Erling Vidkunsson

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Ridder Erling Vidkunsson, Lord of Bjarkoy and Giske (1293–1355) was Lord High Justiciar of Norway, and the country's regent.

Erling was born to the important high-noble family of Bjarkøy which held lands particularly in northern Norway, its ancestral seat being in Hålogaland, the region of Tromsø. From his father, sir Vidkun Erlingsson he inherited Bjarkøy, and from his mother lady Gyrid Andresdottir' family (descendants of the son of king Inge Stenkilsson of Sweden) he inherited their Stodreim (Stårum, Stovrheim) lands.

But then he also inherited the Giske inheritance, approximated to have been 10% of Norway, from his childless cousin lady Kristin who died young and extinguishing his uncle Bjarne Erlingsson's descent totally.

Erling was the most important and wealthy Norwegian noble of his era. He received the position of drottsete (High Justiciar) of the country.

In 1319 Magnus IV of Sweden, a child three years old, succeeded to the Norwegian throne too. A regency was set up for the young king, a minor. Erling's regency technically was 1323-32. The regency-like system continued also because Magnus primarily resided not in Norway, but in neighboring Sweden. High Justiciar Erling was the entitled one to lead the regency. He was almost as king in Norway.

Sooner or later Norway desired to be more independent of Sweden, and in 1343 king Magnus agreed that his younger son, the future Haakon VI of Norway (1340-80) will be king of Norway. Although the young prince was nominally under regency of his father, Norway had plenty of independence, and the administration continued under Erling. When the boy-king afterwards was sent to Norway, Erling was on to lead his education.

His only son Bjarne Erlingsson predeceased him. Thus, his inheritance was left to his daughters, of whom Ingeborg Erlingsdottir (who married Sigurd Havtoreson of Sudreim, a grandson of a royal bastard) received Giske, and Gjertrud Erlingsdottir (who married a lord Roemer) the Stårum lands. Norway's highest nobles for three centuries descended from him.