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From: Leo van de Pas< >
Subject: Shades of Kirk Douglas in "The Vikings"?
Date: 30 Aug 1998 03:11:01 -0700

Harald IV Magnusson "Gylle", King of Norway 1130-1136.
He was surnamed Gylle (probably from Gylle Krist; i.e. : servant of Christ)
and born in Ireland about 1103. Around 1127 he went to Norway and
declared himself to be the son of King Magnus III Berrfott (who had
visited Ireland just before his death in 1103) and consequently that
he was a half-brother of the reigning king, Sigurd.

It was believed that the child of king was untouched by extreme heat and,
to prove that he was a son of a king, had to walk unhurt on glowing
charcoal for a given distance. This was called 'jernbyrd', or
descending from iron, hard as iron. He appears to have submitted
successfully to the ordeal and the relationship was acknowledged by
Sigurd on condition that Harald did not claim any share of the
government during his lifetime or that of his son, Magnus. Harald
kept this agreement until Sigurd's death in 1130.

Then war broke out between himself and Magnus, who was captured in
1134, blinded, and imprisoned. Harald now ruled the country until 1136,
when he was murdered by Sigurd Slembi-Diakon, another bastard son
of Magnus III. Four of Harald's sons---Sigurd, Ingi, Eynsteinn and
Magnus---were subsequently kings of Norway.

Harald IV Magnusson "Gille", King of Norway 1130-1136
born circa 1103 in Ireland, murdered 14 December 1136 Bergen
married Ingrid Ragnvaldsdatter of Sweden, daughter of Ragnvald
Knaphovde of Sweden, Viceroy of Vastergotland, she died after 1161
son :
1.Inge Haraldsson, King of Vigen, Joint-King of Norway
born circa 1135, died in battle 4 February 1161

child by NN
2.Brigida Magnusdatter of Norway
buried in Riseberga Kloster
married (1) Karl Sunason, Jarl in Vastergotland, died circa 1137
married (2) Magnus Henriksson of Denmark, King in Ostergotland,
son of Henrik Skadelar of Denmark and Ingrid Ragnvaldsdatter of Sweden
died 1161 nr Orebro, buried Vreta Kloster
married (3) circa 1161, Birger Brosa, Jarl in Sweden, son of Bengt
Folkason Snivel, Jarl in Sweden, died 1202

child by Thora Guttormsdatter
3.Sigurd Haraldsson Mund, Joint-King of Norway 1136-1155
murdered 10 June 1155
child by Thora
child by NN
child by Kristin Sigurdsdatter of Norway
child by Gunhild
and others

child by Beathack
4.Eynstein Haraldsson, Joint King of Norway
murdered 21 August 1157
married Ragna Nikolasdatter, died after 1161

children by NN
5.Magnus Haraldsson, joint-king of Norway
died 1145

6.Maria Haraldsdotter of Norway
married cira 1155, Simon Halkelsson, died in battle 4 February 1161

7.Margreta Haraldsdatter of Norway
married cira 1155 Jon Halkelsson

This genealogy is NOT complete.
Sources :
Nachkommen Gorms des Alten, bu S. Otto Brenner

Europaischen Stammtafeln (Schwennicke & Isenburg)

Leo van de Pas

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• Shades of Kirk Douglas in "The Vikings"? by Leo van de Pas< >