| Haakon the Good | |
|---|---|
 Håkon den gode, 1860. Oil on canvas byPeter Nicolai Arbo. | |
| King of Norway | |
| Reign | 934–961 |
| Predecessor | Eric Bloodaxe |
| Successor | Harald Greycloak |
| Born | c. 920 Håkonshella,Hordaland,Norway |
| Died | 961 Håkonshella, Hordaland (fatally wounded in theBattle of Fitjar) |
| Burial | |
| Issue | Thora |
| House | Fairhair dynasty |
| Father | Harald Fairhair |
| Mother | Thora Mosterstong |
| Religion | Norse paganism,Chalcedonian Christianity |
Haakon Haraldsson (c. 920–961), alsoHaakon the Good (Old Norse:Hákon góði,Norwegian:Håkon den gode) andHaakon Adalsteinfostre (Old Norse:Hákon Aðalsteinsfóstri,Norwegian:Håkon Adalsteinsfostre), was theking of Norway from 934 to 961. He was noted for his attempts to introduceChristianity into Norway.[1][2][3]
Haakon is not mentioned in any narrative sources earlier than the late 12th century. According to this late saga tradition, Haakon was the youngest son of KingHarald Fairhair andThora Mosterstang. He was born on the Håkonshella peninsula inHordaland. King Harald determined to remove his youngest son out of harm's way and accordingly sent him to the court of KingÆthelstan. Haakon was fostered by King Athelstan, as part of an agreement made by his father, for which reason Haakon was nicknamedAdalsteinfostre.[4] According to theSagas, Athelstan was tricked into fostering Haakon when Harald's envoy used the custom ofknésetja, whereby a child was formally adopted if it was set on the knees of the foster-parent.[5] Becoming someone's foster-parent reportedly meant that they were subordinate to the child's parent.[5]
Haakon is not mentioned in any contemporary Anglo-Saxon sources, and later historians of Athelstan, such as William of Malmesbury, make no reference to Haakon. According to Norwegian royal biographies from the late 12th century, the English court introduced him to theChristian religion. On the news of his father's death, King Athelstan provided Haakon with ships and men for an expedition against his half-brotherEric Bloodaxe, who had been proclaimed king of Norway.[6]Historia Norwegiæ describes Haakon as anapostate who observed both pagan and Christian rites.
At his arrival back in Norway, Haakon gained the support of the landowners by promising to give up the rights of taxation claimed by his father over inherited real property.[7] Eric Bloodaxe soon found himself deserted on all sides, and saved his own and his family's lives by fleeing from the country. Eric fled to theOrkney Islands and later to theKingdom of Jorvik, eventually meeting a violent death atStainmore,Westmorland, in 954 along with his son, Haeric.[8]
In 953, Haakon had to fight a fierce battle (Slaget på Blodeheia ved Avaldsnes) atAvaldsnes against the sons ofEric Bloodaxe (Eirikssønnene). Haakon won the battle, at which Eric's son Guttorm died. One of Haakon's most famous victories was theBattle of Rastarkalv (Slaget på Rastarkalv) nearFrei in 955 at which Eric's son, Gamle, died. By placing ten standards far apart along a low ridge, he gave the impression that his army was bigger than it actually was. He managed to fool Eric's sons into believing that they were outnumbered. The Danes fled and were slaughtered by Haakon's army. The sons of Eric returned in 957, with support from KingGorm the Old, King of Denmark, but were again defeated by Haakon's effective army system.[9][10]
Skaldic poems and theIcelandic sagas link the introduction of theleiðangr naval system in Norway to Haakon. Haakon may have emulated King Æthelstan's naval system.[11]
Three of the surviving sons of Eric Bloodaxe landed undetected on the coast ofHordaland in 961 and surprised the king at his residence inFitjar. Haakon was mortally wounded at theBattle of Fitjar (Slaget ved Fitjar) after a final victory over Eric's sons.[7] The King's arm was pierced by an arrow and he died later from his wounds. He was buried in the burial mound (Håkonshaugen) in the village ofSeim inLindås municipality in the county ofHordaland. Upon his death his courtpoet,Eyvindr skáldaspillir, composed a skaldic poemHákonarmál about the fall of the King in battle and his reception intoValhalla.[12][13]
After Haakon's death,Harald Greycloak, the eldest surviving son of Eric Bloodaxe, ascended the throne as KingHarald II, although he had little authority outside western Norway. Subsequently, the Norwegians were tormented by years of war. In 970, King Harald was tricked into coming to Denmark and killed in a plot planned byHaakon Sigurdsson, who had become an ally of KingHarald Bluetooth.[14]
Media related toHaakon I of Norway at Wikimedia CommonsHaakon the Good Died: 961 | ||
| Regnal titles | ||
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| Preceded by | King of Norway 934–961 | Succeeded by |
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