Håkon Magnusson (1270 - 1319)

Born 10 Apr 1270 in Tønsberg, Vestfold, Norge

Ancestors

Husband of Eufemia (Rugen) von Rügen — married 1299 in Oslo, Norway

Descendants

Died 8 May 1319 at age 49 in Tønsberg, Vestfold, Norge

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Biography

Haakon V Magnusson was a member of the aristocracy in Europe.

Håkon Magnusson (Old Norse: Hákon Magnússon; 1270–1319) was the youngest son of Magnus Lagabøte (the Lawmender).

Magnus had made Håkon a duke, a title reserved for men of royal descent. His duchy included the Norwegian mainland provinces of Østlandet, Agder and Ryfylket as well as the Faeroe Islands and the Shetlands. As duke, Håkon had full governmental authority. He established his own administration for the duchy with Oslo as its capital. When his older brother Eirik died, Håkon was made king. Being the seat of the king's chancery, Oslo now supplanted Bergen as the capital city.

Håkon managed to maintain strict control of the English merchants trading in Norway, but had to yield to the Hanseatic tradesmen who were now gaining a foothold in Norwegian cities.

Relations with Denmark being somewhat strained, Håkon fostered closer ties with Sweden. Eventually, Duke Erik, brother of the Swedish king, Birger, was married to Håkon's daughter Ingebjørg. Since she was Håkon's only child from his marriage to Queen Eufemia, Håkon changed the law of succession to extend primogeniture to the first son born by his daughter.

When Håkon Magnusson died in 1319, Ingebjørg's son, Magnus Eriksson was made king in Norway. Two months later he was chosen as king of Sweden. This marked the beginning of the Norway-Sweden Union.

Research Notes

His relationship with Gro (Sigurdsdottir) Sigurdsdatter uncertain, it is known that Haakon had a daughter, Agnes, out of wedlock. As to if Gro is the legitimate mother is questionable.

ALTERNATE INFO: Haakon V Magnussønn Hålegg Born October 4, 1270

Sources

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• University of Oslo archives