued child was placed under the protection of King [[Inge II of Norway|Inge Bårdsson]]. After King Inge's death in 1217 he, at the age of 13, was chosen king. Håkon was chosen against the candidacy of Inge's half-brother, earl [[Skule Bårdsson]]. Skule, however, as earl, retained the real royal power. In connection with the dispute over the royal election, Håkon's mother Inga had to prove his parentage through a [[trial by ordeal]] in [[Bergen, Norway|Bergen]] in 1218. The church at first refused to recognize him, partly on the ground of illegitimacy.

In 1223 a great meeting of all the [[bishop]]s, [[earl]]s, [[lendmann|lendmenn]] and other prominent men was held in Bergen to finally decide on Håkon's right to the throne. The other candidates to the throne were Guttorm Ingesson, the 11-year-old illegitimate son of King Inge Bårdsson; [[Knut Haakonson]], legitimate son of earl [[Haakon the Crazy]], who resided in Västergötland, Sweden, with his mother Kristin; earl Skule, who based his claim on being the closest living relative - a legitimate brother - of king Inge; and [[Sigurd Ribbung]], who was at the time a captive of earl Skule. Haakon was confirmed as king of Norway, as a direct heir of [[Haakon III of Norway|King Håkon Sverresson]], king Inge's predecessor. A most important factor in his victory was the fact that the church now took Håkon's side, despite his illegitimate birth. However, the Pope's dispensation for his coronation was not gained until 1247.

In 1217, [[Philip Simonsson]], the last Bagler king, died. Speedy political and military manoeuvering by Skule Bårdsson led to reconciliation between the birkebeiner and bagler, and the reunification of the kingdom. However, some discontented elements among the bagler found a new royal pretender, [[Sigurd Ribbung]] and launched a new rising in the eastern parts of the country. This was finally quashed in 1227, leaving Håkon more or less uncontested monarch.

In the earlier part of Håkon's reign much of the royal power was in the hands of [[Skule of Norway|Skule Bårdsson]]. From the start of his reign, it was decided that Skule should rule one third of the kingdom, as earl, and Skule helped put down the rising of Sigurd Ribbung. But the relationship between Skule and Håkon became more and more strained as Håkon came of age, and asserted his power. As an attempt to reconcile the two, in 1225 Håkon married Skule's daughter ''Margrét Skúladóttir''. In 1239 the conflict between the two erupted into open warfare, when Skule had himself proclaimed king in [[Nidaros]]. The rebellion ended in 1240 when Skule was put to death. The rebellion also led to the death of [[Snorri Sturluson]]. Skule's other son-in-law, the one-time claimant [[Knut Håkonsson]], did not join the revolt, but remained loyal to king Håkon. This rebellion is generally taken to mark the end of Norway's age of civil wars.

==Later reign==
From this time onward Håkon’s reign was marked by internal peace and more prosperity than [[Norway]] had known for many years. This was the start of what has traditionally been known as the ''golden age'' of the Norwegian medieval kingdom. In 1240, a group of [[Bjarmians]] told Håkon that they were refugees from the Mongols. He gave them land in [[Malangen]]. In 1247 Håkon finally achieved recognition by the pope, who sent [[Cardinal William of Sabina]] to [[Bergen, Norway|Bergen]] to crown him. Abroad, Håkon mounted a campaign against the Danish province of [[Halland]] in 1256. In 1261 the Norse community in [[Greenland]] agreed to submit to the Norwegian king, and in 1262, Håkon achieved one of his long-standing ambitions when [[Iceland]], racked by internal conflict and prompted by Håkon's Icelandic clients, did the same. The kingdom of Norway was now the largest it has ever been. In 1263 a dispute with the Scottish king concerning the [[Hebrides]], a Norwegian possession, induced Håkon to undertake an expedition to the west of Scotland. [[Alexander III of Scotland]] had conquered the Hebrides the previous year. Håkon retook the islands with his formidable [[leidang]] fleet, and launched some forays onto the Scottish mainland as well. A division of his army seems to have repulsed a large Scottish force at [[Battle of Largs|Largs]] (though the later Scottish accounts claim this battle as a victory). Negotiations between the Scots and the Norwegians took place, which were purposely prolonged by the Scots, as Håkon's position would grow more difficult the longer he had to keep his fleet together so far away from home. An Irish delegation approached Håkon with an offer to provide for his fleet through the winter, if Håkon would help them against the English. Håkon seems to have been favourable to this proposition, but his men refused. Eventually the fleet retreated to the [[Orkney Islands]] for the winter.

While Håkon was wintering in the [[Orkney Islands]] and staying in the [[Bishop's Palace, Kirkwall]], he fell ill, and died on [[December 16]] [[1263]]. A great part of his fleet had been scattered and destroyed by storms. Håkon was buried for the winter in [[St Magnus' Cathedral]] in [[Kirkwall]]. When spring came he was exhumed and his body taken back to Norway, where he was buried in the old cathedral in his capital, [[Bergen, Norway|Bergen]]. This cathedral was demolished in 1531, the site is today marked by a memorial.

On his deathbed Håkon declared that he only knew of one son who was still alive, [[Magnus VI of Norway|Magnus]], who subsequently succeeded him as king.

==Views on Håkon's reign==
Norwegian historians have held strongly differing views on Håkon Håkonsson's reign. In the 19th century, the dominant view was of Håkon as the mighty king, who ended the civil wars and ruled over the largest Norwegian empire ever. The historian P. A. Munch represents this view. In the 1920s came a reaction. Håkon was now seen by many as an insignificant and average man, who happened to be king at a time of greatness for the Norwegian kingdom. This has often been stated by [[Historical materialism|Marxist]] historians. The historian [[Halvdan Koht]] is typical of this view. Håkon has often been compared with [[Skule of Norway|Skule Bårdsson]], his last rival, with modern historians taking sides in this 700-year-old conflict. He is also inevitably compared with his grandfather, King [[Sverre of Norway|Sverre]], and most historians tend to conclude that he wasn't quite the dynamic and charismatic leader that Sverre was. Recently, the historian Sverre Bagge and others have emphasized the fact that much of what we know about both Håkon and Sverre comes from their respective official biographies. Therefore what we might know about their individual character and personality is only what the authors of these have chosen to reveal to us, and therefore depends heavily on these authors' motivation in writing a biography. A comparison between Håkon and Sverre on these grounds seems arbitrary and unfair.

What remains clear is that Håkon was born in a war-torn society plagued by armed gangs and warlords, and died the undisputed ruler of a large and internationally respected kingdom. Håkon received embassies and exchanged gifts with rulers as far afield as [[Tunisia|Tunis]], [[Novgorod]] and [[Kingdom of Castile|Castile]]. At his court, [[chivalric romance]]s and Biblical stories were translated into the [[old Norse]] language, notably the translations linked to the cleric [[Brother Robert]], and Håkon presided over several large-scale construction projects in stone, a novelty in Norway at that time. The great hall which he had built at his palace in [[Bergen, Norway|Bergen]] (''Håkonshallen'') can still be seen today.

Our main source of information concerning Håkon is ''[[Hákonar saga Hákonarsonar]]'' (''Håkon Håkonsson's saga'') which was written in the 1260s, only a few years after his death. It was commissioned by his son [[Magnus VI of Norway|Magnus]], and written by the Icelandic writer and politician [[Sturla Þórðarson]], nephew of the famous historian [[Snorri Sturluson]].

A literary treatment of Håkon's struggle with Skule can be found in [[Henrik Ibsen]]'s play ''The Pretenders'' (1863).

==Descendants==
By his mistress, Kanga the Young:
* Sigurd (Sigurðr) (<1225-1254)
* Cecilia (<1225-1248). She married Gregorius Andresson, a nephew of the last bagler king [[Philip of Norway|Filippus Simonsson]]. Widowed, she later married king [[Harald of the Isle of Man|Harald (Haraldr)]] of the [[Hebrides]], a [[vassal]] of King Håkon, in Bergen. They both drowned on the return voyage to the British Isles.
By his wife Margrét Skúladóttir:
* Olav (''Óláfr'') (1226-29). Died in infancy.
* Håkon (''Hákon'') (Håkon the Young) (1232-1257). Married Rikitsa Birgersdóttir, daughter of the Swedish earl Birger. Was appointed king and co-ruler by his father in 1239, he died before his father.
* [[Princess Kristina of Norway|Christina]] (''Kristín'') (1234-62). Married the Spanish prince, Felipe, brother of King [[Alfonso X of Castile]] in 1258. She died childless.
* [[Magnus VI of Norway|Magnus]] (''Magnús'') (1238-1280). Was appointed king and co-ruler following the death of Håkon the Young. Crowned king in 1261 on the occasion of his wedding to the Danish princess [[Ingeborg of Denmark, Queen of Norway|Ingeborg]].
The appointment of co-rulers was meant to ensure the peaceful succession in case the king should die - as long as Håkon was still alive he was still the undisputed ruler of the kingdom.

==References==

*{{cite book|author=Sturla Þórðarson; translation to English by G.W. Dasent|title=The Saga of Hakon and a Fragment of the Saga of Magnus with Appendices|publisher=London (Rerum Britannicarum Medii Ævi Scriptores, vol.88.4)|year=1894, repr. 1964}}
*{{cite book|author=Sverre Bagge|title=From Gang Leader to the Lord's Anointed|publisher=Odense (Odense University Press)|year=1996}}

== External links ==
*{{gutenberg|no=18299|name=The Norwegian account of Haco's expedition against Scotland, A.D. MCCLXIII}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-hou|[[Fairhair dynasty#Sub-dynasties of Fairhair dynasty|House of Sverre]]||1204|[[December 15]]|1263|[[Fairhair dynasty]]|name=Håkon Håkonsson}}
{{s-reg}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Inge II of Norway|Inge Bårdsson]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of Norwegian monarchs|King of Norway]]|years=1217-1263}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Magnus VI of Norway|Magnus the Law-mender]]}}
{{end}}
{{Monarchs of Norway}}

[[Category:Norwegian monarchs|Haakon 4]]
[[Category:1204 births]]
[[Category:1263 deaths]]
[[Category:Fairhair dynasty]]
[[Category:Norwegian civil wars]]
[[Category:Medieval child rulers]]
[[Category:Burials at Saint Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall]]
[[Category:People from Østfold]]

{{Link FA|nn}}

[[da:Håkon 4. Håkonsson]]
[[de:Håkon IV. (Norwegen)]]
[[es:Haakon IV de Noruega]]
[[eu:Norvegiako Haakon IV.]]
[[fr:Håkon IV de Norvège]]
[[is:Hákon gamli]]
[[mr:हाकोन चौथा, नॉर्वे]]
[[nl:Haakon IV van Noorwegen]]
[[ja:ホーコン4世 (ノルウェー王)]]
[[no:Håkon Håkonsson]]
[[nn:Håkon IV av Noreg]]
[[pl:Haakon IV Stary]]
[[ru:Хокон IV]]
[[fi:Haakon IV Haakoninpoika]]
[[sv:Håkon Håkonsson]]
[[tr:Haakon IV, Haakonsson]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Haakon Iv Of Norway}}

Talk:Haakon IV

2009-07-06T21:18:45Z

190.212.18.221: /* hakonar saga gamla hakonar saga hakonarsonar */

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I have made some extensive changes to this page, mostly in the form of an expansion of the existing text, but also some clarification and correction of mistakes. As I am a relatively new user of wikipedia, I forgot to write an edit summary of my changes, therefore I am writing this. If anyone reads this, I would appreciate your thoughts on whether it would be useful to put some sub-headers into the new article.
[[User:Barend|Barend]] 12:40, 9 November 2005 (UTC)

== hakonar saga gamla <-> hakonar saga hakonarsonar ==

I have only seen the saga referred to as 'hakonar saga hakonarsonar', and that is also the name of the copy of the original language version in my university library. The 'google-test' gives 20 500 Hakonar saga hakonarsonar, and 36 hakonar saga gamla. ([[User:Barend|Barend]] 16:57, 8 February 2006 (UTC))

:As far as i know, the saga calls him 'the Old' only to distinguish him from his son Hákon 'the Young', who was crowned as his heir and co-ruler, but died before his father. Hákon IV died at the age of 60 or 61, wich was older than most medeaval kings (and most men), but not as exceptionally old that it would be the basis of a nickname.

== "Sturlunga öld"-template? ==

Is the Sturlung-öld template really appropriate here? It's big, makes the article look messy, and only very peripherally connected to the topic of the article. I suggest deleting it.--[[User:Barend|Barend]] 12:42, 3 April 2007 (UTC)

== Pronunciation Guide? ==

Tarnation! How does an English speaker pronounce this friggin' guy's name??

:Try thinking of a carnivorous bird, and then say "Hawkon Hawkonson".--[[User:Barend|Barend]] ([[User talk:Barend|talk]]) 15:53, 28 June 2008 (UTC)

Wikipedia - User contributions [en]

Haakon IV

Talk:Haakon IV