Haakon II facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Haakon Herdebrei |
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| King of Norway | |||||
| Reign | 1157 – 7 July 1162 | ||||
| Predecessor | Inge I and Eystein II | ||||
| Successor | Magnus V | ||||
| Born | 1147 | ||||
| Died | 7 July 1162 Romsdalen |
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| House | Gille | ||||
| Father | Sigurd II of Norway | ||||
| Mother | Thora | ||||
Haakon Sigurdsson (born 1147, died July 7, 1162) was a young king of Norway. He was also known as Haakon Herdebrei, which means Haakon Broadshoulder. He ruled as King Haakon II from 1157 until 1162. His time as king was during a difficult period known as the civil war era in Norway.
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Haakon's Early Life and Rise to Power
Haakon's nickname, Herdebrei, meant "broad-shouldered." He got this name because he was quite big and strong for his age. Haakon was the son of King Sigurd Munn.
In 1157, Haakon became the heir to his uncle, King Eystein II. Eystein had been a co-ruler of Norway along with his brothers, Inge the Hunchback and Sigurd Munn. After Eystein and Sigurd Munn died, Inge became the only ruler of Norway.
The Civil War and Haakon's Reign
Many people who had supported Sigurd Munn and Eystein II decided to support Haakon. They wanted him to be king instead of Inge. These supporters, led by Sigurd Håvardsson, started fighting against King Inge.
On February 3, 1161, King Inge I was defeated and killed. This happened during a battle near Oslo. Many of Inge's own soldiers, including a leader named Godred II Olafsson, switched sides and joined Haakon. This helped Haakon win the battle.
However, Haakon's rule did not last long. On July 7, 1162, King Haakon II was killed. This happened during the Battle of Sekken, near a market town called Veøya in Romsdal.
After Inge's death, his supporters had gathered behind a powerful leader named Erling Skakke and his son, Magnus Erlingsson. After Haakon's death, Magnus Erlingsson became the new king, known as King Magnus V.
Understanding the Civil War Era
The civil war era in Norway was a long period of fighting. It lasted for about 110 years, from 1130 to 1240. During this time, different groups fought to decide who should be king.
One big reason for these fights was that Norway's laws about who becomes king were not clear. This led to many people claiming the throne. There were also struggles between the Church and the King.
Over time, two main groups formed. They were known by different names at first, but later became known as the Bagler and Birkebeiner parties. Each group would choose a royal son to be their leader. This person would then try to become king, challenging the ruler from the other group.
Images for kids
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An artistic image showing Haakon Herdebrei.
