Brigida Haraldsdatter (abt. 1131 - aft. 1202)

Born about 1131 in Bergen, Hordaland, Norway

Ancestors

Wife of Birger Bengtsson — married 1161 in Ostergotlands, Sweden

Descendants

Died after 1202 after about age 71 in Riseberga Kloster, Närke, Örebro, Sverige

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Biography

Bridget Haraldsdatter was a member of the aristocracy in Europe.

Norwegian princess. Parents: His father was the Norwegian King Harald IV Gille (died 1136), mother unknown but, she was possibly Tora Gudmundsdotter, long-term lover of her father and the mother of King Sigurd Munn. Her Irish first name was the same as that of her father's Irish mother, Brigida O'Brien (d. 1138). .

Married 1) with the Swedish earl Karl Sunesson (mentioned in 1137);

2) Magnus Henriksson (died 1161), son of the Danish King Henrik Skadelår and Ingrid Ragnvaldsdotter (later Harald Gilles queen);

3) after 1161 with the Swedish earl Birger Bengtsson Brosa (died 1202).

According to Morkinnskinna and Heimskringla, she was first married to King Inge the Younger, but this is not considered possible; likely, her first marriage was to the Swedish earl Karl Sunesson. She was married to Prince Magnus Henriksen of Denmark, son of her stepmother Princess Ingrid Ragnvaldsdotter of Sweden and Ingrid's first husband, Prince Henrik Skadelår of Denmark. Her spouse claimed the Swedish throne through his mother in 1160-61, during which time she was called Queen Birgitta of Sweden for one year. After his death in 1161, she remarried the Swedish jarl Birger Brosa of Bjelbo. The daughter she had during her marriage to Brosa, Ingegerd Birgersdotter of Bjelbo, was to be Queen of Sweden in 1200.

In 1174, the Norwegian throne claimant Øystein Møyla, who claimed to be her nephew, asked for the support of her and her husband, which they also granted. In 1176, the Norwegian throne claimant Sverre of Norway did the very same thing. He was turned away at first, but in 1177, they advised the Birkebeiner to acknowledge Sverre as their King and gave him the support of them and of the Swedish King. Bridget's son Filippus (Philip) would also join Sverre's service. Brosa died in 1202. In 1205, a conflict broke out between her daughter queen Ingegerd and the Bjelbo family. ^[1] The dates of her birth and death are not known, though her daughter's birth year is set at c. 1180. The dates c. 1131–1208 have been suggested. After the death of her second spouse in 1202, she retired to the Riseberga Nunnery in Närke, where she died and was buried. The church book lists her death date as 22 Oct, but the year is unknown.

Children:

• Philippus Birgersson (d. 1200), Jarl of Norway in the service of King Sverre of Norway and one of his most staunch supporters.
• Knut Birgersson, Riksjarl of Sweden, jarl of Sweden. According to one source, Knut was married to king Knut Eriksson's daughter, named Sigrid in that source. He was killed in 1208 at the battle of Lena (Battle of Gestilren 1210).
• Folke Birgersson, aka Folke jarl, jarl of Sweden, killed 1210 at battle of Gestilren
• Ingegerd Birgersdotter of Bjelbo, (ca 1180–1230), Queen of Sweden 1200–1208, married to king Sverker II and mother of king John I of Sweden.
• Kristina Birgersdotter
• Margareta Birgersdotter

Sources

1. ↑ Brigida_Haraldsdatter

• Helle, Knut; Norsk biografisk leksikon: Brigida Haraldsdatter i Store norske leksikon på snl.no. Hentet 1. mai 2024 fra https://snl.no/Brigida_Haraldsdatter
• Bridget Haraldsdotter, Wikipedia
• Birger Brosa, Svenskt biografiskt lexikon (art av Nat. Beckman.), hämtad 2016-06-06