Guttorm of Norway
| Guttorm Sigurdsson | |
|---|---|
Inge II | |
| Regent | Haakon the Crazy[1] |
| Born | 1199 |
| Died | 11 August 1204 (aged 4–5) |
| Burial | |
| House | House of Sverre |
| Father | Sigurd Lavard |
Guttorm Sigurdsson (
Guttorm's reign ended abruptly when the child king suddenly became ill and died. Rumours among the Birkebeiner held that Guttorm's illness and death had been caused by Haakon the Crazy's future wife Christina Nilsdatter, a claim considered dubious by modern historians. Low-intensity civil war followed Guttorm's death, until a settlement was reached in 1207, temporarily dividing the kingdom.[2]
Background
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Guttorm was an illegitimate son of Sigurd Lavard and thus a grandson of King Sverre. The identity of his mother is unknown. Sigurd predeceased his father, Sverre, who died in 1202 and was succeeded by his younger son Haakon Sverresson. Haakon reigned until his own death on 1 January 1204.[3] Haakon had pursued a policy of peace and reunification between the Birkebeiner and Bagler during his short reign, but following his death relations between the parties collapsed and a new phase of the Norwegian civil wars began.[4] Parts of the Birkebeiner were disgruntled by Haakon's policy of reconciliation with the Bagler, which may have led to his death, following which the balance of power within the Birkebeiner switched immediately to the faction around Haakon the Crazy.[5]
The day after Haakon's death, the Birkebeiner designated Guttorm as king at a meeting of the hird, in consultation with Bishop Martin of Bergen. Sverre's nephew Haakon the Crazy was simultaneously appointed regent as leader of the hird and the army.[6][7] According to the Bǫglunga sǫgur (Bagler sagas), the young king then took a sword and mounted it to Haakon's side, and handed him a shield. He further gave Haakon the title of earl, with consent from all the chieftains, and had Haakon sit next to him at his throne. Haakon's unusually strong position was thus symbolised by his sitting at the same level as the king, and not on a lower seat as would have been customary for an earl.[8] Another of Sverre's nephews, Peter Støyper, together with Einar Kongsmåg, husband of Sverre's daughter Cecilia, were appointed as Guttorm's guardians.[9]
Revolt and death
The appointment of the warlike and power-hungry Haakon the Crazy (called "the mad dog" by the Bagler) to key positions contributed to conflicts within the Birkebeiner, and a worsening of relations with the Bagler. Haakon's elevation led the Bagler to believe that there was not much hope of peace with the Birkebeiner. The Bagler therefore travelled to Denmark and united around
Valdemar arrived in Viken in June with more than 300 ships, and Erling performed a
In the longer version of the Bǫglunga sǫgur, it is insinuated that Guttorm's illness and death were caused by Swedish-born Christina Nilsdatter, who married Haakon the Crazy shortly after Guttorm's death. Modern historians consider this claim to be dubious, derived from rumours spread by the Birkebeiner in connection with the sudden death of Haakon Sverresson some months earlier. The same source claims that Haakon was poisoned, allegedly by Sverre's widow
References
- ^ Arstad, Knut Peter Lyche. "Håkon Galen". Norsk biografisk leksikon (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 19 October 2012. Retrieved 10 October 2012.
- ^ "Den norske kongerekken". kongehuset.no (in Norwegian). 23 February 2010. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
- ^ a b c d Helle, Knut. "Guttorm Sigurdsson". Norsk biografisk leksikon (in Norwegian). Retrieved 10 October 2012.
- ^ Helle (1974) p. 94
- ^ a b Lunden (1976) pp. 149–150
- ^ Helle (1974) pp. 94–95
- ^ a b Helle (1972) p. 129
- ^ Blom (1972) p. 14
- ^ Helle (1972) p. 476
- ^ a b Helle (1974) pp. 95–96
- ^ Blom (1972) p. 15
- ^ Lunden (1976) p. 154
- ^ Helle (1974) pp. 96–97
Bibliography
- Blom, Grethe Authén (1972). Samkongedømme – enekongedømme – Håkon Magnussons hertugdømme. Trondheim: Universitetsforlaget. ISBN 82-00-08853-7.
- Helle, Knut (1972). Konge og gode menn i norsk riksstyring ca. 1150–1319. Bergen: Universitetsforlaget. ISBN 82-00-08836-7.
- Helle, Knut (1974). Norge blir en stat: 1130–1319. Handbok i norsk historie. Vol. 3. Universitetsforlaget. ISBN 82-00-01323-5.
- Lunden, Kåre (1976). Norge under Sverreætten, 1177–1319. Norges historie. Vol. 3. Oslo: Cappelen. ISBN 82-02-03453-1.