User:Thhist/List of Norwegian civil war era pretenders

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The following table shows a detailed list of Norwegian civil war era pretenders. The list includes known pretenders who claimed the throne and enjoyed a varying degree of support, but who are excluded from the generally accepted list of Norwegian monarchs. As only a few sporadic pretenders are known from other periods, with no significant impact (excluding usurpers), the list is limited to pretenders during the civil war era in Norway, between 1130 and 1240.

Background[edit]

While most pretenders based their claim to the throne on being a son of a former monarch, a majority of the pretenders claimed a descent that was controversial as it was not factually verifiable, and at times disputed by others (often opposing parties) as being outright false. The claims of descent of a pretender was thus in practice more in the effect of choosing a "side" or "party" in the ongoing dynastic disputes, rather than claiming a genealogical connection.

At certain times, the distinction between Norwegian monarchs and pretenders are artificial since a pretender may have held more de facto power, and has only been established due to the eventual victory of one party later on. In 1184, Sverre Sigurdsson successfully usurped the throne with support of the Birkebeiner party, and as he had been a pretender to the throne with some limited support since 1177, Sverre is the only established pretender who actually managed to usurp the throne. Sverre himself based his claim to the throne on the highly dubious claim of being a son of Sigurd II. The most significant later rebel party, the Bagler, at times surpassed the established Birkebeiner monarchs in actual power, but never successfully usurped the throne.[1]

List[edit]

Pretender Pretence Succession Party Reigning monarch(s) Summary
Throne usurped by Harald IV in 1130, deposed co-ruler Magnus IV in 1135.
Sigurd Slembe 1136–39 Magnus III, son of (claimed) None Harald IV (1136), Sigurd II and Inge I (1136–39), Magnus IV (1137–39) Killed Harald IV, allied himself with and helped reinstate Magnus IV against Harald's sons (Sigurd II and Inge I) in bid for increased legitimacy. Killed after the Battle of Holmengrå (against Harald's sons).[2]
Inge I killed co-rulers Sigurd II in 1155 and Eystein II in 1157.
Throne usurped by Haakon II (Sigurd II-Eystein II party) in 1157, killed co-ruler Inge I in 1161.
Throne usurped by Magnus V (Inge I party) in 1161, killed co-ruler Haakon II in 1162.
Sigurd Markusfostre 1162–63 Sigurd II, son of (Haakon II) Magnus V Minor, proclaimed successor to Haakon II by Haakon's supporters. Proclaimed king at the Øyrating. Killed in Bergen by Magnus V's forces.[3]
Olav Ugjæva 1166–69 Eystein I, grandson of Hattesvein Magnus V Raised a revolt and gained some support in the Uplands. Fled to Denmark.[4]
Eystein Meyla 1174–77 Eystein II, son of Birkebeiner Magnus V Supported by Swedish jarl Birger Brosa, raised a revolt in Marker. Proclaimed king at the Øyrating. Killed after the Battle of Re (against Magnus V).[5]
Sverre Sigurdsson 1177–84 Sigurd II, son of (claimed) Birkebeiner Magnus V Successor to Eystein Meyla, supported by Swedish jarl Birger Brosa. Proclaimed king at the Øyrating, effective control over Trøndelag. Defeated and killed Magnus V in the Battle of Fimreite and usurped the throne.[6]
Throne usurped by Sverre (Birkebeiner party) in 1184, killed incumbent Magnus V (Heklung party).
Jon Kuvlung 1185–88 Inge I, son of (claimed) Kuvlung (Magnus V) Sverre Proclaimed successor to Magnus V by Magnus' supporters. Proclaimed king at the Haugating and Øyrating, effective control over Viken. Killed in surprise attack near Bergen by Sverre's forces.[7][8]
Sigurd Brennar 1189 Inge I, son of (claimed) None Sverre Recognised as brother by Jon Kuvlung. Raised a revolt in Marker. Defeated and killed by the peasants in Viken.[9]
Vikar?[10] Magnusson 1189–90 Magnus V, son of (claimed) Vårbelg Sverre Minor, actual leader Simon Kåresson. Defeated in Tønsberg.[11]
Torleiv Breiskjegg 1190–91 Eystein II, son of (claimed) Breiskjegg Sverre Defeated by the peasants in Viken or Marker.[12]
Sigurd Magnusson 1193–94 Magnus V, son of Øyskjegg Sverre Minor, actual leaders Hallkjell Jonsson and Olav Jarlsmåg. Proclaimed king in Orkney and at the Haugating, effective control over Viken and Norway south of Stad. Killed in the Battle of Florvåg (against Sverre).[13][14]
Inge Magnusson 1196–1202 Magnus V, son of (claimed) Bagler Sverre Minor initially, actual leader Nicholas Arnesson. Proclaimed king at the Borgarting, Øyrating and Lusakaupangen, effective control over the Uplands, Sogn and Møre. Betrayed and killed on Storøya in Mjøsa by his own men.[15]
Vacant throne usurped by Inge II (Birkebeiner party) in 1204.
Erling Steinvegg 1204–07 Magnus V, son of (claimed) Bagler Inge II Support from Valdemar II of Denmark. Proclaimed king at the Haugating, Borgarting and Øyrating, effective control over Viken. Died after illness.[16]
Philip Simonsson 1207–17 None Bagler Inge II Successor to Erling Steinvegg. Proclaimed king at the Borgarting, ruled the Uplands and most of Viken with full royal prerogatives after recognising the overlordship of Inge II. Natural death.[17]
Vacant throne usurped by Haakon IV (Birkebeiner party) in 1217.
Bene Skinnkniv ("Magnus") 1218–21 Magnus V, son of (claimed) Slittung Haakon IV Priest, changed his name to Magnus. Raised a revolt in Marker, fought against both the Bagler and Birkebeiner. Joined the Ribbung party.[18]
Sigurd Ribbung 1219–26 None (son of Erling Steinvegg) Ribbung Haakon IV Support of former Bagler members and men loyal to his father. Gained support in many parts of Eastern Norway. Natural death.[19]
Knut Haakonsson 1226–27 None (agreement with Inge II) Ribbung Haakon IV Successor to Sigurd Ribbung. Agreement of succession between his father Haakon the Crazy and Inge II. Proclaimed king in Romerike and in Oslo, effective control over the Uplands and northern Viken. Settled as jarl under Haakon IV.[20]
Skule Bårdsson 1239–40 None Vårbelg Haakon IV Duke under Haakon IV, allowed his supporters to proclaim him king at the Øyrating. Killed outside Helgeseter Priory by Haakon IV's forces.[21]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Lunden (1976) p. 45
  2. ^ Arstad, Knut Peter Lyche. "Sigurd Slembe". Norsk biografisk leksikon (in Norwegian). Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  3. ^ Brathetland, Bente Opheim. "Sigurd Sigurdsson Markusfostre". Norsk biografisk leksikon (in Norwegian). Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  4. ^ Salvesen, Helge. "Olav Ugjæva". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  5. ^ Brathetland, Bente Opheim. "Øystein Øysteinsson Møyla". Norsk biografisk leksikon (in Norwegian). Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  6. ^ Helle, Knut. "Sverre Sigurdsson". Norsk biografisk leksikon (in Norwegian). Retrieved 30 March 2013.
  7. ^ Helle, Knut. "Jon Kuvlung". Norsk biografisk leksikon (in Norwegian). Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  8. ^ Lunden (1976) pp. 43, 77
  9. ^ Lunden (1976) pp. 46, 78
  10. ^ Helle, Knut. "Magnus 5 Erlingsson". Norsk biografisk leksikon (in Norwegian). Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  11. ^ Lunden (1976) pp. 43, 77–78
  12. ^ Lunden (1976) pp. 46, 79
  13. ^ Arstad, Knut Peter Lyche. "Sigurd Magnusson". Norsk biografisk leksikon (in Norwegian). Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  14. ^ Lunden (1976) p. 78
  15. ^ Arstad, Knut Peter Lyche. "Inge Magnusson". Norsk biografisk leksikon (in Norwegian). Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  16. ^ Helle, Knut. "Erling Steinvegg". Norsk biografisk leksikon (in Norwegian). Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  17. ^ Bjørgo, Narve. "Filippus Simonsson". Norsk biografisk leksikon (in Norwegian). Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  18. ^ Lunden (1976) pp. 172–174
  19. ^ Arstad, Knut Peter Lyche. "Sigurd Erlingsson Ribbung". Norsk biografisk leksikon (in Norwegian). Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  20. ^ Arstad, Knut Peter Lyche. "Knut Håkonsson". Norsk biografisk leksikon (in Norwegian). Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  21. ^ Bjørgo, Narve. "Skule Bårdsson". Norsk biografisk leksikon (in Norwegian). Retrieved 26 March 2013.

Bibliography[edit]

  • Lunden, Kåre (1976). Norge under Sverreætten, 1177-1319 høymiddelalder. Norges historie: høymiddelalder. Vol. 3. Cappelen.
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