Skule of Norway

Skule Baardsson or Duke Skule allowed his supporters to proclaim him king of Norway at the traditional Øyrating in 1239. He raised a military host against king Haakon IV of Norway and won a battle at Låka in Nannestad, but lost in Oslo. In May 1240 he was conquered by king Haakon and his supporters. In Nidaros Skule got permission to live in Elgeseter monastery. Skule was won by birkebeinane and the monastery burned down.

Related Topics:
Norway - Øyrating - 1239 - Haakon IV of Norway - Nannestad - Oslo - Nidaros - Elgeseter - Birkebeinane

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Skule was born around 1189. He was a son of Baard Guttormsson and half-brother of king Inge II of Norway Baardsson. Haakon IV became king from 1217 when he was 13 years old, after Inge. Skule, who received the title of Duke of Norway, held much of the royal power. It was sort of power sharing between Skule and Haakon. Skule received the title "Jarl" (also used the form Duke) and had mistly Nidaros as his seat. Skule thought he had too little of the power and started to rebel against king Haakon. Among others, the Icelander writer Snorre Sturlason allied with Skule in the conflict.

Related Topics:
1189 - Inge II of Norway - 1217 - Nidaros - Snorre Sturlason

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Henrik Ibsen's play "Kongsemnerne" 1863 is about the dispute between Duke Skule and king Haakon.

Related Topics:
Henrik Ibsen - 1863

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Skule's rivalry for kingship was sort of last remnant of the civil wars period of Norwegian history that had lasted from 1130 to 1217, i.e ended some twenty years before Skule's ascension. Some tensions were still left. During that long warring period there were several interlocked conflicts of varying scale and intensity. Norway was accustomed to royal sons to fight each other in order to wrest kingship to himself. The background for these conflicts were the unclear Norwegian succession laws, social conditions and the struggle between Church and King. There were then two main parties, firstly known by varying names or no names at all, but finally condensed into parties of Bagler and Birkebeiner.

Related Topics:
Norwegian history - 1130 - 1217 - Succession laws - Bagler - Birkebeiner

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