Brigida Haraldsdotter
Encyclopedia
Brigida Haraldsdotter (c. 1131 – c. 1208) was a medieval Swedish Queen consort, spouse of King Magnus (II) of Sweden
.
Brigida Haraldsdotter was the illegitimate daughter of King Harald IV of Norway
. Her mother is unknown, but she was possibly Tora Gudmundsdotter, long-term lover of her father and the mother of King Sigurd Munn. Her Irish first name was the same as that of her father's Irish mother, Brigida O'Brien (d. 1138). According to legend, she was first married to King Inge the Younger, but this is not considered possible; likely, her first marriage was to the Swedish earl Karl Sunesson. She was married to Prince Magnus Henriksen of Denmark
, son of her stepmother Princess Ingrid Ragnvaldsdotter
of Sweden and Ingrid's first husband, Prince Henrik Skadelår of Denmark. Her spouse claimed the Swedish throne through his mother in 1160-61, during which time she was called Queen Birgitta of Sweden for one year. After his death in 1161, she remarried the Swedish jarl Birger Brosa
of Bjelbo. The daughter she had during her marriage to Brosa, Ingegerd Birgersdotter of Bjelbo
, was to be Queen of Sweden in 1200.
In 1174, the Norwegian throne claimant Øystein Møyla, who claimed to be her nephew, asked for the support of her and her husband, which they also granted. In 1176, the Norwegian throne claimant Sverre of Norway
did the very same thing. He was turned away at first, but in 1177, they advised the Birkebeiner
to acknowledge Sverre as their King and gave him the support of them and of the Swedish King. Brigida's son Filippus would also join Sverre's service. Brosa died in 1202. In 1205, a conflict broke out between her daughter queen Ingegerd and the Bjelbo family.
The dates of her birth and death are not known, though her daughter's birth year is set at c. 1180. The dates c. 1131-1208 have been suggested. After the death of her second spouse in 1202, she retired to the Riseberga Nunnery in Närke
, were she died and was buried.
Magnus (II) of Sweden
Magnus II of Sweden, son of Henry; Swedish: Magnus Henriksson was a Danish lord and King of Sweden between 1160 and 1161, being afterwards treated as usurper.His mother was Ingrid Ragvaldsdotter, a granddaughter of Inge I...
.
Brigida Haraldsdotter was the illegitimate daughter of King Harald IV of Norway
Harald IV of Norway
Harald Gille was king of Norway from 1130 until his death in 1136. His byname Gille is probably from Gilla Críst, i.e. servant of Christ.-Background:...
. Her mother is unknown, but she was possibly Tora Gudmundsdotter, long-term lover of her father and the mother of King Sigurd Munn. Her Irish first name was the same as that of her father's Irish mother, Brigida O'Brien (d. 1138). According to legend, she was first married to King Inge the Younger, but this is not considered possible; likely, her first marriage was to the Swedish earl Karl Sunesson. She was married to Prince Magnus Henriksen of Denmark
Magnus (II) of Sweden
Magnus II of Sweden, son of Henry; Swedish: Magnus Henriksson was a Danish lord and King of Sweden between 1160 and 1161, being afterwards treated as usurper.His mother was Ingrid Ragvaldsdotter, a granddaughter of Inge I...
, son of her stepmother Princess Ingrid Ragnvaldsdotter
Ingrid Ragnvaldsdotter
Ingrid Ragnvaldsdotter was born a member of the Swedish royal family, became a member of Danish royalty by marriage and later was Queen Consort of Norway as the spouse of Harald IV of Norway...
of Sweden and Ingrid's first husband, Prince Henrik Skadelår of Denmark. Her spouse claimed the Swedish throne through his mother in 1160-61, during which time she was called Queen Birgitta of Sweden for one year. After his death in 1161, she remarried the Swedish jarl Birger Brosa
Birger Brosa
Birger Brosa , jarl of Sweden 1174-1202, d. 9 January 1202 on Visingsö, was a son of Bengt Snivil and a member of the powerful House of Bjälbo...
of Bjelbo. The daughter she had during her marriage to Brosa, Ingegerd Birgersdotter of Bjelbo
Ingegerd Birgersdotter of Bjelbo
Ingegerd Birgersdotter of Bjelbo , , was a Swedish Queen Consort, second spouse of King Sverker II of Sweden....
, was to be Queen of Sweden in 1200.
In 1174, the Norwegian throne claimant Øystein Møyla, who claimed to be her nephew, asked for the support of her and her husband, which they also granted. In 1176, the Norwegian throne claimant Sverre of Norway
Sverre of Norway
Sverre Sigurdsson was king of Norway from 1177 to 1202. He married Margareta Eriksdotter, the daughter of the Swedish king Eric the Saint, by whom he had the daughter Kristina Sverresdotter....
did the very same thing. He was turned away at first, but in 1177, they advised the Birkebeiner
Birkebeiner
The Birkebein Party or Birkebeinar was the name for a rebellious party in Norway, formed in 1174 around the pretender to the Norwegian throne, Eystein Meyla...
to acknowledge Sverre as their King and gave him the support of them and of the Swedish King. Brigida's son Filippus would also join Sverre's service. Brosa died in 1202. In 1205, a conflict broke out between her daughter queen Ingegerd and the Bjelbo family.
The dates of her birth and death are not known, though her daughter's birth year is set at c. 1180. The dates c. 1131-1208 have been suggested. After the death of her second spouse in 1202, she retired to the Riseberga Nunnery in Närke
Närke
' is a Swedish traditional province, or landskap, situated in Svealand in south central Sweden. It is bordered by Västmanland to the north, Södermanland to the east, Östergötland to the southeast, Västergötland to the southwest, and Värmland to the northwest...
, were she died and was buried.
Children
- Philippus Birgersson (d. 1200), Jarl of Norway in the service of King Sverre of NorwaySverre of NorwaySverre Sigurdsson was king of Norway from 1177 to 1202. He married Margareta Eriksdotter, the daughter of the Swedish king Eric the Saint, by whom he had the daughter Kristina Sverresdotter....
and one of his most staunch supporters. - Knut Birgersson, Riksjarl of SwedenKnut Birgersson, Riksjarl of SwedenKnut Birgersson was Riksjarl of Sweden. He was the eldest surviving son of Riksjarl Birger Brosa and a member of the powerful House of Bjälbo....
, jarlJarl in SwedenIn Sweden, members of medieval royal families, such as the House of Stenkil and House of Bjelbo, held the title of jarl before their accession to the throne. Since the early 12th century, there usually was only one holder of the title at a time, second only to the King of Sweden.For special...
of Sweden. According to one source, Knut was married to king Knut Eriksson's daughter, named Sigrid in that source. He was killed in 1208 at the battle of LenaBattle of LenaThe Battle of Lena occurred on January 31, 1208, and probably took place near Kungslena , which is located in the Tidaholm Municipality in Västergötland, Sweden....
(??Battle of GestilrenBattle of GestilrenThe Battle of Gestilren took place on July 17, 1210. The battle was fought between the exiled King of Sweden Sverker and the ruling King Eric. Sverker had been beaten in the previous Battle of Lena, but had returned with new forces. Sverker was killed in the battle...
1210???). - Folke Birgersson, aka Folke jarl, jarlJarl in SwedenIn Sweden, members of medieval royal families, such as the House of Stenkil and House of Bjelbo, held the title of jarl before their accession to the throne. Since the early 12th century, there usually was only one holder of the title at a time, second only to the King of Sweden.For special...
of Sweden, killed 1210 at battle of GestilrenBattle of GestilrenThe Battle of Gestilren took place on July 17, 1210. The battle was fought between the exiled King of Sweden Sverker and the ruling King Eric. Sverker had been beaten in the previous Battle of Lena, but had returned with new forces. Sverker was killed in the battle... - Ingegerd Birgersdotter of BjelboIngegerd Birgersdotter of BjelboIngegerd Birgersdotter of Bjelbo , , was a Swedish Queen Consort, second spouse of King Sverker II of Sweden....
, (ca 1180-1230), Queen of Sweden 1200-1208, married to king Sverker II and mother of king John I of SwedenJohn I of SwedenJohn I of Sweden was a Swedish king elected in 1216. -Background:John was the son of King Sverker II of Sweden of the House of Sverker and Queen Ingegerd of the Bjälbo dynasty. King Sverker had been beaten in the Battle of Lena and later killed in the Battle of Gestilren in 1210...
. - Kristina Birgersdotter
- Margareta Birgersdotter