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Harald IV of Norway

Harald IV Gille
Magnussonnenes saga 9 - G. Munthe.jpg
Harald Gille imagined by artist Wilhelm Wetlesen in the 1899 edition of Heimskringla.
King of Norway
Reign 1130 – 14 December 1136
Predecessor Sigurd I
Successor Sigurd II and Inge I
Born c. 1103
Ireland/Hebrides
Died 14 December 1136 (aged 32–33)
Bergen
Consort Ingrid Ragnvaldsdotter
Issue Inge I of Norway
Sigurd II of Norway
Eystein II of Norway
Magnus Haraldsson of Norway
Brigida, Queen of Sweden
Full name
Harald Gille
House Gille
Father Magnus III of Norway (claimed)
Full name
Harald Gille

Harald Gille (Old Norse: Haraldr gilli or Haraldr gillikristr, died 14 December 1136) was king of Norway from 1130 until his death. His byname Gille is probably from Middle Irish Gilla Críst "servant of Christ".

Harald was born ca. 1102 in Ireland or the Hebrides, more likely the former. According to the sagas, he became familiar with Norway through an acquaintance with Norwegian merchants including Rögnvald Kali Kolsson, who would later become Earl of Orkney. Around 1127, Harald went to Norway and declared he was an illegitimate son of the former king, Magnus Barefoot, who had visited Ireland just before his death in 1103. In fact this is not implausible because other descendants of Magnus are reported in Irish sources and he is known to have been particularly fond of at least one Irish woman. Harald consequently claimed to be a half-brother of the reigning king, Sigurd the Crusader. Harald appears to have submitted successfully to the ordeal by fire. The alleged relationship was acknowledged by Sigurd on condition that Harald did not claim any share in the government of the kingdom during his lifetime or that of his son Magnus. Living on friendly terms with the king, Harald kept this agreement until Sigurd’s death in 1130.

Harald was in Tønsberg when he heard of King Sigurd's death. He called together a meeting at the Haugating (from the Old Norse word haugr meaning hill or burial mound). At this Thing, Harald was chosen king over half the country. King Magnus was obliged to divide the kingdom with Harald into two parts.

The kingdom accordingly was so divided that each of them should have the half part of the kingdom which King Sigurd had possessed. They ruled the country for some time in peace. After four years of uneasy peace, Magnus began to openly prepare for war on Harald. On August 9, 1134, he defeated Harald in a decisive Battle at Färlev in Bohuslän and Harald fled to Denmark. Subsequently Magnus disbanded his army and traveled to Bergen to spend the winter there. Harald then returned to Norway with a new army and meeting little opposition, reached Bergen before Christmas. Since Magnus had few men, the city fell easily to Harald's army on January 7, 1135. Magnus was captured and dethroned. His eyes were put out, and he was thrown into prison. Harald now ruled the country until 1136, when he was murdered by Sigurd Slembe, another alleged illegitimate son of Magnus Barefoot.


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