Eystein I of Norway
King of Norway
1088 CE to 1123 CE
Eystein Magnusson (Old Norse: Eysteinn Magnússon, Norwegian: Øystein Magnusson; 1088/89 – 29 August 1123) is King of Norway from 1103 to 1123 as Eystein I, together with his brothers Sigurd the Crusader and Olaf Magnusson (until his death in 1115).
In practice, only Eystein and Sigurd are effective rulers of the country, since Olaf dies before adulthood.
While Sigurd gains fame as the "warrior king" (although owed almost exclusively to his three-year crusade to the Holy Land), Eystein is portrayed contrastingly in the sagas as the "peace king" who stays at home and improves the country.
As Eystein never engages in warfare, considerably less information is written and known about him than about his brother Sigurd, despite his twenty-year long reign, just a few years short of Sigurd.
Eystein nonetheless gains the affection of his people, and he is highly regarded by the saga writers for his deeds.
Eystein and Sigurd's reign becomes the longest joint rule in Norwegian history.
Although the later saga literature narrates stereotypical accounts about the two kings, Eystein is known to have improved the infrastructure and raised buildings and churches, particularly across the coast in Western Norway and Trøndelag, from Bergen to the fishing center of Lofoten in the north.
Eystein's activities are especially centered in Bergen, which becomes an important international trade hub for fish at the time, helped by his construction projects.
His activities in Bergen include moving the royal seat to a more central location in the city and building a new royal palace, as well as constructing churches and the Munkeliv Abbey.
Eystein dies of illness in August 1123, and his brother Sigurd thereby becomes the sole Norwegian king.
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Magnus III of Norway is killed in battle with the Ulaid in Ulster on August 24, 1103, and his sons Sigurd Jorsalfare, Øystein Magnusson and Olaf Magnusson succeed him as joint kings of Norway.
King Sigurd is to lead a Norwegian crusade in 1107 in support to the newly established crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem.
At first it had been disputed among the two kings, Eystein and Sigurd, about who should lead the contingent and who should remain home, to rule the kingdom.
Sigurd had eventually been chosen, possible because he was a more adequate and experienced traveler.
The first Scandinavian king to participate in the Crusade, he leads a force to the Holy Land.
Sailing for the Holy Land in autumn 1107 with sixty ships, he leaves his elder brother Eystein to rule Norway.
Sigurd and his men arrive in autumn in England, where Henry I is king, and will remain here the entire winter.
Magnus Erlendsson, born in 1075, is the son of Erlend Thorfinnsson, Earl of Orkney, and had first served Magnus III of Norway as skutilsvein (approx. Chamberlain), who took possession of the islands in 1098, deposing Erlend and his brother, Paul.
Paul's son, Haakon Paulsson, then became regent on behalf of the Norwegian prince, Sigurd, who in 1105 had made Haakon earl.
Magnus according to the Orkneyinga Saga had a reputation for piety and gentleness, and was rejected by the Norwegians, refusing to fight in a Viking raid in Anglesey, Wales, because of his religious convictions, instead staying on board his ships during the Battle of Menai Strait, singing psalms.
He had been obliged to take refuge in Scotland, but returned to Orkney in 1105 and disputed the succession with his cousin Haakon Paulson.
Having failed to reach an agreement, he had sought help from King Eystein I of Norway, who grants him the earldom of Orkney in 1108; he rules jointly and amicably with Haakon.