Haakon the Good

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"Haakon I" redirects here. For the King of Sweden, see
Haakon I of Sweden
.
Haakon the Good
Norse paganism, Chalcedonian Christianity

Haakon Haraldsson (c. 920–961), also Haakon the Good (

Christianity into Norway.[1][2][3]

Early life

Haakon is not mentioned in any narrative sources earlier than the late 12th century. According to this late saga tradition, Haakon was the youngest son of King

Athelstan of England. Haakon was fostered by King Athelstan, as part of an agreement made by his father, for which reason Haakon was nicknamed Adalsteinfostre.[4] According to the Sagas, Athelstan was tricked into fostering Haakon when Harald's envoy used the custom of knésetja, whereby a child was formally adopted if it was set on the knees of the foster-parent.[5] Becoming someone's foster-parent reportedly meant that they were subordinate to the child's parent.[5]

Haakon is not mentioned in any contemporary Anglo-Saxon sources, and later historians of Athelstan, such as William of Malmesbury, make no reference to Haakon. According to Norwegian royal biographies from the late 12th century, the English court introduced him to the

apostate
who observed both pagan and Christian rites.

Reign

At his arrival back in Norway, Haakon gained the support of the landowners by promising to give up the rights of taxation claimed by his father over inherited real property.

Kingdom of Jorvik, eventually meeting a violent death at Stainmore, Westmorland, in 954 along with his son, Haeric.[8]

In 953, Haakon had to fight a fierce battle (Slaget på Blodeheia ved Avaldsnes) at Avaldsnes against the sons of Eric Bloodaxe (Eirikssønnene). Haakon won the battle, at which Eric's son Guttorm died. One of Haakon's most famous victories was the Battle of Rastarkalv (Slaget på Rastarkalv) near Frei in 955 at which Eric's son, Gamle, died. By placing ten standards far apart along a low ridge, he gave the impression that his army was bigger than it actually was. He managed to fool Eric's sons into believing that they were outnumbered. The Danes fled and were slaughtered by Haakon's army. The sons of Eric returned in 957, with support from King Gorm the Old, King of Denmark, but were again defeated by Haakon's effective army system.[9][10]

leiðangr naval system in Norway to Haakon.[11] Haakon may have emulated King Æthelstan's naval system.[11]

Succession

Three of the surviving sons of Eric Bloodaxe landed undetected on the coast of

Eyvindr Skáldaspillir, composed a skaldic poem Hákonarmál about the fall of the King in battle and his reception into Valhalla.[12]
[13]

After Haakon's death,

Harald II, although he had little authority outside western Norway. Subsequently, the Norwegians were tormented by years of war. In 970, King Harald was tricked into coming to Denmark and killed in a plot planned by Haakon Sigurdsson, who had become an ally of King Harald Bluetooth.[14]

Haakon's Park (Håkonarparken) opposite Fitjar Church (Fitjar kyrkje)

Modern references

See also

References

  1. ^ "Håkon 1 Adalsteinsfostre". Feb 26, 2020. Retrieved Aug 12, 2020 – via Store norske leksikon.
  2. ^ "Håkon den gode Haakon the Good". Avaldsnes. Retrieved Aug 12, 2020.
  3. ^ "Hákonar saga Aðalsteinsfóstra". www.snerpa.is. Retrieved Aug 12, 2020.
  4. ^ "Hakon the Good". Catholic Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2007-02-18.
  5. ^
    ISBN 978-1-5017-0848-0
    .
  6. ^ Krag, Claus (Sep 29, 2014). "Håkon 1 Adalsteinsfostre". Retrieved Aug 12, 2020 – via Store norske leksikon.
  7. ^ a b Chisholm 1911.
  8. ^ "Eric Bloodaxe: History of York". www.historyofyork.org.uk. Retrieved Aug 12, 2020.
  9. ^ "Håkon den godes landskap på Frei og slaget på Rastarkalv (Siw Helen Myrvoll Grønland. University of Oslo. 2014)" (PDF). Retrieved Aug 12, 2020.
  10. ^ Andersen, Per Sveaas (Nov 27, 2019). "Eirikssønnene". Retrieved Aug 12, 2020 – via Store norske leksikon.
  11. ^
    ISBN 978-87-635-0791-2
    .
  12. ^ "Hákonarmál – heimskringla.no". www.heimskringla.no. Retrieved Aug 12, 2020.
  13. ^ "Håkonshaugen på Seim - vestafjells.no". www.scandion.no. Retrieved Aug 12, 2020.
  14. ^ Krag, Claus (Sep 28, 2014). "Harald 2 Eiriksson Gråfell". Retrieved Aug 12, 2020 – via Store norske leksikon.
  15. ^ "Velkommen til kystperleriket Sunnhordland". Visit Sunnhordland. Retrieved Aug 12, 2020.
  16. ^ "Kongen med gullhjelmen (Håkonarspelet)". Archived from the original on 2015-04-04. Retrieved 2015-04-27.
  17. ISBN 0-765-34502-1
  18. ISBN 978-1586900175

Other sources

External links
Haakon the Good
 Died: 961
Regnal titles
Preceded by
King of Norway

934–961 		Succeeded by
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