Magnus the Good

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This article is about the first Norwegian king named Magnus Olafsson. For the later Norwegian king, see Magnus Barefoot.
Magnus the Good
St. Olaf (Vestfold branch of Fairhair dynasty)
FatherOlaf II of Norway
MotherAlfhild

Magnus Olafsson (

King of Denmark
from 1042 until his death in 1047.

Magnus was an illegitimate son of King

Sweyn Estridsson
in Denmark.

Early life

Magnus was an illegitimate son of King

Astrid Olofsdotter.[2] Born prematurely, the child was weak and unable to breathe for the first few minutes, and he was probably not expected to survive. Olaf was not present at the child's birth, and his Icelandic skald Sigvatr Þórðarson became his godfather. In a hasty baptism, Sigvatr named Magnus after the greatest king he knew of, also Olaf's greatest role model, Karla Magnus, or Charlemagne. Against the odds, Magnus went on to grow strong and healthy, and he became of vital importance to Olaf as his only son.[3]

Olaf was dethroned by the Danish king

Håkon Eiriksson, Cnut's regent in Norway, had disappeared at sea, and gathered his men to make a swift return to Norway. Magnus was left to be fostered by Yaroslav and his wife Ingegerd.[5]

In early 1031, a party including Magnus's uncle

King of Norway.[9] After receiving the approval of Ingegerd, they returned with Magnus to Sigtuna in early 1035, and received backing from the Swedish king, brother of Magnus's stepmother Astrid. Astrid immediately became an important supporter of Magnus, and an army was gathered in Sweden, headed by Einar and Kalf, to place Magnus on the Norwegian throne.[10]

King of Norway and Denmark

Coin minted for Magnus the Good in Lund (at the time a town in Danish Scania)

Magnus was proclaimed king in 1035 at 11 years of age. At first, Magnus sought revenge against his father's enemies, but on Sigvatr's advice, he stopped doing so, which is why he became known as "good" or "noble".[9]

Another son of Cnut,

Sweyn Estridsen, whom Harthacnut had left in control of Denmark when he went to England,[12][14]
and who had some support.

As part of consolidating his control, Magnus destroyed the

goddess of death.[13][16] He had dreamt of his father the night before, and the Norwegians swore that before the battle they could hear the bell that Saint Olaf had given to the Church of St. Clement in Kaupang, in Nidaros—a sign that the saint was watching over his son and the army.[17]
It was the greatest victory ever over the Wends, with up to 15,000 killed.

Sweyn continued to oppose Magnus in Denmark, although according to Heimskringla, they reached a settlement by which Sweyn became Earl of Denmark under Magnus.[18]

Magnus wanted to reunite Cnut the Great's entire North Sea Empire by also becoming king of England. When Harthacnut died, the English nobles had chosen as their king Æthelred the Unready's son Edward (later known as Edward the Confessor); Magnus wrote to him that he intended to attack England with combined Norwegian and Danish forces and "he will then govern it who wins the victory."[19] The English were mostly hostile to Magnus; Sweyn was made welcome there, although Edward's mother, Emma, curiously favored Magnus and in 1043 the king confiscated her property, with which by one report she had promised to assist Magnus.[20]

Meanwhile, Magnus' uncle Harald Sigurdsson had returned to Norway from the east and contested his rule there, while Sweyn was still a threat in Denmark; Harald allied himself with Sweyn.[1][14] Magnus chose to appease Harald,[1] and made him his co-king in Norway in 1046.[21][22]

Death

Site of the grave of King Magnus in Nidaros Cathedral, Trondheim.

Sweyn increased the pressure on Magnus from his base in

Zealand or in Jutland, either in an accident or of a disease; accounts vary.[23] Reports include falling overboard from one of the ships he was mustering to invade England and drowning,[13] falling off a horse,[14][24] and falling ill while on board a ship.[1] He is said to have made Sweyn his heir in Denmark, and Harald in Norway; some say in a deathbed statement.[1] Magnus was buried with his father in the cathedral at Nidaros, modern Trondheim.[1]

Physical appearance

Heimskringla describes Magnus as "of middle height, with regular features and light complexion. He had light blond hair, was well spoken and quick to make up his mind, was of noble character, most generous, a great warrior, and most valorous."[25]

Descendants

The Magnus Stone created by Niels Skovgaard in Skibelund Krat, Denmark

The line of Olaf II ended with Magnus' death. However, in 1280, Eric II of Norway, who was descended through his mother from Magnus' legitimate sister, Wulfhild, was crowned king of Norway.

Magnus was not married, but had a daughter out of wedlock,

Paul Thorfinnsson, Earl of Orkney, and together they were the parents of Haakon Paulsson, who also became an earl of Orkney
.

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Carl Frederik Bricka, Dansk Biografisk Lexikon, vol. XI [Maar – Müllner], 1897, p.44.
  2. ^ Morten (2011) p. 16
  3. ^ Morten (2011) p. 17
  4. ^ Morten (2011) pp. 15 & 18–20
  5. ^ Morten (2011) pp. 21–23
  6. ^ Morten (2011) pp. 25–27
  7. ISBN 9780198217169
    , pp. 405–06.
  8. ^ Morten (2011) pp. 28–29
  9. ^
    OCLC 257284542
    , p. 110.
  10. ^ Morten (2011) pp. 40–44
  11. ^ a b Monarkiet i Danmark – Kongerækken Archived 18 November 2009 at the Wayback Machine at The Danish Monarchy
  12. ^ a b Larsen, p. 113.
  13. ^
    OCLC 5954675
    , pp. 57–59.
  14. ^
    Dansk biografisk lexikon, online at Project Runeberg
    (in Danish)
  15. OCLC 1536116, p. 237
    .
  16. ^ Hollander (Trans.), Heimskringla, p. 562.
  17. ^ Hollander (Trans.), Heimskringla, p. 561.
  18. ^ Hollander (Trans.), Heimskringla, p. 558.
  19. ^ Larsen, p. 114.
  20. ^ Stenton, pp. 426–27.
  21. ^ Hollander (Trans.), Heimskringla, pp. 593–96.
  22. ^ Larsen, p. 111.
  23. ISBN 0-19-285063-6
    , p. 406.
  24. OCLC 1674570, p. 279
    .
  25. ^ Hollander (Trans.), Heimskringla, p. 600.

Bibliography

  • Morten, Øystein (2011). Magnus den gode. Sagakongene. Spartacus/Saga Bok.
    ISBN 978-82-430-0582-2
    .

Further reading

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Magnus I of Norway.
Magnus the Good
House of St. Olaf
Cadet branch of the Fairhair dynasty
Born: c. 1024 Died: 25 October 1047
Regnal titles
Preceded by
Cnut the Great
Sweyn Knutsson
King of Norway

1035–1047 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
King of Denmark

1042–1047 		Succeeded by
Titles in pretence
Preceded by — TITULAR —
King of England

1042–1047 		Succeeded by
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