Margaret Skulesdatter facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Margaret Skulesdatter |
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Initial from a psalter probably owned by Margarete, showing Christ blessing a royal bridal couple
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| Queen consort of Norway | |
| Tenure | 25 May 1225 – 16 December 1263 |
| Coronation | 29 July 1247 (Bergen) |
| Born | 1208 |
| Died | 1270 (aged 61–62) Norway |
| Spouse | Haakon IV of Norway |
| Issue | |
| House | Godwin |
| Father | Skule Bårdsson |
| Mother | Ragnhild |
| Religion | Christianity (Roman Catholicism) |
Margaret Skulesdatter (born 1208, died 1270) was a queen of Norway. She was married to King Haakon IV of Norway. Margaret was queen from 1225 to 1263.
About Queen Margaret
Margaret was the daughter of Jarl Skule Bårdsson and Ragnhild. A "jarl" was a powerful noble, similar to a count. Her marriage was planned to help her father and King Haakon Haakonsson become friends. This was important because her father had once wanted to be king. He had given up his claim in 1217.
The engagement was celebrated in Bergen in 1219. Margaret and Haakon were married there on May 25, 1225.
Family Conflicts
In 1239, a big conflict started between Margaret's father and her husband. Skule, her father, declared himself king in Nidaros. This led to a war. The rebellion ended in 1240 when Skule was killed.
According to old stories, Margaret was very sad when she heard about her father's rebellion. She cried a lot when he died. We don't know if her husband let her keep her father's property. Her father's lands were taken by the king after the rebellion.
However, we do know that Margaret asked the Pope for help. She wanted him to protect some lands that King Haakon gave her. This happened after Haakon's coronation in 1247. It's possible these lands were part of her father's original property.
Life as Queen
Queen Margaret is not described in great detail in old texts. She did not seem to be involved in politics. But she did make sure her own financial rights were protected. She often traveled around Norway with her husband. She played an active role as queen.
In 1238 and 1240, she received gifts of red fabric from King Henry III of England. It is thought that an old English psalm book found in Norway might have been a gift to her. A psalm book is a book of religious songs.
Margaret was especially interested in Stavanger. She had a disagreement with the bishop of Stavanger. This problem was solved by a church leader named Cardinal William of Sabina. He gave Margaret control over three chapels in Stavanger in 1247. One of these might have been Peterskirken. Margaret was also the first person to witness an important document. This document confirmed the power of the church and the king over Stavanger.
Later Years
Margaret became a widow in 1263 when her husband died. In the autumn of 1264, she visited Rissa Abbey in Trøndelag with her son Magnus. Her father had founded this abbey. Margaret likely spent her last years there, starting in 1267. She died in 1270.
Children of Margaret
Margaret and King Haakon had several children:
- Olav (born 1226). He died when he was a baby.
- Haakon the Young (1232–1257). He married Rikitsa Birgersdóttir. She was the daughter of a Swedish jarl named Birger. Haakon the Young was made king and co-ruler by his father in 1239. He died before his father.
- Christina (1234-1262). She married Philip, a Spanish prince from Castile, in 1258. Philip was the brother of King Alfonso X of Castile. Christina did not have any children.
- Magnus (1238–1280). He became king and co-ruler after his older brother, Haakon the Young, died. Magnus was crowned king in 1261. This happened when he married the Danish princess Ingeborg.
