Discover

(Redirected from Eirik Magnusson)

'Eirik Magnusson' (1268 – 15 July 1299) was the king of Norway from 1280 until 1299.
He was the eldest surviving son of king Magnus the Lawmender of Norway, and his wife Ingeborg Eriksdatter, daughter of king Eric IV of Denmark. Through his mother (who was daughter of Jutta of Saxony, herself a descendant of Ulvhild of Norway, duchess of Saxony), Eric descended from king St Olav, Olav II of Norway, being the first after Magnus the Good of that saint's descendants to ascend that throne (i.e, the descendants of St.Olav returned to kingship of Norway).
Eirik married princess Margaret of Scotland in 1281. Margaret died two years later in labour, giving birth to Margaret, Maid of Norway, who became queen of Scotland in 1286.
He later married Isabel Bruce, sister of King Robert I of Scotland.
Eirik received the nickname "Priesthater" from his less than successful relations with the church. In spite of this he is normally counted a weak and inoffensive man who was mostly guided by his councillors.
Probably because of his claim on his maternal heritage he supported the Danish outlaws like Stig Andersen Hvide after the murder of King Erik V and ravaged the Danish coasts for some years.
As Eirik died without sons, he was succeeded by his brother , Haakon V of Norway. He was buried in the old cathedral of Bergen, which was demolished in 1531. Its site is marked by a memorial, in present-day Bergenhus Fortress.
Eirik's daughter Ingeborg married Valdemar Magnusson of Sweden.