Magnus II of Norway

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Magnus II (1048 - 1069) was king of Norway from 1066 until 1069.

In the summer of 1066 Harald Haardraade prepared for his ill-fated expedition to England. Before departing, he made his son Magnus regent, and caused him to be crowned King of Norway. Harald's younger son, Olav, accompanied him on the expedition. Olav was left in charge of part of his army while Harald advanced. Not expecting opposition, Harold's army traveled light in the warm weather, without the protection of their byrnies. When Harald arrived at Stamford Bridge the English force fell upon them. Rather than retreating, Harald sent for Olav and his reinforcements. Before Olav's forces arrived the Norse forces were defeated and Harald was fatally wounded. Although a success for the English, the battle set the stage for the defeat later that summer of England's last Anglo-Saxon king, Harold Godwinson, by William the Conqueror.

At that time, the Kingdom of Norway was looked upon as a property of the king. As such it would be divided among his heirs, like any other private estate under ancient Norwegian property laws. Retreating from England, Magnus' brother Olav spent the winter of 1066-1067 in Orkney and returned to Norway in the spring of 1067, claiming his portion of the estate. Magnus was to rule the northern half of the country and Olav the southern. This division is the beginning of a long series of partitions of the kingdom between the sons and heirs of the ruling king.

After just a few years in power, Magnus died in 1069, apparently of ergot poisoning. This left Olav as the sole ruler of Norway.