Editing Haakon IV (section)

==Historical sources==
The main source of information concerning Haakon is the ''[[Hákonar saga Hákonarsonar|Saga of Haakon Haakonsson]]'', which was written in the years immediately following his death. Commissioned by his son [[Magnus VI of Norway|Magnus]], it was written by the Icelandic writer and politician [[Sturla Þórðarson]] (nephew of the famous historian [[Snorri Sturluson]]).<ref>Helle, 1995, p. 74.</ref> Having come into conflict with the royal representative in Iceland, Sturla came to Norway in 1263 in an attempt to reconcile with Haakon. When he arrived, he learned that Haakon was in Scotland, and that Magnus ruled Norway in his place. While Magnus initially took an unfriendly attitude towards Sturla, his talents as a story-teller and [[skald]] eventually won him the favour of Magnus and his men.<ref>Bagge, 1996, p. 91.</ref> The saga is considered the most detailed and reliable of all sagas concerning Norwegian kings, building on both written archive material and oral information from individuals who had been close to Haakon. It is nonetheless written openly in support of the political program of the [[House of Sverre]], and the legitimacy of Haakon's kingship.<ref name="helle75"/>