c. Hákon IV Hákonarson (r. 1217-63)

Hákon was the illegitimate son of Hákon Sverrisson (d. 1 January 1204) and Inga of Varteig. He was elected king of Norway in 1217 after the death of King Ingi Bárðarson, and during his minority the regent of Norway was Jarl (and later Duke) Skúli Bárðarson, Ingi’s half-brother and the father of Hákon’s wife, Margrét. Hákon was crowned king on 29 July 1247 by the papal legate William of Sabina, and he died in Orkney on 16 December 1263. See Bǫgl (1988, II, 97-8, 106-7) and Hák.

Events documented in poetry: Hákon’s escape from the Baglar in 1206 (Sturl Hákkv 1-3); the prosperity during the first year of his reign (Ólhv Hryn 1; Sturl Hákkv 4-5); the battles of Værne and Oslo in 1221 (Sturl Hákkv 6; Sturl Hákfl 1-2); the campaign to Värmland and the battle of Oslo against the Ribbungar in 1225 (Ólhv Hákdr; Sturl Hákkv 7-8; Sturl Hákfl 4-5); Hákon’s men demolishing the stronghold in Lödöse in 1227 (Sturl Hákfl 7); negotiations between Skúli Bárðarson and Hákon in 1233 (Ólhv Hryn 2-3; Anon (Hák) 2); their exchange of hostages in 1236 (Ólhv Hryn 5); Skúli Bárðarson’s usurpation of the Norwegian crown in 1239 (Ólhv Hryn 6-7; Sturl Hákkv 9); the battle of Oslo against Skúli in 1240 and Skúli’s death in Trondheim (Ólvh Hryn 9-12; Sturl Hákkv 11-24); Hákon’s coronation and the ensuing festivities in 1247 (Sturl Hryn 1; Sturl Hákkv 25-33); his mission to Sweden and his meeting with Jarl Birgir Magnússon in 1249 (Sturl Hákkv 34-8); the reception of Ríkiza Birgisdóttir at Hákon’s court in 1251 (Sturl Hryn 2); Hákon’s meeting with Birgir Magnússon and Danish envoys in 1253 (Sturl Hryn 3-4; Sturl Hákfl 8); his campaign in Halland in 1256 (Sturl Hryn 5-11); Hákon sending his daughter, Kristín, to Spain in 1257 to be married (Sturl Hryn 13, 19); his journeys to Sweden and Denmark in 1257 (Sturl Hryn  12, 14-18; Sturl Hákfl 9; Giz Hákdr); his expedition to the west in 1263 (Sturl Hrafn; Sturl Hákfl 10); his burial in 1264 (Sturl Hákfl 11); his reputation and dominions (Sturl Hryn 20-1). See also SnSt Ht^III and SnSt Lv 5^III.

References

1. Internal references
2. Kari Ellen Gade 2017, ‘ Snorri Sturluson, Háttatal’ in Kari Ellen Gade and Edith Marold (eds), Poetry from Treatises on Poetics. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 3. Turnhout: Brepols, p. 1094. <https://skaldic.org/m.php?p=text&i=1376> (accessed 23 April 2024)
3. Guðrún Nordal (forthcoming), ‘ Snorri Sturluson, Lausavísur’ in Guðrún Nordal (ed.), Poetry on Icelandic History. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 4. Turnhout: Brepols, p. . <https://skaldic.org/m.php?p=text&i=1378> (accessed 23 April 2024)
4. Kari Ellen Gade 2009, ‘ Sturla Þórðarson, Hrafnsmál’ in Kari Ellen Gade (ed.), Poetry from the Kings’ Sagas 2: From c. 1035 to c. 1300. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 2. Turnhout: Brepols, pp. 727-45. <https://skaldic.org/m.php?p=text&i=1397> (accessed 23 April 2024)
5. Valgerður Erna Þorvaldsdóttir 2009, ‘ Sturla Þórðarson, Hrynhenda’ in Kari Ellen Gade (ed.), Poetry from the Kings’ Sagas 2: From c. 1035 to c. 1300. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 2. Turnhout: Brepols, pp. 676-98. <https://skaldic.org/m.php?p=text&i=1398> (accessed 23 April 2024)
6. Kari Ellen Gade (ed.) 2017, ‘Snorri Sturluson, Lausavísur 5’ in Kari Ellen Gade and Edith Marold (eds), Poetry from Treatises on Poetics. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 3. Turnhout: Brepols, p. 370.
7. Valgerður Erna Þorvaldsdóttir (ed.) 2009, ‘Sturla Þórðarson, Hrynhenda 1’ in Kari Ellen Gade (ed.), Poetry from the Kings’ Sagas 2: From c. 1035 to c. 1300. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 2. Turnhout: Brepols, p. 678.
8. Valgerður Erna Þorvaldsdóttir (ed.) 2009, ‘Sturla Þórðarson, Hrynhenda 13’ in Kari Ellen Gade (ed.), Poetry from the Kings’ Sagas 2: From c. 1035 to c. 1300. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 2. Turnhout: Brepols, pp. 690-1.
9. Valgerður Erna Þorvaldsdóttir (ed.) 2009, ‘Sturla Þórðarson, Hrynhenda 2’ in Kari Ellen Gade (ed.), Poetry from the Kings’ Sagas 2: From c. 1035 to c. 1300. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 2. Turnhout: Brepols, p. 679.
10. Valgerður Erna Þorvaldsdóttir (ed.) 2009, ‘Sturla Þórðarson, Hrynhenda 20’ in Kari Ellen Gade (ed.), Poetry from the Kings’ Sagas 2: From c. 1035 to c. 1300. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 2. Turnhout: Brepols, p. 697.
11. Valgerður Erna Þorvaldsdóttir (ed.) 2009, ‘Sturla Þórðarson, Hrynhenda 3’ in Kari Ellen Gade (ed.), Poetry from the Kings’ Sagas 2: From c. 1035 to c. 1300. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 2. Turnhout: Brepols, pp. 679-80.
12. Valgerður Erna Þorvaldsdóttir (ed.) 2009, ‘Sturla Þórðarson, Hrynhenda 5’ in Kari Ellen Gade (ed.), Poetry from the Kings’ Sagas 2: From c. 1035 to c. 1300. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 2. Turnhout: Brepols, pp. 681-2.