Editing Haakon IV (section)

===Recognition by the Pope===
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While the Church in Norway initially had refused to recognise Haakon as King of Norway, it had largely turned to support his claim to the throne by the 1223 meeting, although later disagreements occurred.<ref>Bagge, 1996, pp. 119–120.</ref> Despite being the undisputed ruler of Norway after 1240, Haakon was still not approved as king by the pope due to his illegitimate birth. He nonetheless had a strong personal desire to be approved fully as a European king.<ref name="NBL"/> Several papal commissions were appointed to investigate the matter, and Haakon declared his legitimate son Haakon the Young his successor instead of an older living illegitimate son.<ref name="helle180"/> Although Haakon had children with his mistress Kanga the Young prior to his marriage with Margrete, it was his children with Margrete who were designated as his successors in accordance with a papal recognition. The Catholic principle of [[Legitimacy (family law)|legitimacy]] was thus established in the Norwegian order of succession, although Haakon's new law still maintained that illegitimate children could be designated as successor in the absence of any legitimate children or grandchildren—contrary to Catholic principles. While his strong position allowed him to set boundaries to the Church's political influence, he was on the other hand prepared to give the Church much autonomy in internal affairs and relations with the rural society.<ref name="NBL"/><ref>Helle, 1995, pp. 181–183.</ref>

Haakon also attempted to strengthen his ties with the papacy by taking a vow to go on [[Crusade]].<ref name="NBL"/> In 1241 he converted this into a vow of waging war against pagan peoples in the north in light of the [[Mongol invasion of Europe]]. When a group of [[Karelians]] ("Bjarmians") had been forced westwards by the Mongols, Haakon allowed them to stay in the area surrounding the [[Malangen (fjord)|Malangen]] fjord and had them Christianized—something that would please the papacy.<ref name="helle198"/> Later, in 1248, [[Louis IX of France]] proposed (by Matthew Paris as messenger) to Haakon to join him for a Crusade, with Haakon as commander of the fleet, but Haakon declined.<ref name="helle199">Helle, 1995, p. 199.</ref> While Haakon had been unsuccessful in gaining the recognition of [[Pope Gregory IX]], he quickly gained the support from [[Pope Innocent IV]] who sought alliances in his struggle with [[Holy Roman Emperor]] [[Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor|Frederick II]]. Haakon finally achieved royal recognition by Pope Innocent in 1246, and [[Cardinal William of Sabina]] was sent to Bergen and crowned Haakon in 1247.<ref>Helle, 1995, pp. 180–181.</ref>