Editing Magnus the Good

{{Short description|King of Norway (1035–1047) and Denmark (1042–1047)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{About|the first Norwegian king named Magnus Olafsson|the later Norwegian king|Magnus Barefoot}}
{{Infobox royalty
| image        = Obverse of Magnus the Good coin from Lund.png
| caption      = Obverse of a coin minted for Magnus the Good in [[Lund]] (at the time a town in [[Skåneland|Danish Scania]])
| succession   = [[King of Norway]]
| reign        = 1035 – 25 October 1047
| predecessor  = [[Cnut]]
| successor    = [[Harald Hardrada|Harald III]]
| regent       = Harald III (1046–47)
| reg-type     = Co-ruler
| succession1  = [[King of Denmark]]
| reign1       = 8 June 1042 – 25 October 1047
| predecessor1 = [[Cnut III]]
| successor1   = [[Sweyn II]]
| full name    = Magnús Óláfsson
| issue        = {{ill|v=ib|Ragnhild Magnusdatter|no}}
| house        = [[St. Olaf dynasty|St. Olaf]] (Vestfold branch of [[Fairhair dynasty]])
| father       = [[Saint Olaf]]
| mother       = [[Alfhild, concubine of Olaf II of Norway|Alfhild]]
| birth_date   = {{circa|1024}}
| birth_place  = [[Kingdom of Norway (872–1397)|Norway]]
| death_date   = 25 October 1047 (aged 23)
| death_place  = [[Zealand]], [[Denmark in the Middle Ages|Denmark]]
| place of burial = [[Nidaros Cathedral]]
}}

'''Magnus Olafsson''' ({{langx|non|Magnús Óláfsson}}; [[Norwegian language|Norwegian]] and [[Danish language|Danish]]: ''Magnus Olavsson''; {{Circa|1024}} – 25 October 1047), better known as '''Magnus the Good''' ({{langx|non|Magnús góði|links=no}}; Norwegian and Danish: ''Magnus den gode''), was [[King of Norway]] from 1035 and [[King of Denmark]] from 1042 until his death in 1047.

Magnus was an illegitimate son of [[Saint Olaf]], and fled with his mother Alfhild when his father was dethroned in 1028. He returned to Norway in 1035 and was crowned king at the age of 11. In 1042, he was also crowned king of Denmark. Magnus ruled the two countries until 1047, when he died under unclear circumstances. After his death, his kingdom was split between [[Harald Hardrada]] in Norway and [[Sweyn Estridsson]] in Denmark.

==Early life==
Magnus was an illegitimate son of King Olaf Haraldsson (later [[Saint Olaf]]) by his [[Kingdom of England|English]] concubine Alfhild,<ref name="bricka">[[Carl Frederik Bricka]], ''Dansk Biografisk Lexikon'', vol. XI [Maar – Müllner], 1897, [https://runeberg.org/dbl/11/0046.html p.44].</ref> originally a slave ([[thrall]]) of Olaf's queen [[Astrid Olofsdotter]].<ref>Morten (2011) p. 16</ref> Born prematurely, the child was weak and unable to breathe for the first few minutes, and he was probably not expected to survive. Olaf was not present at the child's birth, and his Icelandic [[skald]] [[Sigvatr Þórðarson]] became his godfather. In a hasty baptism, Sigvatr named Magnus after the greatest king he knew of, also Olaf's greatest role model, ''Karla Magnus'', or [[Charlemagne]]. Against the odds, Magnus went on to grow strong and healthy, and he became of vital importance to Olaf as his only son.<ref>Morten (2011) p. 17</ref>

Olaf was dethroned by the Danish king [[Cnut the Great]] in 1028, and he went into exile with his family and court, including the young Magnus.<ref name="bricka"/> They travelled over the mountains and through [[Eidskog]] during the winter, entered [[Värmland]], and were given shelter by a chieftain called Sigtrygg in [[Närke]]. After a few months, they departed Närke, and by March went eastwards towards [[Sigtuna]], where the Swedish king [[Anund Jacob]] had left them a ship. The party thereafter sailed through the [[Baltic Sea]] and into the [[Gulf of Finland]], eventually landing in [[Kievan Rus']] (''[[Garðaríki]]''). They made their first stop at [[Staraya Ladoga]] (''Aldeigjuborg'') to organise the further journey.<ref>Morten (2011) pp. 15 & 18–20</ref> From there they travelled southwards to [[Novgorod]] (''Holmgard''), where Olaf sought assistance from Grand Prince [[Yaroslav the Wise]]. Yaroslav, however, did not want to become directly involved in the Scandinavian power-struggles, and declined to help. After some time, in early 1030, Olaf learned that the [[Earls of Lade|Earl of Lade]] [[Håkon Eiriksson]], Cnut's regent in Norway, had disappeared at sea, and gathered his men to make a swift return to Norway. Magnus was left to be fostered by Yaroslav and his wife [[Ingegerd Olofsdotter of Sweden|Ingegerd]].<ref>Morten (2011) pp. 21–23</ref>

In early 1031, a party including Magnus's uncle [[Harald Hardrada|Harald Sigurdsson]] (later also to be king and then known as Harald Hardrada) arrived to report the news of his father's death at the [[Battle of Stiklestad]]. For the next few years, Magnus was educated in [[Old East Slavic|Old Russian]] and some [[Greek language|Greek]] and was trained as a warrior.<ref>Morten (2011) pp. 25–27</ref> In 1030, Cnut appointed his first wife [[Ælfgifu of Northampton|Ælfgifu]] and their son [[Svein Knutsson|Svein]] as regents, but the Norwegians found their rule oppressive and, by the time of Cnut's death in 1035, they had been driven out and Magnus was established as king.<ref>[[Frank Stenton]], ''Anglo-Saxon England'', Oxford history of England 2, 3rd ed. Oxford/Clarendon: 1971, {{ISBN|9780198217169}}, pp. 405–06.</ref> [[Einar Thambarskelfir]] and [[Kalf Arnesson]], who had both sought to be appointed regents under Cnut after Olaf's death in 1030,<ref>Morten (2011) pp. 28–29</ref> had gone together to Kievan Rus' to bring the boy back to rule as the [[King of Norway]].<ref name="larsen">Karen Larsen, ''A History of Norway'', [[The American-Scandinavian Foundation]], Princeton University Press, 1948, repr. 1950, {{OCLC|257284542}}, p. 110.</ref> After receiving the approval of Ingegerd, they returned with Magnus to Sigtuna in early 1035, and received backing from the Swedish king, brother of Magnus's stepmother Astrid. Astrid immediately became an important supporter of Magnus, and an army was gathered in Sweden, headed by Einar and Kalf, to place Magnus on the Norwegian throne.<ref>Morten (2011) pp. 40–44</ref>

==King of Norway and Denmark==

[[File:Magnus den gode mynt p.jpg|thumb|Coin minted for Magnus the Good in [[Denmark]]]]
Magnus was proclaimed king in 1035 at 11 years of age. At first, Magnus sought revenge against his father's enemies, but on Sigvatr's advice, he stopped doing so, which is why he became known as "good" or "noble".<ref name="larsen"/>

Another son of Cnut, [[Harthacnut]], was on the throne of Denmark and wanted his country to reunite with Norway, while Magnus initiated a campaign against Denmark around 1040.<ref name="kongehuset">[http://kongehuset.dk/lineage.php?id=58197&dogtag=k_dk_monarkiet_kongeraek&list_id=1 Monarkiet i Danmark – Kongerækken] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091118011459/http://kongehuset.dk/lineage.php?id=58197&dogtag=k_dk_monarkiet_kongeraek&list_id=1 |date=18 November 2009 }} at [[Monarchy of Denmark|The Danish Monarchy]]</ref> However, the noblemen of both countries brought the two kings together at the [[Göta älv]]. They made peace and agreed that the first of them to die would be succeeded by the other.<ref name="larsen113">Larsen, p. 113.</ref><ref name="lauring">Palle Lauring, ''A History of the Kingdom of Denmark,'' tr. David Hohnen, Copenhagen: Høst, 1960, {{OCLC|5954675}}, pp. 57–59.</ref> In 1042, Harthacnut died while in England, and Magnus also became [[King of Denmark]], in spite of a claim by Cnut's nephew [[Sweyn Estridsen]], whom Harthacnut had left in control of Denmark when he went to England,<ref name="larsen113"/><ref name=DBL>Johannes C. H. L. Steenstrup, [https://runeberg.org/dbl/11/0046.html "Magnus den Gode"], ''[[Dansk biografisk lexikon]]'', online at [[Project Runeberg]] {{in lang|da}}</ref> and who had some support.

As part of consolidating his control, Magnus destroyed the [[Jomsborg]], headquarters of the [[Jomsvikings]]. Sweyn fled east and returned as one of the leaders of an invasion by the [[Wends]] in 1043, which Magnus decisively defeated at the [[Battle of Lyrskov Heath]], near [[Hedeby]].<ref name="lauring"/><ref>[[Hjalmar Hjorth Boyesen]], ''The Story of Norway'', The Story of the Nations, New York: Putnam, 1889, {{OCLC|1536116}}, [https://books.google.com/books?id=ZCvVAAAAMAAJ&q=Lyrskogs&pg=PA230 p. 237].</ref> In the battle, Magnus wielded Saint Olaf's battle-axe, named Hel after the [[Hel (being)|goddess of death]].<ref name="lauring"/><ref>Hollander (Trans.), ''Heimskringla'', [https://books.google.com/books?id=qHpwje7-wNkC&q=battle-axe+Hel&pg=PA537 p. 562].</ref> He had dreamt of his father the night before, and the Norwegians swore that before the battle they could hear the bell that Saint Olaf had given to the Church of St. Clement in Kaupang, in Nidaros—a sign that the saint was watching over his son and the army.<ref>Hollander (Trans.), ''Heimskringla'', [https://books.google.com/books?id=qHpwje7-wNkC&q=Saint+Clement+in+Kaupang&pg=PA537 p. 561].</ref> It was the greatest victory ever over the Wends, with up to 15,000 killed.

Sweyn continued to oppose Magnus in Denmark, although according to ''Heimskringla'', they reached a settlement by which Sweyn became Earl of Denmark under Magnus.<ref>Hollander (Trans.), ''Heimskringla'', [https://books.google.com/books?id=qHpwje7-wNkC&q=appoint+him+my+earl&pg=PA537 p. 558].</ref>

Magnus wanted to reunite Cnut the Great's entire [[North Sea Empire]] by also becoming king of England. When Harthacnut died, the English nobles had chosen as their king [[Æthelred the Unready]]'s son Edward (later known as [[Edward the Confessor]]); Magnus wrote to him that he intended to attack England with combined Norwegian and Danish forces and "he will then govern it who wins the victory."<ref>Larsen, p. 114.</ref> The English were mostly hostile to Magnus; Sweyn was made welcome there, although Edward's mother, [[Emma of Normandy|Emma]], curiously favored Magnus and in 1043 the king confiscated her property, with which by one report she had promised to assist Magnus.<ref>Stenton, pp. 426–27.</ref>

Meanwhile, Magnus' uncle [[Harald Hardrada|Harald Sigurdsson]] had returned to Norway from the east and contested his rule there, while Sweyn was still a threat in Denmark; Harald allied himself with Sweyn.<ref name="bricka"/><ref name=DBL/> Magnus chose to appease Harald,<ref name="bricka"/> and made him his co-king in Norway in 1046.<ref>Hollander (Trans.), ''Heimskringla'', pp. 593–96.</ref><ref>Larsen, p. 111.</ref>

==Death==
[[File:Magnus den Godes grav befinder sig under gulvet i oktogonen i Nidarosdomen i Oslo, men er til daglig ikke markeret på nogen særlig måde.jpg|thumb|Site of the grave of King Magnus in [[Nidaros Cathedral]], [[Trondheim]].]]
[[File:Magnusstenen 4.jpg|thumb|The Magnus Stone created by [[Niels Skovgaard]] in Skibelund Krat, Denmark ]] 
Sweyn increased the pressure on Magnus from his base in [[Scania]],<ref name="kongehuset"/> but by late 1046, Magnus had driven Sweyn out of Denmark. <!-- Could not find a source for the statement that Anund Jacob of Sweden helped; no.wikipedia says he helped ''Sweyn'' -->However, on 25 October 1047, Magnus suddenly died while in Denmark, either in [[Zealand (Denmark)|Zealand]] or in [[Jutland]], either in an accident or of a disease; accounts vary.<ref>[[Gwyn Jones (author)|Gwyn Jones]], ''A History of the Vikings'', London: Oxford University Press, 1973, {{ISBN|0-19-285063-6}}, p. 406.</ref> Reports include falling overboard from one of the ships he was mustering to invade England and drowning,<ref name="lauring"/> falling off a horse,<ref name=DBL/><ref>[[Knut Gjerset]], ''History of the Norwegian People'', 2 vols., Volume 1, New York, Macmillan, 1915, {{OCLC|1674570}}, [https://books.google.com/books?id=io4NAQAAIAAJ&q=thrown+from+his+horse&pg=PA279 p. 279].</ref> and falling ill while on board a ship.<ref name="bricka"/> He is said to have made Sweyn his heir in Denmark, and Harald in Norway; some say in a deathbed statement.<ref name="bricka"/> Magnus was buried with his father in [[Nidaros Cathedral|the cathedral at Nidaros]], modern [[Trondheim]].<ref name="bricka"/>

==Physical appearance==
[[Heimskringla]] describes Magnus as "of middle height, with regular features and light complexion. He had light blond hair, was well spoken and quick to make up his mind, was of noble character, most generous, a great warrior, and most valorous."<ref>Hollander (Trans.), ''Heimskringla'', [https://books.google.com/books?id=qHpwje7-wNkC&q=of+middle+height%2C+with+regular+features+and+light+complexion.&pg=PA537 p. 600].</ref>

==Descendants==
The line of Olaf II ended with Magnus' death. However, in 1280, [[Eric II of Norway]], who was descended through his mother from Magnus' legitimate sister, [[Wulfhild of Norway|Wulfhild]], was crowned king of Norway.

Magnus was not married, but had a daughter out of wedlock, {{ill|Ragnhild Magnusdatter|no}}, who married {{ill|Haakon Ivarsson|no|Håkon Ivarsson jarl}}, a Norwegian nobleman.<ref name=DBL/> Ragnhild and Haakon had daughters Sunniva and Ragnhild. Sunniva had a son [[Hakon Sunnivasson]], whose son became King [[Eric III of Denmark]]. Ragnhild married [[Paul Thorfinnsson]], [[Earl of Orkney]], and together they were the parents of [[Haakon Paulsson]], who also became an earl of [[Orkney]].

==Notes==
{{Reflist|17em}}

==Bibliography==
*{{Cite book|title=Magnus den gode|series=Sagakongene|author=Morten, Øystein|year=2011|publisher=Spartacus/Saga Bok|isbn=978-82-430-0582-2}}

==Further reading==
{{commons category|Magnus I of Norway}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060621102923/http://mcllibrary.org/Heimskringla/magnus.html ''Saga of Magnus the Good'' from ''Heimskringla''], translated by Samuel Laing, online at the Medieval and Classical Literature Library.
*[http://lind.no/nor/index.asp?lang=&emne=&list=&vis=Snorre ''Heimskringla'' in Icelandic, Norwegian, and English], online at Idar Lind's "Norrøn Mytologi/Norrøn Tid."
*[[Saxo Grammaticus]]' ''[[Gesta Danorum]]'', Book X chapters [http://www2.kb.dk/elib/lit//dan/saxo/lat/or.dsr/10/21/index.htm 21] and [http://www2.kb.dk/elib/lit//dan/saxo/lat/or.dsr/10/22/index.htm 22], online at [[Royal Danish Library]].

{{s-start}}
{{s-hou|House of St. Olaf||{{circa|1024}}|25 October|1047|[[Fairhair dynasty]]|name=Magnus the Good}}
{{s-reg}}
{{s-bef
| before = [[Cnut the Great]]
| before2 = [[Svein Knutsson|Sweyn Knutsson]]
}}
{{s-ttl
| title = [[King of Norway]]
| years = 1035–1047
}}
{{s-aft
| after = [[Harald Hardrada|Harald III]]
}}
{{s-bef
| before = [[Harthacnut]]
}}
{{s-ttl
| title = [[King of Denmark]]
| years = 1042–1047
}}
{{s-aft
| after = [[Sweyn II of Denmark|Sweyn II]]
}}
{{S-pre}}
{{S-bef
| before = [[Harthacnut]]
}}
{{S-tul|title=[[King of England]]|years=1042–1047|reason=}}
{{S-aft
| after = [[Harald Hardrada]]
| after2 = [[Sweyn II of Denmark|Sweyn II]]
}}
{{s-end}}
{{Monarchs of Norway}}
{{Monarchs of Denmark}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Magnus 01 Of Norway}}
[[Category:1020s births]]
[[Category:1047 deaths]]
[[Category:11th-century Norwegian monarchs]]
[[Category:11th-century kings of Denmark]]
[[Category:Fairhair dynasty]]
[[Category:Medieval child monarchs]]
[[Category:Burials at Nidaros Cathedral]]
[[Category:Norwegian exiles]]
[[Category:Sons of kings]]
[[Category:Illegitimate children of Norwegian monarchs]]
[[Category:Norwegian people of English descent]]