Erling Skakke

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Erling "Skakke" Ormsson (* 1115 ; † June 18, 1179 in Nidaros ) was a Norwegian chief during the civil wars. Erling came from a good sex. According to information in the Fagrskinna and in the Norwegian royal sagas ( Heimskringla ), he descended from the Ladejarlen and Arnmødlingen. His father Orm was the foster father of the king's son Magnus Haraldsson , his brother Ogmund Dengje adviser to the sons of Harald.

Erling Skakke went on a crusade with the Earl of Orkney 1152–1155. He toured Palestine , Constantinople and Rome . Before Sicily there was a fight with the Arabs. He was hit in the neck, so that his head was then crooked ( på skakke ); this earned him his name.

In 1162, Erling was suspected of having killed his rival Håkon Herdebrei in the sea battle off Sekken . Håkon had been captured in battle and died while his people were on Erling's ship.

After King Inge's death in 1161, Erling Skakke was one of the leaders of the Lendmann party, which advocated a unified king . He was married to Kristin , the daughter of Sigurd Jorsalfares , and had a son, Magnus Erlingsson . Erling Skakke died in 1179 in the Battle of Kalvskinn. His son Magnus was King of Norway from 1161 to 1184.