Ragna Nikolasdatter
Encyclopedia
Ragna Nikolasdottir was a Medieval Norwegian Queen consort to King Eystein II of Norway
(Øystein Haraldsson).
in the traditional region of Gudbrandsdalen. Her marriage to King Eystein was probably made a few years after he arrived in Norway during 1142. The saga does not mention any children in connection with their marriage. Ragna was widowed when King Eystein was captured and killed by troops of his half-brother King Inge I of Norway
during the summer 1157, somewhere in the area of present day Bohuslän
.
Three years later in 1160, Ragna was betrothed this time with King Inge's half-brother, Orm Ivarsson, who would later become a prominent leader during the reign of King Magnus V of Norway
. The wedding was scheduled to take place during February 1161, but a battle began between the forces of King Inge and King Haakon II of Norway
in Bjørvika
. King Inge was defeated and killed leading his men into battle on 3 February 1161. Nothing more is said in the sources of Ragna.
Queen Ragna Nikolasdatter, alongside Ingebjørg Guttormsdatter
, was one of the two acknowledged queen consorts in Norway between the mid 11th century to the 13th century not to have been foreign princesses.
Eystein II of Norway
Eystein Haraldsson , born c. 1125 apparently in Scotland, died 1157 in Bohuslän, Norway, was king of Norway from 1142 to 1157. He ruled as co-ruler with his brothers, Inge Haraldsson and Sigurd Munn...
(Øystein Haraldsson).
Biography
Ragna Nikolasdottir was the daughter of Nikolas Måse from Steig in Sør-FronSør-Fron
Sør-Fron is a municipality in Oppland county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Gudbrandsdal. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Hundorp....
in the traditional region of Gudbrandsdalen. Her marriage to King Eystein was probably made a few years after he arrived in Norway during 1142. The saga does not mention any children in connection with their marriage. Ragna was widowed when King Eystein was captured and killed by troops of his half-brother King Inge I of Norway
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...
during the summer 1157, somewhere in the area of present day Bohuslän
Bohuslän
' is a Swedish traditional province, or landskap, situated in Götaland on the northernmost part of the country's west coast. It is bordered by Dalsland to the northeast, Västergötland to the southeast, the Skagerrak arm of the North Sea to the west, and the county of Østfold in Norway to the north...
.
Three years later in 1160, Ragna was betrothed this time with King Inge's half-brother, Orm Ivarsson, who would later become a prominent leader during the reign of King Magnus V of Norway
Magnus V of Norway
Magnus 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...
. The wedding was scheduled to take place during February 1161, but a battle began between the forces of King Inge and King Haakon II of Norway
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 Bjørvika
Bjørvika
Bjørvika is a neighborhood in the Sentrum borough of Oslo, Norway. The area is an inlet in the inner Oslofjord, situated between Gamlebyen and Akersness. It serves as an outlet for the river Akerselva. Since the 2000s, it has been undergoing urban redevelopment, being transformed from a container...
. King Inge was defeated and killed leading his men into battle on 3 February 1161. Nothing more is said in the sources of Ragna.
Queen Ragna Nikolasdatter, alongside Ingebjørg Guttormsdatter
Ingebjørg Guttormsdatter
Ingebjørg Guttormsdatter was a medieval Norwegian Queen consort and spouse of King Eystein I of Norway .Ingebjørg Guttormsdatter was the daughter of Guttorm Toresson from Lillehammer...
, was one of the two acknowledged queen consorts in Norway between the mid 11th century to the 13th century not to have been foreign princesses.
Other sources
- Imsen, SteinarSteinar ImsenSteinar Imsen is a Norwegian historian, and a professor at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. His field of concentration is the Late Middle Ages and the Early Modern Period...
Våre dronninger: fra Ragnhild Eriksdatter til Sonja (Grøndahl og Dreyer, 1991) ISBN 82-09-10678-3