norway march april december old norse norwegian called old contrast son known modern lists king norway reign lasted years longer norwegian king born troubled civil war era norway reign eventually managed end internal conflicts start reign minority later rival served regent king faction defeated uprising final royal definitive end civil war era killed year proclaimed king opposition formally appointed son regent rule medieval norway considered reached golden age reputation formidable naval fleet allowed maintain friendships pope despite conflict different points offered pope irish high delegation irish kings command french fleet french king influence european culture norway translating contemporary european literature constructing monumental european style stone buildings conjunction employed active aggressive foreign policy end rule added iceland community kingdom leaving norway territorial height moment managed secure norwegian control islands northern western shores great_britain fell ill died following military engagements expanding scottish kingdom historical sources main source information concerning saga written immediate years following death commissioned son written writer politician nephew famous historian having come conflict royal representative iceland came norway attempt reconcile arrived learned scotland ruled norway place initially took attitude talents story eventually won favour men saga considered detailed reliable concerning norwegian kings building written archive material oral information individuals close nonetheless written openly support political program legitimacy background childhood born summer probably march april father widely regarded king leader faction ongoing civil war late dead time son born claim supported followers born controlled territory mother claim placed dangerous position started hunting group warriors fled child winter heading king new king trondheim party struck best carried child mountain eventually managed bring safety king particular event commemorated modern day norway popular annual skiing event dramatic childhood king introduced christianity norway child jesus served important ideological function saga described bright witty small age years old captured refused king lord nonetheless came capture unharmed learned age king brother crazy agreement succession throne excluded pointed agreement invalid attorney having present subsequently identified attorney god saint notably norwegian king receive formal education school late civil war era government administration relied increasingly written communication turn demanded leaders bergen care crazy started receiving education age seven likely continued education king earl death brought alongside son treated friends provoked king asking region govern approached men urged arms rejected young age bad prospects believed morally wrong fight split instead said prayed god share father inheritance time right reign succession struggle king death dispute erupted successor addition gained support majority including veterans served father grandfather candidates included illegitimate son dropped soon half brother appointed leader king deathbed supported archbishop son widespread popular support proclaimed king june later year hailed king bergen local things east supporters initially attempted cast doubt royal ancestry eventually suspended open resistance candidacy dispute threatened split settled regent minority connection dispute royal election mother prove trial ordeal bergen result trial strengthened legal basis improved relationship church saga claim generally accepted king contested modern historians increasingly drifted apart administration focused mainly governing gained right rule norwegian kingdom separately issued letters rulers norway maintained official contacts abroad great meeting bishops clergy secular nobles high ranking figures country held bergen finally decide right throne candidates throne present personally attorneys end unanimously confirmed king norway court king died political military led reconciliation kingdom elements found new royal launched new rising rising gained support parts unable gain control summer eventually managed force surrender great meeting bergen soon renewed division norwegian kingdom gained control northern country instead east marked setback despite military victory custody escaped left fight new ruler remained passive rest war support lukewarm best assuming military lead fight defeated comprehensive demanding warfare years campaign additionally led large army sweden order punish inhabitants support died revolt finally surrender leader uprising crazy son left monarch sought reconcile proposing marriage daughter accepted proposal think change politically marriage place partly conflict relationship deteriorated attempts settlements meetings distanced periodically nonetheless reconciled spent great time friendship destroyed according saga derived rumours men played person norway titled duke instead control region gained rights scattered norway attempt limit power conflict erupted open warfare proclaimed king support eastern stand forces rebellion ended killed leaving undisputed king norway revolt generally taken mark final end norway civil war era recognition pope church norway initially refused recognise king norway largely turned support claim throne meeting later disagreements occurred despite additionally having undisputed ruler norway approved king pope illegitimate birth nonetheless strong personal desire approved fully european king papal commissions appointed investigate matter declared legitimate son young successor instead older living illegitimate son children mistress young prior marriage children designated successors accordance papal recognition catholic principle legitimacy established norwegian order succession new law maintained illegitimate children designated successor absence legitimate children grandchildren contrary catholic principles strong position allowed set boundaries church political influence hand prepared church autonomy internal affairs relations rural society attempted strengthen ties issuing crusade converted engaging warfare pagan peoples north light invasion europe group forced westwards allowed stay later france proposed messenger join crusade commander fleet turned offer unsuccessful gaining recognition pope gregory quickly gained support pope innocent sought alliances struggle holy roman emperor finally achieved royal recognition pope innocent cardinal william sent bergen crowned cultural influence legal reforms consolidating position focused displaying supremacy influenced increasingly closer contact european culture started constructing monumental royal buildings primarily royal estate bergen built european style stone palace grand fleet royal ships meeting scandinavian rulers actively sent letters gifts european rulers far reaching contact achieved sent embassy sultan royal court bergen started translating true european literature available wider norwegian audience literature popular heroic romantic literature derived french turn english courts notably matter france tales king arthur matter britain work translated reportedly romantic story finished orders young newly programme spark emergence new norse genre popular religious text translated literature appealed women wife daughter owned richly illustrated initiated legal reforms crucial development justice norway new law written breakthrough idea practice public justice opposed traditional norwegian customs feuds revenge influence reforms apparent educational text intended son probably written cooperation royal court abroad relations hostile sweden denmark start rivalry attempted gain support denmark aid impossible capture wanted norway supported supporting pope turn sought closer ties emperor sent ambassadors norway gained powerful reputation strength fleet european rulers wanted benefit friendship despite struggle pope emperor able maintain friendships according english chronicler pope wanted holy roman emperor suggested leave norway threat pursued foreign policy active directions foremost west south east north east relationship tense dispute right tax people raiding norwegian sides eventually threat drove negotiations likely strengthened norwegian control embassy time asked daughter marriage refused threat based norwegian presence seas south sweden baltic_sea norway increasingly relied baltic grain import halted late norwegian ships danish seas ships peace trade agreement eventually opened city bergen conflict reportedly offered control city holy roman emperor case policy northern german ports largely derived strategy attempting exploit internal turmoil erupted denmark following death king scandinavia regularly met neighbouring rulers border area late grand fleets envoys fleet reportedly counted ships sought expand kingdom southwards danish province looked alliance ties opponents ruling line monarchs denmark deal swedish leader joint swedish norwegian invasion agreement eventually abandoned treaty claimed finally invaded province demanding compensation looting norwegian ships danish seas forced renounce claims peace agreement christopher denmark negotiated marriage remaining son daughter danish king reconciled son young marry daughter policies initiated build later personal unions called end dire consequences norway economic military resources maintain aggressive policies sought alliance potential holy roman emperor chiefly guarantee new supplies grain light rising prices england possibly giving access baltic grain norwegian control turn sought expand influence gain norwegian naval assistance campaign crusade proposed morocco seeing received backing overseas north_africa potentially fulfill papal crusade likely intend sent embassy accompanying ambassador return norway proposed establish strongest ties friendship request gave consent daughter marry brothers death years childless marriage marked effective end short lived alliance proposed crusade fell blue scottish expedition death employed active aggressive foreign policy strengthening norwegian ties west policy relied friendship trade english king known norwegian trade agreements england years england commercial treaties norway friendship england cornerstone foreign policy kings time wrote henry wished maintain friendship existed fathers sought defend norwegian sovereignty islands west man isles norse community greenland agreed submit norwegian king achieved long standing ambitions managed incorporate iceland kingdom island internal conflicts favour norwegian maritime trade ecclesiastical province key reasons allowed assert sovereignty islands norwegian kingdom largest end reign norwegian control strong importance bergen trading centre man natural ties scottish mainland traditionally having ties community norse settlers northern scotland scottish rulers increasingly asserted sovereignty entire mainland time gained stronger control man norwegian ruler new development scottish king claimed requested buy islands norway rejected proposals following death son continued stepped father policy sending embassy norway attacking dispute scottish king induced undertake expedition islands having learned scottish nobles raided planned conquer islands went expedition formidable fleet ships having accustomed negotiating backed intimidating fleet fleet left bergen july reached august joined man negotiations started alexander following norwegian landings scottish mainland purposely prolonged scots having waited september october weather caused trouble fleet clash occurred smaller norwegian force scottish division battle inconclusive limited impact withdrew winter delegation irish kings invited help rid ireland english settlers high king ireland apparently rejected wish plans resume campaign year stay fell ill died early hours december buried cathedral winter spring came body taken norway buried capital bergen centuries later cathedral demolished danish feudal overlord military purposes connection graves norwegian kings buried apparently destroyed process reign norwegian historians held strongly differing views reign 19th century historian portrayed mighty flawless ruler turn influenced play early 20th century poet countered viewed insignificant king forces outside control view influenced historians compared historians taken sides old conflict saw traitor rightful norwegian king viewed heroic figure grounds representing original dying norse culture superficial foreign culture 1960s historians including turn professed reaction view according modern historians tend follow comes rebellion desperate attempt stop power lean closer overall evaluation men interprets saga leave impression skilled warrior politician noting author saga purposely created image role conflict hand notes relative ease supporters immediate years suggest limited abilities giving clear picture maintains obviously learned master political game early years interprets independent ruler assigns significant personal responsibility policies pursued reign notably internal consolidation orientation european culture aggressive foreign policy article acknowledges empowered strong institutional position end reign noted developed policies successful nonetheless recognises substantial political abilities powerful determination order progress difficult position started reign children marriage illegitimate children mistress known died died married nephew king widowed married king isles drowned year return voyage great_britain married daughter rival children born died infancy young married daughter swedish statesman appointed king ruler father father married philip brother died childless norway married daughter denmark appointed king ruler following death succeeded father king norway following father death olympic mascot winter olympics named norway norway ancestry
Haakon IV of Norway