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'Eystein the Maiden', 'Øystein Øysteinsson Møyla' was elected a rival king of Norway at Øyratinget in 1176.
Nickname Møyla means maiden, girl, cute woman. Eystein was son of king Eystein II of Norway, Eystein Harald's son. Eystein the Maiden and the party of Birkebeins rose the first rebellion against regent Erling Skakke and his young son king Magnus V of Norway, Magnus Erlingsson.
Eystein the Maiden was killed at the battle in Re in 1177.
In the period of civil wars, it was usual for several royal sons to war against each other over power in Norway. The civil wars period of Norwegian history lasted from 1130 to 1217. 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.

★ List of Norwegian monarchs
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