Eirik II of Norway
Encyclopedia
Eirik Magnusson (Old Norse
: Eiríkr Magnússon) (1268 – 15 July 1299) was the King of Norway
from 1273/80 until 1299.
, and his wife Ingeborg Eriksdatter
, daughter of King Eric IV of Denmark
. Eric descended from St. Olav, King Olav II of Norway, being the first after Magnus the Good of that saint's descendants to ascend that throne (i.e, the descendants of St. Olav returned to kingship of Norway). He became junior king in 1273 and started ruling alone after 1280.
Eirik married princess Margaret of Scotland
, daughter of King Alexander III of Scotland
in 1281. Margaret died two years later in labour, giving birth to Margaret, Maid of Norway, who became queen of Scotland in 1286 until her death in 1290. Her death sparked off the disputed succession which led to the Wars of Scottish Independence
.
Eirik later married Isabel Bruce
, sister of King Robert I of Scotland
. Their marriage did not produce a surviving male heir, though it did produce a daughter, Ingeborg Eriksdottir of Norway, who married Valdemar Magnusson of Sweden, Duke of Finland, in 1312. Ingeborg Eriksdotter was styled Duchess of Öland
.
, who ravaged the Danish coasts for some years after the regicide of King Erik V.
As Eirik died without sons, he was succeeded by his brother, Haakon V of Norway
. He was buried in the old cathedral of Bergen, which was demolished in 1531. Its site is marked by a memorial, in present-day Bergenhus Fortress
.
Old Norse
Old Norse is a North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300....
: Eiríkr Magnússon) (1268 – 15 July 1299) was the King of Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
from 1273/80 until 1299.
Background
He was the eldest surviving son of King Magnus the Lawmender of NorwayMagnus VI of Norway
Magnus VI Lagabøte or Magnus Håkonsson , was king of Norway from 1263 until 1280.-Early life:...
, and his wife Ingeborg Eriksdatter
Ingeborg of Denmark, Queen of Norway
Ingeborg Eriksdotter was a Danish princess. She was married to King Magnus VI of Norway and was Queen consort of Norway. Later as Queen dowager, she played an important part in politics during the minority of her son King Eirik II of Norway.-Biography:Ingeborg was born the daughter of Eric IV of...
, daughter of King Eric IV of Denmark
Eric IV of Denmark
Eric IV, also known as Eric Ploughpenny , was king of Denmark from 1241 until his death in 1250. He was the son of King Valdemar II of Denmark by his wife, Infanta Berengária of Portugal, and brother to King Abel and King Christopher I.-Early life:...
. Eric descended from St. Olav, King Olav II of Norway, being the first after Magnus the Good of that saint's descendants to ascend that throne (i.e, the descendants of St. Olav returned to kingship of Norway). He became junior king in 1273 and started ruling alone after 1280.
Eirik married princess Margaret of Scotland
Margaret of Scotland (Queen of Norway)
Margaret of Scotland was Queen consort of Norway and wife of King Eric II of Norway....
, daughter of King Alexander III of Scotland
Alexander III of Scotland
Alexander III was King of Scots from 1249 to his death.-Life:...
in 1281. Margaret died two years later in labour, giving birth to Margaret, Maid of Norway, who became queen of Scotland in 1286 until her death in 1290. Her death sparked off the disputed succession which led to the Wars of Scottish Independence
Wars of Scottish Independence
The Wars of Scottish Independence were a series of military campaigns fought between the independent Kingdom of Scotland and the Kingdom of England in the late 13th and early 14th centuries....
.
Eirik later married Isabel Bruce
Isabel Bruce
Isabel Bruce was a Queen consort of Norway, married to King Eric II.-Biography:...
, sister of King Robert I of Scotland
Robert I of Scotland
Robert I , popularly known as Robert the Bruce , was King of Scots from March 25, 1306, until his death in 1329.His paternal ancestors were of Scoto-Norman heritage , and...
. Their marriage did not produce a surviving male heir, though it did produce a daughter, Ingeborg Eriksdottir of Norway, who married Valdemar Magnusson of Sweden, Duke of Finland, in 1312. Ingeborg Eriksdotter was styled Duchess of Öland
Öland
' is the second largest Swedish island and the smallest of the traditional provinces of Sweden. Öland has an area of 1,342 km² and is located in the Baltic Sea just off the coast of Småland. The island has 25,000 inhabitants, but during Swedish Midsummer it is visited by up to 500,000 people...
.
Reign
Eirik received the nickname "Priest Hater" from his unsuccessful relations with the church. He is normally counted a weak and inoffensive man who was mostly guided by his councillors. Probably because of his claim on his maternal heritage he supported the Danish outlaw Stig Andersen HvideStig Andersen Hvide
Stig Andersen Hvide was a Danish nobleman and magnate, known as the leading man among the outlaws after the murder of King Eric V of Denmark. In Danish tradition, he is known as Marsk Stig.-Biography:...
, who ravaged the Danish coasts for some years after the regicide of King Erik V.
As Eirik died without sons, he was succeeded by his brother, Haakon V of Norway
Haakon V of Norway
Haakon V Magnusson was king of Norway from 1299 until 1319.-Biography:Haakon was the younger surviving son of Magnus the Lawmender, King of Norway, and his wife Ingeborg of Denmark. Haakon was descended from king Saint Olav and is considered to have been the last Norwegian king in the Fairhair...
. He was buried in the old cathedral of Bergen, which was demolished in 1531. Its site is marked by a memorial, in present-day Bergenhus Fortress
Bergenhus Fortress
Bergenhus fortress is a fortress located in Bergen, Norway. Bergenhus fortress is located in the entrance to the harbor in Bergen. This is one of the oldest and best preserved castles in Norway.-History:...
.