Eirik II of Norway

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Eirik Magnusson
King of Norway
Reign 9 May 1280 - 1299
Coronation 1280, Old cathedral of Bergen
Born 1268
Died 1299
Buried Old cathedral of Bergen
Consort Margaret of Scotland, Isabel Bruce
Issue Margaret, Maid of Norway (d.1290)
Ingeborg
Royal House Fairhair
Father King Magnus VI the Lawmender of Norway (1238-1280)
Mother Ingeborg Eriksdatter

Eirik Magnusson (1268 - 1299) was the king of Norway from 1280 until 1299.

He was the eldest surviving son of king Magnus the Lawmender of Norway, and his wife Ingeborg Eriksdatter, daughter of king Eric IV of Denmark. Through his mother (who was daughter of Jutta of Saxony, herself a descendant of Ulvhild of Norway, duchess of Saxony), Eric descended from king St Olav, Olav II of Norway, being the first after Magnus the Good of that saint's descendants to ascend that throne (i.e, the descendants of St.Olav returned to kingship of Norway).

Eirik married princess Margaret of Scotland in 1281. Margaret died two years later in labour, giving birth to Margaret, Maid of Norway, who became queen of Scotland in 1286.

He later married Isabel Bruce, sister of King Robert I of Scotland.

Eirik received the nickname "Priesthater" from his less than successful relations with the church. In spite of this he is normally counted a weak and inoffensive man who was mostly guided by his councillors.

Probably because of his claim on his maternal heritage he supported the Danish outlaws like Stig Andersen Hvide after the murder of King Erik V and ravaged the Danish coasts for some years.

As Eirik died without sons, he was succeeded by his brother , Haakon V of Norway. He was buried in the old cathedral of Bergen, which was demolished in 1531. Its site is marked by a memorial, in present-day Bergenhus Fortress.

Eirik's daughter Ingeborg married Valdemar Magnusson of Sweden.

Preceded by
Magnus VI Lagabøte
King of Norway
1280–1299
Succeeded by
Haakon V Magnusson