Ingeborg of Denmark, Queen of Norway facts for kids

Ingeborg Eriksdotter (born around 1244 – died 1287) was a Danish princess. She became the Queen of Norway when she married King Magnus VI. After her husband passed away, she became a very important person in Norwegian politics. She helped lead the country when her son, King Eric II, was too young to rule by himself.

Her Early Life and Family

Ingeborg was born in Denmark around 1244. Her parents were Eric IV of Denmark and Jutta of Saxony. When Ingeborg was only about six years old, her father was killed. Her mother then moved back to Saxony and got married again.

Ingeborg and her three sisters mostly grew up at the court of their uncle, King Christopher I of Denmark. They were important because they were heirs to a lot of land in Denmark. Later, the fight to get Ingeborg's inheritance caused many conflicts between Norway and Denmark for a long time.

Marriage to King Magnus VI

The Danish government decided that Ingeborg would marry Magnus. Magnus was the son of King Haakon IV of Norway. Ingeborg arrived in Tønsberg on July 28, 1261. She had been brought from a monastery in Horsens.

On September 11, 1261, she married Magnus in Bergen. Right after their wedding, Magnus and Ingeborg were crowned. Magnus was given the area of Ryfylke to help support them. People said that their marriage was a happy one.

Becoming Queen of Norway

On December 16, 1263, King Haakon IV of Norway died. He was fighting the Scottish king over the Hebrides islands. After his father's death, Magnus became the new ruler of Norway.

As queen, Ingeborg did not seem to play a big part in politics. She had four sons: Olaf, Magnus, Eric, and Haakon. Sadly, her two oldest sons, Olaf and Magnus, died when they were very young. But her two youngest sons, Eric II and Haakon V, later became Kings of Norway.

Her Role as Queen Dowager

In 1280, Ingeborg became a widow when King Magnus died. Her son, Eric, was still young. Even though she wasn't officially called a regent (someone who rules for a young king), Ingeborg became a very important leader in the country. Her influence grew even more after her son Eric was old enough to rule by himself in 1283.

Ingeborg's main supporter was Alv Erlingsson. He was a cousin of her late husband, King Magnus. Alv was also the governor of an area called Borgarsyssel, which is now part of Østfold county.

The Inheritance Dispute

During the time her cousin, King Eric V of Denmark, was ruling, Ingeborg started a dispute. She wanted to claim her inheritance from her father, which she had never received. This personal argument caused problems between Norway and the German Hanseatic cities. It also made the relationship with Denmark very tense.

Some Danish nobles, like Count Jacob of Halland, supported Ingeborg against the Danish king. However, Ingeborg died in 1287 before this dispute was fully settled.

Other Sources

• Koht, Halvdan Norske dronningar (1926)