House of Sverre facts for kids
| House of Sverre |
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| Country: | Quick facts for kids Kingdom of Norway and Kingdom of Scotland |
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| Parent House: | Gille dynasty (claimed) | ||
| Titles: | Chieftain of the Birkebeins King of Norway Queen of Scots (disputed) |
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| Founder: | Sverre Sigurdsson | ||
| Current Head: | last monarch of this House was Haakon Magnusson but his direct descendants are the House of Rosensverd (Norway) and reportedely Tre Rosor (Sweden) | ||
| Founding Year: | 1184 | ||
| Cadet Branches: | House of Rosensverd | ||
The House of Sverre (Norwegian: Sverreætten) was a very important royal family. They ruled the Kingdom of Norway for many years. They also had strong ties to the Kingdom of Scotland. This powerful family started with King Sverre Sigurdsson. Members of the House of Sverre were kings of Norway from 1184 to 1319.
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The Sverre Family's Story
The House of Sverre began with King Sverre Sigurdsson. He became King of Norway in 1184. After King Sverre passed away, his family grew even stronger. They gained more power and wealth.
King Sverre's grandson, Haakon IV, was a very successful ruler. Under his leadership, Norway became very large and powerful. It was a golden age for the country. The time of civil wars in Norway also ended during his reign.
A famous member of this family was Margaret, Maid of Norway. She was supposed to become the Queen of Scotland.
The House of Sverre took over from the Gille dynasty. Later, the House of Bjelbo inherited the Norwegian throne. The Sverre family was the last royal family that could directly trace their family line back to Harald Fairhair. Harald Fairhair was a very early king who united Norway.
Family Symbol: The Coat of Arms
The main symbol for the kings of the House of Sverre was a golden lion. This lion stood on a red background and wore a crown. Later, a silver axe was added next to the lion. This axe represented Olaf the Holy, a very important saint in Norway. This symbol eventually became the official coat of arms of Norway.
Kings of the House of Sverre
Sometimes, the royal family would have a "junior king" and a "senior king" ruling together. The list below shows the kings from the House of Sverre who ruled Norway. If you see three dates, it means they were first a junior king, then a senior king.
| Name | Years Ruled |
|---|---|
| Sverre Sigurdsson | 1184–1202 |
| Haakon III Sverresson | 1202–1204 |
| Guttorm Sigurdsson | 1204 |
| Rule of Inge Baardson of the Gille branch | 1204–1217 |
| Haakon IV the Old | 1217–1263 |
| Haakon Haakonsson the Young | 1240–1257 |
| Magnus VI Lagabøte | 1257–1263–1280 |
| Eric II Magnusson | 1273–1280–1299 |
| Haakon V Magnusson | 1299–1319 |
Other Important Family Members
- Margaret, Maid of Norway
- Ingeborg of Norway (Daughter of King Haakon V)
- Princess Agnes of Norway (Daughter of King Haakon IV)
- House of Rosensverd (A branch of the family in Norway)
Images for kids
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Seal of King Haakon V Magnusson, the last king belonging to the House of Sverre.
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Seal of King Haakon V Magnusson's daughter, Duchess Ingeborg.
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Arms of King Haakon V Magnusson's daughter's son, King Haakon VI Magnusson. His coat of arms includes the Sverre arms and the Bjelbo arms.
_seal_1318_(1).jpg)
See also
- List of Norwegian monarchs
- Norwegian royal family
- Norwegian nobility
