biography
| name: |
Haakon IV
|
| |
known as the Old
|
pronunciation:
[hawkon]
| sex:
| male
|
| lived:
| (1204–63)
|
| biography:
| King of Norway (1217–63), born in Norway. The acknowledged illegitimate son of Haakon III, he was raised at the court of Inge II and proclaimed king on Inge's death. He overcame the rival claim of Inge's brother, Earl Skuli Baardsson, and was crowned with great ceremony in 1247 at Bergen by a papal legate. As ruler, he consolidated the power of the monarchy, acquired Greenland and Iceland, and introduced legal and other reforms. He died at Kirkwall in the Orkney Is when campaigning against Scotland, and was succeeded by his son, Magnus VI. |
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