Hallkjell Jonsson (abt. 1150 - 1194)

Born about 1150 in Bergen, Hordaland, Norway

Ancestors

Husband of Ragnhild Erlingsdatter — married 1193 in Norway

Died 3 Apr 1194 at about age 44 in Trondheim, Sør-Trøndelag, Norway

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Biography

Liegeman. Parents: Jon Hallkjellsson and Margret Haraldsdotter. Married with Ragnhild Erlingsdotter, child of Erling Ormsson Skakke (died 1179) and Kristin Sigurdsdotter. Aunt of King Harald Gille.

Hallkjell Jonsson was of lendman from Blindheim in western Norway and was a key player in mutual strife of 1180 to 1190, mostly as an opponent of King Sverre. In Sverre saga, which are main the source of Hallkjell's life, we find Hallkjell and occasionally Magnus Erlingsson. But the saga unfortunately does not show a complete image, and it is difficult to find evidence that his loyalty was anchored in one or the other camp.

He moved to the archipelagos in the north where he recruited the leader Olaf (brother of Harald Maddadsson ) and Øyskjegg , the last Viking warriors in Orkney and Shetland, a formidable fleet which became military chief and set back its contingent in Viken . Sverre had veterans birkebeiner so the confrontation was secured and both forces met at the Battle of Florvåg with a high cost in lives among which joined the Hallkjell.

After a short residence in Denmark Hallkjell returned to Norway together with Magnus 1184. It was also probably also at this time Hallkjell lasted married Ragnhild, daughter of Erling Skakke. The prince her husband, Jon of Randaberg, died 1179, Erling, the marriage with Hallkjell came into being before King Magnus' fall 1184. Ragnhild had lost her father, her brother and her husband in the fight against Sverre Sigurdsson, and we can, realizing that there was not completely unproblematic that her new husband. For Hallkjell that was hardly the case and was less complicated. Well, he was the brother-in-law to Magnus and son-in-law to Erling Skakke, but he was also the cousin of Sverre. 1192 we meet Hallkjell again, this time serving as King Sverre's liegeman.

We can only speculate that it was Ragnhild who Hallkjell forced his servitude to King Sverre (Munch 1852), or whether the work placement with Sverre proximity must be considered acting as a "ufriviljugt intermezzo (Bull de 1931)". The Sverre saga did note that Hallkjell advised together with Olaf Svogeren Haraldsson Earl of Orkney. The plan was to stage a rebellion against King Sverre. The revolt then names for the soldiers from the west of the sea, from the Orkneys.

Halkel and Ragnhild had previously fostered an illegitimate child of Magnus Erlingsson. It has been speculated that Sigurd did not know of this child (Stølen 1988 Koht 1958). Mora Gyrid, daughter of Aslak the Young. This Aslak refferd to Halkel Jonsson as uncle.

Early review on sommaren 1193 came Halkel and Olav to Norway with 23 ships, but the crucial assaults against BIRKEBEINER did not come until the following year, with the battle in Florvåg at Bergen. In this battle fall Halkel, together with future king and the bulk of øyskjeggflokken.

Note

Profile's birth date was listed as 4 Mar 1170; this is a bit unrealistic for a man who was in his prime from 1180 onwards. I have moved estimated birth year accordingly. (Østenstad-1 09:37, 12 November 2018 (UTC))

Sources

• HKR
• NFH, Vol. 4, 1857
• E. Bull they: biography in NBL1, Vol. 5, 1931
• O. Kvalsund: "Legends Tida and the first historical era", in Borgund and Giske, Vol. 1, Bergen 1957
• H. Koht: "Sigurd Magnusson" in NBL1, Vol. 13, 1958
• Sverre's saga, in F. Hødnebø etc. (ed.): Norwegian sagas, Vol. 3, 1979
• A. Stølen: "From jarleætta in western Norway to Blindheim-clan and Butter-clan" in NST, Vol. 31, 1988
• Sverre Bagge, From Viking Stronghold to Christian Kingdom: State Formation in Norway, c. 900-1350 , Tusculanum Museum Press, 2012, ISBN 8763507919 p. 42.
• Genealogisk-over of rigers Historiske tabeller Nordiske kongeslægter (1856), Konigsfeldt, JPF, (2nd edition Kjøbenhavn. Trykt i Bianco Lunos Bogtrykkeri, 1856), FHL microfilm 1,124,504, item 3, table 10 p. 132, 134.
• Norsk Biografisk Leksikon (19 volumes Oslo. Aschehoug, 1921-1982), FHL book 948.1 D36n . , Vol. 5p. 269-270.
• https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hallkjell_Jonsson
• https://nbl.snl.no/Hallkjell_Jonsson