Eystein II of Norway facts for kids

Eystein II (also known as Eysteinn Haraldsson in Old Norse) was a king of Norway from 1142 to 1157. He ruled as a co-king with his brothers, Inge Haraldsson and Sigurd Munn. Eystein was killed during a power struggle against his brother Inge. This event was an early part of the civil war era in Norway.

Where Eystein Came From

Eystein was born around 1125, likely in Scotland. His father was Harald Gille, who was king of Norway from 1130 to 1136. His mother was a woman named Bjaðǫk. Harald Gille grew up in Ireland or Scotland. Eystein was born there too. When Harald went to Norway in 1127 to claim the throne, Eystein did not go with him. However, Harald had told people that he had a son before coming to Norway.

Eystein's Time as King

Eystein first appears in old stories (sagas) in 1142. At that time, some important Norwegian leaders called lendmenn traveled west. They brought Eystein back to Norway from Scotland. His mother also came with him. In Norway, he was recognized as king. He was given a share of the kingdom to rule with his younger brothers.

Sharing the Kingdom

The kingdom was not divided into separate areas for each brother. Instead, all brothers seemed to have equal power over all parts of Norway. During their rule, an important change happened. An independent Norwegian Archiepiscopacy was created in Nidaros (which is now Trondheim) in 1152. This meant the church in Norway had its own leader.

Adventures in Scotland and England

The sagas Heimskringla and Orkneyinga saga tell us about King Eystein's adventures. In the early 1150s, he went on a journey to Scotland and England. He captured Harald Maddadson, who was the earl of Orkney, in a place called Caithness. Eystein made Harald pay a large sum of money to be set free. After that, Eystein sailed along the Scottish and English coasts. He attacked towns like Aberdeen, Hartlepool, and Whitby. This journey was much like the viking expeditions from earlier times.

The Civil War Begins

The sagas say that the three brothers got along well at first. This was while their younger brothers still had guardians helping them. But as the younger brothers grew up, problems started.

Fighting in Bergen

In 1155, the brothers met in Bergen. Fighting broke out between the men of King Inge and King Sigurd. King Sigurd was killed during this fight. King Eystein arrived late for the meeting. He only reached the city after Sigurd was already dead.

Inge and Eystein then made a difficult agreement. Historians still debate why the fighting started in Bergen. The sagas say that Eystein and Sigurd had planned to take away Inge's royal title. They wanted to divide his share of the kingdom between themselves. Some modern historians are not sure this is true. They think it might have been Inge's way of explaining his own actions.

Eystein's Last Stand

No matter the reason, the peace between Inge and Eystein did not last long after 1155. In 1157, both sides gathered their armies for a fight. Inge's army was larger than Eystein's. When they met near Moster on the west coast, Eystein's soldiers left him. Eystein had to run away. He fled over land towards Viken (the Oslofjord area).

His own men abandoned him. He was caught in the area of what is now Bohuslän. His captors killed him. People at the time argued about whether King Inge had ordered Eystein's killing. Eystein's body was buried in the church of Foss in Tunge Hundred. According to the Heimskringla saga, the local people began to honor Eystein as a saint.

What Happened Next

After Eystein's death, his supporters gathered around a young man named Haakon the Broadshouldered. Haakon was Sigurd Munn's son and Eystein's nephew. They continued the war against King Inge. This was an early part of the "civil war era," which lasted on and off until 1240.

The sagas often describe Eystein and his brother Sigurd in a negative way. They usually show Inge as the fair ruler among the three brothers. The Heimskringla saga says this about Eystein: "King Eystein was dark and somewhat gloomy in looks. He was of average height and a wise, capable man. But what made him less popular was his greed and being too careful with money."

Eystein was married to Ragna Nikolasdottir, a Norwegian noblewoman. He also had a son named Eystein Meyla. This son was declared king by a group called the Birkebeiner party in 1176. However, he was defeated and killed the next year.