Sverrir Sigurdsson (1150 - 1202)

Born 1150 in Folkinsberg, Eidsberg, Ostfold, Norway [uncertain]

Ancestors

Husband of Astrid Roesdottir — married 1177 in Bergen, Hordaland, Norway

Descendants

Died 9 Mar 1202 at about age 52 in Bergen, Hordaland, Norway

Biography

(Norse: Sverrir Sigurðarson) Parents: King Sigurd III Haraldsson "Mund aka Mouth"(1133-55). Sverre was 24 years old when he claimed that he learned from his mother that he was the son of Sigurd Munn. This can neither be proved or disproved, but it is highly unlikely. Whether he believed it or simply sought to legitimize his claim to royal power, a key question in Sverre research. ^[1] and Gunhild (mentioned 1151-1175). Marriages (from before 1176) with unknown, possibly Astrid Roesdatter, probably Faroese woman. He married in 1185 Margrete Eriksdatter (died 1209). Uncle of Brigida Haraldsdatter (mentioned 1130-1202); father of Sigurd Sverresson Lavard (mentioned 1181-1200), Håkon III Sverresson (before 1185-1204) and Kristin Sverresdatter (died 1213); half brother to Hakon II Sigurdsson Herdebrei (1147-1162), Sigurd Sigurdsson Markusfostre (died 1163), Earl Eirik Sigurdsson (died 1190; see NBL1, Vol. 3) and Cecilia Sigurdsdatter (approximately 1150 to 1155-after 1185).

Sverre Sigurdsson, Norwegian king in the period 1177, 1179 and 1184-1202. According Sverre saga , he was born in Norway and raised in the Faroe Islands from the age of five. His mother Gunhild, supposedly of Bergen , married to Unas a comb maker. Sverre was then sent to Unas' brother Roe, who was bishop of the Faroes. It is a possibility that Astrid Roesdatter, became his mistress there and bore him his illegitimate children . Faroese tradition holds that he was born there.

Sverre Sigurdsson is recognized as being a Faroes Island native. Where his paternal uncle held the bishopric of Kirkeboe (Kirkbubaeur). It was here he recieved his education and at the age of twenty four was consecrated a priest, one of the youngest of the era. His mother revealed to him that his true father was in fact the long dead king Sigurd Haraldsson. In 1176, he gave up his duties as a priest and returned to Norway. Faced with strong opposition from the powerful Archbishop Eysteinn, who also supported Magnus Erlingsson and crowned him king in 1164. Sverre was proclaimed king in 1177 in Trondheim. After gaining control of large portions of the country he battled Magnus at Frimreiti in 1184. With the death of Magnus, Sverre became the sole ruler of Norway although, he constantly had to fight an array of pretenders to the throne for the rest of his life.

After the Reformation, Sverre was celebrated at the king who had the courage to speak against the authority of Rome and in the 19th-century when Norway was struggling for independence, Sverre became a symbolic figure for a nation looking for an identity. .

Sources

Løberg, Lars: "Norwegian Kings and vikings. Do they belong in your family tree?", 1997^[2]

• Sverre's saga
• Latin document to Norwegian history until the year 1204, ed. and spare. E. Vandvik and V. Skånland, 1959
• RN, Vol. 1
• Saxo Grammaticus
• English historians in excerpts by G. Storm, in HT, rk. 4, vol. 2, 1904
• Isl.Ann.
• Soga about BIRKEBEINER and Baglar (Bǫglunga sǫgur), ed by H. Magerøy, Norse texts 5, 1988
• Reviewing previous research in K. Helle: Norway is a state 1130-1319, Handbook in Norwegian history, Vol. 3, 1974. See also in particular: A. Holtsmark: A speech against the bishops. A linguistically-historical investigation, 1933
• L. Holm-Olsen: Studies in Sverre's Saga, 1953
• GM Gathorne-Hardy: A Royal Impostor: King Sverre of Norway, 1956
• H. Koht: biography in NBL1, Vol. 15, 1966
• K. Lunden: Norway under Sverre 1177-1319, Vol. 3 of CNH, 1976
• Magnús Stefánsson, "Kong Sverre - priest and son of Sigurd Munn," in Festschrift for *Ludvig Holm-Olsen, 1984
• K. Helle: During church and monarchy 1130-1350, Vol. 3 of ANH, 1995
• S. Bagge: From Gang Leader two Lord's Anointed, 1996
• http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/NORWAY.htm

1. ↑ [1]
2. ↑ http://www.genealogi.no/publikasjoner/kings-vikings/#2/z

Notes

Sverre is the Norwegian medieval king that comes most alive in the sources and locked by the time where he was the strongest. It is primarily due to the multifaceted image of his great saga draws to a power full and original personality and an adventurous career. This picture also contains puzzling obscure parties, has further stimulated interest Sverres life and work. Sverre is one of the most controversial and enigmatic people in Norwegian history. Both his background and abilities has been the subject of extensive analysis. Sverre has also inspired poets, including Bjørnson , Kåre Holt and Peder Cappelen. In 1976-77 came the television series King Sverre in three episodes (directed by Stein Ørnhøi). Among the extensive literature include biographies of Fredrik Paasche (1920), Halfdan Koht (1952) and Claus Krag (2005); GM Gathorne-Hardy: A Royal Impostor (1956) and E. Gunnes: King's honor (1971); and Kåre Lunden in Norway's history, Vol. 3 (1976) and K. Helle in Aschehougs Norwegian history Vol. 3 (1995).

The Civil war era in Norway extended over a 110-year period. It started with the death of King Sigurd I of Norway in 1130 and ended with the death of Duke Skule Baardsson in 1240. During this period there were several interlocked conflicts of varying scale and intensity. The background for these conflicts were the unclear Norwegian succession laws, social conditions and the struggle between Church and King. There were then two main parties, firstly known by varying names or no names at all, but finally condensed into parties of Bagler and Birkebeiner. The rallying point regularly was a royal son, who was set up as the head figure of the party in question, to oppose the rule of king from the contesting party.

Sverre I Sigurdsson was a member of the aristocracy in Europe.