Guttorm of Norway
| Guttorm Sigurdsson | |
|---|---|
| King of Norway | |
| Reign | 2 January – 11 August 1204 |
| Predecessor | Haakon III |
| Successor | Inge II |
| Regent | Haakon the Crazy[1] |
| Born | 1199 |
| Died | 11 August 1204(aged 4–5) |
| Burial | |
| House | House of Sverre |
| Father | Sigurd Lavard |
Guttorm Sigurdsson(Old Norse:Guttormr Sigurðarson;1199 – 11 August 1204) was theking of Norwayfrom January to August 1204, during theNorwegian civil war era.As a grandson of KingSverre,he was proclaimed king by theBirkebeinerfaction when he was just four years old. Although obviously not in control of the events surrounding him, Guttorm's accession to the throne under the effectiveregencyofHaakon the Crazyled to renewed conflict between the Birkebeiner and theBaglerfactions, the latter supported militarily byValdemar II of Denmark.
Guttorm's reign ended abruptly when the child king suddenly became ill and died. Rumours among the Birkebeiner held that Guttorm's illness and death had been caused by Haakon the Crazy's future wife Christina Nilsdatter, a claim considered dubious by modern historians. Low-intensity civil war followed Guttorm's death, until a settlement was reached in 1207, temporarily dividing the kingdom.[2]
Background
[edit]
Guttorm was an illegitimate son ofSigurd Lavardand thus a grandson of KingSverre.The identity of his mother is unknown. Sigurd predeceased his father, Sverre, who died in 1202 and was succeeded by his younger sonHaakon Sverresson.Haakon reigned until his own death on 1 January 1204.[3]Haakon had pursued a policy of peace and reunification between theBirkebeinerandBaglerduring his short reign, but following his death relations between the parties collapsed and a new phase of theNorwegian civil warsbegan.[4]Parts of the Birkebeiner were disgruntled by Haakon's policy of reconciliation with the Bagler, which may have led to his death, following which the balance of power within the Birkebeiner switched immediately to the faction aroundHaakon the Crazy.[5]
The day after Haakon's death, the Birkebeiner designated Guttorm as king at a meeting of thehird,in consultation with Bishop Martin ofBergen.Sverre's nephew Haakon the Crazy was simultaneously appointedregentas leader of the hird and the army.[6][7]According to theBǫglunga sǫgur(Bagler sagas), the young king then took a sword and mounted it to Haakon's side, and handed him a shield. He further gave Haakon the title of earl, with consent from all the chieftains, and had Haakon sit next to him at his throne. Haakon's unusually strong position was thus symbolised by his sitting at the same level as the king, and not on a lower seat as would have been customary for an earl.[8]Another of Sverre's nephews, Peter Støyper, together withEinar Kongsmåg,husband of Sverre's daughter Cecilia, were appointed as Guttorm's guardians.[9]
Revolt and death
[edit]The appointment of the warlike and power-hungry Haakon the Crazy (called "the mad dog" by the Bagler) to key positions contributed to conflicts within the Birkebeiner, and a worsening of relations with the Bagler. Haakon's elevation led the Bagler to believe that there was not much hope of peace with the Birkebeiner. The Bagler therefore travelled to Denmark and united aroundErling Stonewall,an alleged son of former kingMagnus Erlingsson,whom elements of the party had attempted to proclaim as king in 1203. Their revolt was actively supported byValdemar II of Denmark,who sought to regain the ancient Danish overlordship ofViken,in Norway.[5][10]
Valdemar arrived in Viken in June with more than 300 ships, and Erling performed atrial by ordealbefore the king inTønsberg.In turn, the Danish king gave 35 ships to Erling, and together withPhilip Simonsson(another Bagler rival), he swore allegiance to Valdemar. Although Philip's claim to the throne was supported by both Valdemar and the church,[11]in the end, the Bagler proclaimed Erling as king and Philip as earl atHaugatingandBorgarting(thingsof the southeastern parts of Norway), and the Bagler quickly gained control of Viken.[10]Guttorm was in turn proclaimed king (konungstekja) by the Birkebeiner atØyratinginTrondheimin the spring or early summer. While Haakon the Crazy was in the process of gathering an army to fight the Bagler,[3]likely at a second purely military assembly at Øyrating,[7]Guttorm suddenly became ill and died on 11 August. He was buried at theNidaros Cathedralin Trondheim.[3]
In the longer version of theBǫglunga sǫgur,it is insinuated that Guttorm's illness and death were caused by Swedish-born Christina Nilsdatter, who married Haakon the Crazy shortly after Guttorm's death. Modern historians consider this claim to be dubious, derived from rumours spread by the Birkebeiner in connection with the sudden death of Haakon Sverresson some months earlier. The same source claims that Haakon was poisoned, allegedly by Sverre's widowMargaret,Christina's aunt.[3]Haakon the Crazy's bid to succeed Guttorm as king foundered because he was not trusted and had made powerful opponents.[12]Guttorm's death was followed by low-intensity civil war between his successorInge Bårdssonand the Bagler, until a settlement was reached between Inge, Haakon and the new Bagler pretender Philip Simonsson in 1207, which for some years divided the kingdom.[13]
References
[edit]- ^Arstad, Knut Peter Lyche."Håkon Galen".Norsk biografisk leksikon(in Norwegian). Archived fromthe originalon 19 October 2012.Retrieved10 October2012.
- ^"Den norske kongerekken".kongehuset.no(in Norwegian). 23 February 2010.Retrieved12 August2023.
- ^abcdHelle, Knut."Guttorm Sigurdsson".Norsk biografisk leksikon(in Norwegian).Retrieved10 October2012.
- ^Helle (1974) p. 94
- ^abLunden (1976) pp. 149–150
- ^Helle (1974) pp. 94–95
- ^abHelle (1972) p. 129
- ^Blom (1972) p. 14
- ^Helle (1972) p. 476
- ^abHelle (1974) pp. 95–96
- ^Blom (1972) p. 15
- ^Lunden (1976) p. 154
- ^Helle (1974) pp. 96–97
Bibliography
[edit]- Blom, Grethe Authén (1972).Samkongedømme – enekongedømme – Håkon Magnussons hertugdømme.Trondheim: Universitetsforlaget.ISBN82-00-08853-7.
- Helle, Knut (1972).Konge og gode menn i norsk riksstyring ca. 1150–1319.Bergen: Universitetsforlaget.ISBN82-00-08836-7.
- Helle, Knut (1974).Norge blir en stat: 1130–1319.Handbok i norsk historie. Vol. 3. Universitetsforlaget.ISBN82-00-01323-5.
- Lunden, Kåre (1976).Norge under Sverreætten, 1177–1319.Norges historie. Vol. 3. Oslo: Cappelen.ISBN82-02-03453-1.