Åsa Haraldsdottir of Agder facts for kids
Åsa Haraldsdottir of Agder (died around 834 AD) was a powerful queen from the Viking Age in Norway. She is known from old stories called sagas, especially those about the Yngling family. These sagas say she was the mother of Halfdan the Black and the grandmother of King Harald Fairhair, who united Norway.
Biography
Åsa was the daughter of King Harald Granraude of Agder, a small kingdom in Norway. After his first wife died, King Gudrød the Hunter from Vestfold wanted to marry Åsa. However, her father said no.
King Gudrød then attacked Agder. Åsa's father and brother were killed during this conflict. Gudrød then married Åsa. About a year later, Åsa gave birth to her son, Halfdan the Black. Another year passed, and Åsa arranged for her husband, King Gudrød, to be killed. This was her way of getting revenge.
After Gudrød's death, Åsa left the kingdom of Borre to her stepson, Olaf Geirstad-Alf. She took her own son, Halfdan, with her back to Agder, her home country. There, she became the ruler. Åsa ruled Agder for twenty years. After this time, she gave the throne to her son, Halfdan. Halfdan later claimed half of his father's kingdom from his half-brother, Olaf.
Some historians, like Professor Anton Willem Brogger, believe that Queen Åsa might be the woman buried in the famous Oseberg ship. This ship was found in a large burial mound and dates to shortly after 834 AD. However, this idea has not been fully proven.
See also
In Spanish: Åsa Haraldsdottir de Agder para niños
