Ingrid Ragnvaldsdotter
Encyclopedia
Ingrid Ragnvaldsdotter (born 1100/1110 – d. after 1161 AD) was born a member of the Swedish royal family, became a member of Danish royalty by marriage and later was Queen Consort
of Norway
as the spouse of Harald IV of Norway
. Married four times, Ingrid had a number of children who played a prominent role in Swedish and Norwegian history.
. However, Ragnvald died early and never succeeded as king.
Ingrid first married Henry Skadelaar (Henrik Svendsen Skadelår), son of Svend Svendsen of Denmark, who was one of the bastard sons of King Sweyn II of Denmark
. Svend Svendsen was an unsuccessful pursuer to the throne, who died when he was at a point of being elected as king. Henry Skadelaar was crippled and not considered a candidate for kingship. Instead he was a frequent schemer and plotter, generating a number of enemies. Three sons of Henry and Ingrid are recorded, including King Magnus II of Sweden. Ingrid is known to have intrigued for Magnus to obtain the Swedish throne, in Ingrid's opinion her late father's rightful inheritance. She reportedly suggested that her son Magnus employ the man who would kill Sverker I of Sweden
. Henry Skadelaar died on June 4, 1134 at the Battle of Fotevik
in the Bay of Fotevik near Vellinge
in Skåne.
Ingrid soon after married King Harald Gille
of Norway. By him, Ingrid had a son who later became King Inge Haraldsson
of Norway. When King Harald was murdered in 1136, Ingrid played a prominent part in having her son, Inge, and her stepson, Sigurd
, proclaimed co-rulers, and in waging the ensuing war against the attempted usurper, Sigurd Slembe
. She remained one of the most important advisors of King Inge throughout his reign.
Her third husband was Ottar Birting (Óttarr Birtingr), a prominent lendmann
, but she was again widowed when he was killed in Nidaros
at some point in the 1140s.
Between her third and fourth husband, Ingrid bore a child out of wedlock, Orm Ivarsson, by an otherwise unknown man called Ivar Sneis.
Ingrid's fourth and last husband was Arne Ivarsson of Stårheim
, (Árni Ívarsson á Stoðreimi), another prominent lendmann
with whom she had four children. Arne Ivarsson was subsequently called Kongsmåg meaning in-law of the king.
As an advisor to her son King Inge, Ingrid played a prominent part in many of the events of the early civil war era in Norway
. On 3 February 1161, King Inge was defeated and killed, leading his men into battle against King Haakon the Broadshouldered
. In the saga Heimskringla
, Ingrid is last mentioned when she and her husband left Norway for exile in Denmark
.
Queen consort
A queen consort is the wife of a reigning king. A queen consort usually shares her husband's rank and holds the feminine equivalent of the king's monarchical titles. Historically, queens consort do not share the king regnant's political and military powers. Most queens in history were queens consort...
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...
as the spouse of Harald IV of Norway
Harald IV of Norway
Harald Gille was king of Norway from 1130 until his death in 1136. His byname Gille is probably from Gilla Críst, i.e. servant of Christ.-Background:...
. Married four times, Ingrid had a number of children who played a prominent role in Swedish and Norwegian history.
Biography
Ingrid Ragnvaldsdotter was born between 1100 and 1110. History has not recorded either the name nor background of Ingrid's mother. She was the daughter of Ragnvald Ingesson, the only known son and heir of King Inge I of SwedenInge I of Sweden
Inge the Elder was a King of Sweden.-Biography:Inge was the son of the former King Stenkil and a Swedish princess. Inge shared the rule of the kingdom with his probably elder brother Halsten Stenkilsson, but little is known with certainty of Inge's reign...
. However, Ragnvald died early and never succeeded as king.
Ingrid first married Henry Skadelaar (Henrik Svendsen Skadelår), son of Svend Svendsen of Denmark, who was one of the bastard sons of King Sweyn II of Denmark
Sweyn II of Denmark
Sweyn II Estridsson Ulfsson was the King of Denmark from 1047 to 1074. He was the son of Ulf Jarl and Estrid Svendsdatter. He was married three times, and fathered 20 children or more, including the five future kings Harald III Hen, Canute IV the Saint, Oluf I Hunger, Eric I Evergood and Niels...
. Svend Svendsen was an unsuccessful pursuer to the throne, who died when he was at a point of being elected as king. Henry Skadelaar was crippled and not considered a candidate for kingship. Instead he was a frequent schemer and plotter, generating a number of enemies. Three sons of Henry and Ingrid are recorded, including King Magnus II of Sweden. Ingrid is known to have intrigued for Magnus to obtain the Swedish throne, in Ingrid's opinion her late father's rightful inheritance. She reportedly suggested that her son Magnus employ the man who would kill Sverker I of Sweden
Sverker I of Sweden
Sverker I or Sverker the Elder was King of Sweden from about 1130 till his death.-Biography:Sverker was a mighty landowner from Östergötland...
. Henry Skadelaar died on June 4, 1134 at the Battle of Fotevik
Battle of Fotevik
Battle of Fotevik was fought between forces of King Niels of Denmark together with those of his son Magnus Nilsson against those of Erik Emune on June 4, 1134 at the bay of Fotevik in Skåne....
in the Bay of Fotevik near Vellinge
Vellinge
Vellinge is a locality and the seat of Vellinge Municipality, Skåne County, Sweden with 6,115 inhabitants in 2005.It was ranked the number 2 "best place to live" in Sweden - and the best in the south of Sweden - in Fokus magazine's 2009 survey....
in Skåne.
Ingrid soon after married King Harald Gille
Harald IV of Norway
Harald Gille was king of Norway from 1130 until his death in 1136. His byname Gille is probably from Gilla Críst, i.e. servant of Christ.-Background:...
of Norway. By him, Ingrid had a son who later became King Inge Haraldsson
Inge I of Norway
Inge Haraldsson was king of Norway from 1136 to 1161. Inge’s reign fell within the start of the period known in Norwegian history as the civil war era. He was never the sole ruler of the country. He is often known as Inge the Hunchback , because of his physical disability...
of Norway. When King Harald was murdered in 1136, Ingrid played a prominent part in having her son, Inge, and her stepson, Sigurd
Sigurd II of Norway
Sigurd II Haraldsson was king of Norway from 1136 to 1155. He was son of Harald Gille, king of Norway and his mistress Tora Guttormsdotter . He served as co-ruler with his half-brothers, Inge Haraldsson and Eystein Haraldsson. His epithet Munn means "the Mouth" in Old Norse...
, proclaimed co-rulers, and in waging the ensuing war against the attempted usurper, Sigurd Slembe
Sigurd Slembe
Sigurd Magnusson Slembe was a Norwegian pretender to the throne. He was the subject of Sigurd Slembe, the historical drama written by the Norwegian playwright Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson in 1863...
. She remained one of the most important advisors of King Inge throughout his reign.
Her third husband was Ottar Birting (Óttarr Birtingr), a prominent lendmann
Lendmann
Lendmann , was a title in medieval Norway. Lendmann was the highest rank attainable in the hird of the Norwegian king, and a lendmann stood beneath only earls and kings...
, but she was again widowed when he was killed in Nidaros
Nidaros
Nidaros or Niðarós was during the Middle Ages, the old name of Trondheim, Norway . Until the Reformation, Nidaros remained the centre of the spiritual life of the country...
at some point in the 1140s.
Between her third and fourth husband, Ingrid bore a child out of wedlock, Orm Ivarsson, by an otherwise unknown man called Ivar Sneis.
Ingrid's fourth and last husband was Arne Ivarsson of Stårheim
Stårheim
Stårheim is a village in the municipality of Eid in Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway. The population of the area was 439 people. Stårheim is located in the western part of Eid on the north shore of the Nordfjord, about west of the municipal center of Nordfjordeid and about across the Nordfjord...
, (Árni Ívarsson á Stoðreimi), another prominent lendmann
Lendmann
Lendmann , was a title in medieval Norway. Lendmann was the highest rank attainable in the hird of the Norwegian king, and a lendmann stood beneath only earls and kings...
with whom she had four children. Arne Ivarsson was subsequently called Kongsmåg meaning in-law of the king.
As an advisor to her son King Inge, Ingrid played a prominent part in many of the events of the early civil war era in Norway
Civil war era in Norway
The Civil war era of Norwegian history is a term used for the period in the history of Norway between 1130 and 1240. During this time, a series of civil wars were fought between rival kings and pretenders to the throne of Norway. The reasons for the wars is one of the most debated topics in...
. On 3 February 1161, King Inge was defeated and killed, leading his men into battle against King Haakon the Broadshouldered
Haakon II of Norway
Haakon II Sigurdsson , also known as Haakon Herdebrei, was King of Norway from 1157 until 1162 during the Civil war era in Norway.-Biography:His nickname, Herdebrei, means broad-shouldered...
. In the saga Heimskringla
Heimskringla
Heimskringla is the best known of the Old Norse kings' sagas. It was written in Old Norse in Iceland by the poet and historian Snorri Sturluson ca. 1230...
, Ingrid is last mentioned when she and her husband left Norway for exile in Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
.
by Henry Sweynson (Henrik Skadelår)
- King Magnus II of SwedenMagnus (II) of SwedenMagnus II of Sweden, son of Henry; Swedish: Magnus Henriksson was a Danish lord and King of Sweden between 1160 and 1161, being afterwards treated as usurper.His mother was Ingrid Ragvaldsdotter, a granddaughter of Inge I...
(Magnus Henriksson) - who arranged the murder of Saint Eric IX of SwedenEric IX of SwedenEric "IX" of Sweden, , also called Eric the Lawgiver, Erik the Saint, Eric the Holy and in Sweden Sankt Erik meaning Saint Eric was a Swedish king c.1155 – 1160...
, and possibly also Sverker I of SwedenSverker I of SwedenSverker I or Sverker the Elder was King of Sweden from about 1130 till his death.-Biography:Sverker was a mighty landowner from Östergötland...
; was himself murdered; and was regarded a usurper afterwards - Jarl Ragnvald Henriksson (Ragvald Henriksson) - Riksjarl of Sweden during his brother's brief reign
- Burits Henriksson (also Buris/Boris; likely 1130–1167, murdered), Earl of JutlandJutlandJutland , historically also called Cimbria, is the name of the peninsula that juts out in Northern Europe toward the rest of Scandinavia, forming the mainland part of Denmark. It has the North Sea to its west, Kattegat and Skagerrak to its north, the Baltic Sea to its east, and the Danish–German...
, in 1166 married with a daughter (b. 1150) of Luitgard of Stade and Hermann II, Count of Winzenburg.
by Harald Gille (Haraldr Gilli)
- King Inge HaraldssonInge I of NorwayInge Haraldsson was king of Norway from 1136 to 1161. Inge’s reign fell within the start of the period known in Norwegian history as the civil war era. He was never the sole ruler of the country. He is often known as Inge the Hunchback , because of his physical disability...
of Norway (Ingi Haraldsson)
by Ivar Sneis (Ívarr Sneis)
- Orm Ivarsson (Ormr konungsbróðir) (illegitimate) - prominent leader during the reign of king Magnus ErlingssonMagnus V of NorwayMagnus V Erlingsson was a King of Norway during the Civil war era in Norway.-Biography:Magnus Erlingsson was probably born in Etne in Hordaland. He was the son of Erling Skakke. His father was a Norwegian nobleman who earned his reputation crusading with Rögnvald Kali Kolsson, the Earl of Orkney...
, and after the death of Erling SkakkeErling SkakkeErling Skakke was a Norwegian Jarl during the 12th century. He was the father of Magnus V, who reigned as King of Norway from 1161 to 1184....
, next to the king in power.
by Arne Ivarsson of Stårheim (Árni Ívarsson á Stoðreimi)
- Philip of Herdla (Philippus í Herðlu)
- Bishop Nicholas ArnessonNicholas ArnessonNicholas Arnesson was a Norwegian bishop and nobleman during the Norwegian civil war era. He was a leader in the opposition against King Sverre of Norway and founder of the Bagler party. He is a chief antagonist in Sverris saga...
(Nikolás Árnason) - co-founder of the BaglerBaglerThe Bagli Party or Bagler was a faction or party during the Norwegian Civil Wars. The Bagler faction was made up principally of the Norwegian aristocracy, clergy and merchants....
party - Inge Arnesson (Ingi Árnason)
- Margrete Arnesdotter (Margrét Árnadóttir), who became mother of the Bagler king Philip SimonssonPhilip SimonssonPhilip Simonsson was a Norwegian aristocrat and from 1207 to 1217 was the Bagler party pretender to the throne of Norway during the civil war era in Norway. -Background:...
Sources
- Lagerqvist, Lars O Sverige och dess regenter under 1000 år (Stockholm: Albert Bonniers Förlag AB. 1982)