Øystein II. (Norway)

Øystein II. Haraldsson (* 1125 on the Scottish Islands, † August 21, 1157 in Ranrike , buried in Fors kirke in what is now Trollhättan , Sweden) was a Norwegian king. His parents were Kong Harald Gille (approx. 1102–1136) and the Scottish noblewoman Biadoc or Bethoc (on Norrøn “Bjaðok”) (around 1103 – around 1142). He married Ragna Nikolasdatter, daughter of Nikolas Måse. He was the half-brother of King Sigurd Munn (1133–1155), Inge Krogrygg (1134 / 35–1161) and Brigida Haraldsdatter († after 1202); allegedly father of Torleiv Breiskjegg († 1190/91); Uncle of King Håkon Herdebrei (1147–1162).

When Øystein Haraldsson came to Norway in 1142, he was immediately proclaimed king on the Øyrating. He was a third co-king with his half-brothers Sigurd munn and Inge Krogrygg . He did not have to pass a fire test for his claim , as he was recognized by his father Harald Gille.

King Øystein was an energetic ruler. In the early 1150s he defeated a numerically superior peasant army from Ranrike and Hisingen and thus subjugated Viken . Then he moved west across the sea. This campaign is judged differently. Edvard Bull the Elder (1881–1932) considered the army to be a raid. Recent research suggests that political motives were behind the campaign. His move to Scotland is said to be a reaction to the close ties between the Scottish King David I and Harald Gilles' murderer Sigurd Slembe and support from relatives of the Sumarliðis family, who had been Jarl in Orkney, who challenged the rule of the Scottish king. He forced the orcade jarl Harald Maddaðsson to swear allegiance to him; and Øystein was thereafter recognized as overlord of Orkney until his death.

Øystein sailed on from Scotland to England in 1153: his attacks on Hartlepool, Whitby, Scarborough and Wash are considered the last Viking attacks on England.

According to the sources, Øystein was a lover of the skaldic poetry. So the skald Einar Skulason was in his retinue, and Øystein made him his stable master. At his request, Einar composed a poem dealing with the life and wonders of Olav the Saint, which was probably written soon after the Archbishopric of Nidaros was established in 1152/1153.

In the winter of 1154/1155, Øystein and Sigurd agreed to depose the youngest half-brother Inge. Gregorius Dagsson had succeeded in forming a circle of nobles around Inge who could endanger the two kings. Inge found out about this and decided in 1155 to launch a pre-emptive strike against Sigurd in Bergen, where he defeated and killed him. Øystein was too late. In 1156 there was initially a comparison between the two opponents, in which Inge dictated the conditions due to military superiority. But in 1157 there was another conflict because Øystein did not feel bound by the compulsory comparison. In 1157 Inge collected 80 ships and the train against Øystein with 45 ships. According to the sources, Øystein's troops refused to fight because they were not paid properly. Øystein had to flee from the overwhelming forces of Inges, was caught up and killed on August 21, 1157 in Ranrike ( Bohuslän ). Inge was the sole ruler. He owed this success to two followers: Gregorius Dagsson and Erling Ormsson. Gregorius had established the network around Inge and had learned about the attack by the fellow kings.

Individual evidence

The article is essentially taken from the Norsk biografisk leksikon . Other information is shown separately.

1. ^ Edvard Bull: Article "Eystein Haraldsson" in: Norsk biografisk leksikon . 1st edition Vol. 3. 1926 and Helle p. 22.
2. ↑ Helle s. 32.

literature

• Knut Peter Lyche Arstad: Article “Øystein 2 Haraldsson”, in: Norsk biografisk leksikon , accessed on October 25, 2010.
• Knut Helle: Under kirke og kongemakt 1130–1350. Aschehougs Norges history. Vol. 3. Oslo 1995.

See also

• The end of the three kings

predecessor	Office	successor
Sigurd munn Inge Krogrygg	King of Norway 1142–1157	Håkon herd porridge