Sigurd Syr
Encyclopedia
Sigurd Syr Halfdansson (died 1018) was a petty king in northern Ostlandet in Norway
.
Sigurd was subking of Ringerike
, an ancient territory in the county of Buskerud
, southern Norway
. Through his marriage with Åsta Gudbrandsdatter
, he was the stepfather of King Olav II of Norway and father of King Harald III of Norway. His nickname Sýr can be translated as meaning "sow". The reason for this is unknown; P.A. Munch suggested that it was because his attention was so focused on farming that he "rooted the ground like a pig", but it could equally be for some other reason.
The traditional view of Sigurd Syr's pedigree, as presented in various Icelandic poems and historical sagas culminating in Snorri Sturluson
's Heimskringla
, is that he was a great-grandson of King Harald I of Norway
(Harald Fairhair), through Harald's son Sigurd Hrise. However, many modern historians regard the Fairhair genealogy
as in large part invented. Sigurd's father Halfdan may not have been Halfdan of Hadafylke, Harald's grandson; there are no contemporary attestations of such a Halfdan. Doubt has also been cast on Sigurd Rise, a relatively obscure son of Harald Fairhair by a Sami
girl named Snæfrid.
According to Heimskringla Sigurd Syr was a prudent man, taciturn and generally modest, although very wealthy. He was known as a good caretaker of his property, personally involved in managing it, and wise and peaceful. He was not fond of the pomp and ceremony of nobility, but played his expected part.
Sigurd Syr was baptized into the Christian faith in 998. According to the Heimskringla, "King Olaf Tryggvason came to Ringerike to spread Christianity, Sigurd Syr and his wife allowed themselves to be baptized".
Sigurd Syr was not personally ambitious, but he fully supported his stepson Olaf's ambitions to leadership and command. In 1014, he successfully petitioned his peers, the other Norwegian local kings, for their support for a new war against Sweden, Denmark and England that commenced in 1015. This war was his stepson's cause.
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...
.
Sigurd was subking of Ringerike
Ringerike
oskar er kjempe kulRingerike is a municipality in Buskerud county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Ringerike...
, an ancient territory in the county of Buskerud
Buskerud
is a county in Norway, bordering Akershus, Oslo, Oppland, Sogn og Fjordane, Hordaland, Telemark, and Vestfold. The county administration is located in Drammen.-Geography:...
, southern 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...
. Through his marriage with Åsta Gudbrandsdatter
Åsta Gudbrandsdatter
Åsta Gudbrandsdatter was the mother of two Norwegian kings, King Olaf II of Norway and King Harald III of Norway.According to the sagas, Åsta Gudbrandsdatter was from Vestfold. Åsta's father was Gudbrand Kula from Oppland...
, he was the stepfather of King Olav II of Norway and father of King Harald III of Norway. His nickname Sýr can be translated as meaning "sow". The reason for this is unknown; P.A. Munch suggested that it was because his attention was so focused on farming that he "rooted the ground like a pig", but it could equally be for some other reason.
The traditional view of Sigurd Syr's pedigree, as presented in various Icelandic poems and historical sagas culminating in Snorri Sturluson
Snorri Sturluson
Snorri Sturluson was an Icelandic historian, poet, and politician. He was twice elected lawspeaker at the Icelandic parliament, the Althing...
's 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...
, is that he was a great-grandson of King Harald I of Norway
Harald I of Norway
Harald Fairhair or Harald Finehair , , son of Halfdan the Black, was the first king of Norway.-Background:Little is known of the historical Harald...
(Harald Fairhair), through Harald's son Sigurd Hrise. However, many modern historians regard the Fairhair genealogy
Fairhair dynasty
The Fairhair dynasty was a family of kings founded by Harald I of Norway which ruled Norway with few interruptions from 800 to 1387 , or through only three generations of kings , in the 10th century CE....
as in large part invented. Sigurd's father Halfdan may not have been Halfdan of Hadafylke, Harald's grandson; there are no contemporary attestations of such a Halfdan. Doubt has also been cast on Sigurd Rise, a relatively obscure son of Harald Fairhair by a Sami
Sami people
The Sami people, also spelled Sámi, or Saami, are the arctic indigenous people inhabiting Sápmi, which today encompasses parts of far northern Sweden, Norway, Finland, the Kola Peninsula of Russia, and the border area between south and middle Sweden and Norway. The Sámi are Europe’s northernmost...
girl named Snæfrid.
According to Heimskringla Sigurd Syr was a prudent man, taciturn and generally modest, although very wealthy. He was known as a good caretaker of his property, personally involved in managing it, and wise and peaceful. He was not fond of the pomp and ceremony of nobility, but played his expected part.
Sigurd Syr was baptized into the Christian faith in 998. According to the Heimskringla, "King Olaf Tryggvason came to Ringerike to spread Christianity, Sigurd Syr and his wife allowed themselves to be baptized".
Sigurd Syr was not personally ambitious, but he fully supported his stepson Olaf's ambitions to leadership and command. In 1014, he successfully petitioned his peers, the other Norwegian local kings, for their support for a new war against Sweden, Denmark and England that commenced in 1015. This war was his stepson's cause.