Inge Haraldsson facts for kids

Inge Haraldsson (born in 1135, died February 3, 1161) was a king of Norway from 1136 to 1161. He is also known as Inge I. His time as king was at the beginning of a period in Norwegian history called the civil war era. During this time, he was never the only ruler of the country. People sometimes called him Inge the Hunchback because of a physical disability. However, this nickname does not appear in older historical writings.

Becoming King: Inge's Early Life

Inge was the only son of King Harald Gille and his wife, Ingrid Ragnvaldsdotter. Back then, being born to married parents wasn't the only way to become king. Inge was raised by a man named Ögmund Gyrðarson in eastern Norway.

A King at One Year Old

In 1136, Inge's father, King Harald, was killed by someone who wanted to be king, Sigurd Slembe. The one-year-old Inge was then named king at a special meeting called a thing (a public assembly) in a place called Borgarting. His two younger half-brothers, Magnus and Sigurd, who were also babies, were named kings at other meetings.

Their guardians (people who looked after them) joined forces. They fought against Sigurd Slembe and his friend, the former king Magnus the Blind. In 1139, Sigurd Slembe and Magnus the Blind were defeated and killed in the Battle of Holmengrå.

Inge's Physical Condition

Old stories say that Inge's physical condition came from a battle in 1137. He was carried into the fight by one of his guardians. The stories say his back became hunched, and one foot was shorter than the other. He had trouble walking for the rest of his life. Another writer from Denmark said he became a hunchback after a maid accidentally dropped him when he was a baby.

While Inge, Sigurd, and Magnus were young, their guardians ruled Norway peacefully. Inge's mother, Queen Ingrid, was one of the most important guardians. Magnus died sometime in the 1140s. In 1142, an older brother named Eystein came to Norway from Scotland. Their father, Harald Gille, had said Eystein was his son before he died. So, Eystein was also given a share of the kingdom.

Ruling as King: Brothers and Conflict

The kingdom was divided among the brothers, but they all had equal power over all parts of Norway. The old stories say that the brothers got along well as long as their guardians were alive. During this peaceful time, an independent church leader (an Archiepiscopacy) was set up in Nidaros (now Trondheim) in 1152.

Fighting Among Brothers

As their guardians passed away and the brothers grew up, problems started. In 1155, Inge and Sigurd met in Bergen. Fighting broke out between their men, and King Sigurd was killed. King Eystein arrived late for the meeting, after Sigurd was already dead. Inge and Eystein then made a difficult agreement.

Historians still debate why the fighting started in Bergen. Some old stories say Eystein and Sigurd planned to take away Inge's royal title and divide his part of the kingdom. However, some modern historians think this might have been Inge's reason for his own actions.

The End of Eystein's Reign

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 forces quickly scattered. Eystein had to run away. He was caught and killed later that year in Bohuslän.

Inge's Final Years

Inge was now the only brother left. However, the supporters of Sigurd and Eystein united behind Sigurd's son, Haakon the Broadshouldered. They continued the fight against Inge.

The old book Heimskringla says that Inge was well-liked by the "chieftains" (important leaders called lendmenn). This was because he let them have a big say in how the kingdom was run. His main advisor was a chieftain named Gregorius Dagsson. Another important supporter was Erling Skakke. Inge's mother also remained important throughout his reign.

On January 7, 1161, Gregorius was killed in a small fight with King Haakon's forces. On February 3 of the same year, Inge was defeated and killed. He was leading his men into battle against King Haakon near Oslo. Many of his men, including a leader named Guðrøðr Óláfsson, switched sides to King Haakon. Inge was buried in St. Hallvard's church in Oslo.

What Happened Next

The peaceful time during the childhood of King Inge and his brothers (from 1129 to 1155) was the longest period of peace Norway would have until 1240. The conflicts between the brothers started the long Norwegian civil war era.

The Heimskringla describes King Inge like this: "King Inge was the most handsome of them in his face. He had yellow, thin hair that was very curly. He was small in height and had trouble walking alone because one foot was weak, and he had a hump on both his back and chest. He was cheerful and friendly to his friends. He was generous and let other leaders advise him on how to rule the country. Because of this, he was popular with the people, and everyone supported him and the kingdom."

After Inge's death, his supporters gathered behind the chieftain Erling Skakke and his son, King Magnus Erlingsson. This group is sometimes called the lendmann-party. The old stories about King Inge do not mention any children. However, a man named Jon Kuvlung (who died in 1188) claimed to be Inge's son and tried to become king later.