Magnus Barefoot

Magnus Barefoot (Old Norse Magnús berfœttr, modern Norwegian Magnus Berrføtt, 1073, Norway – August 1103, Ulster) was King of Norway from 1093 until 1103 and King of Mann and the Isles from 1099 until 1102, and then possibly also King of Dublin from 1102 to 1103.

Title page of The Saga of Magnus Barefoot, Heimskringla (1899)

Background

Magnus was the son of King Olaf Kyrre and grandson of King Harald Hardrada. The epithet berfœtt means barefoot or bareleg and according to the Icelandic writer Snorri Sturluson, it came from his habit of wearing Gaelic-style clothing, leaving lower legs bare. According to the Danish historian Saxo Grammaticus, he got the nickname because he was forced to flee from an attack in his bare feet.

Reign

Magnus was hailed as king in Viken during September 1093 after his father Olav Kyrre's death. Initially he had a rival in his cousin, Håkon Magnusson who was the son of King Magnus II of Norway. A peaceful settlement between the two was in place, but the relationship was immediately tense. As Håkon was only honored at Oppland and in Trøndelag, his kingdom was thus of limited importance. There was not any armed confrontation between the two before Håkon died suddenly in February 1095.

Magnus Barefoot's government lasted for 10 years, a period when Norway became more and more like other kingdoms in Europe with a developed church organization and a firmer royal rule. The period of peace during the reign of Magnus' father Olaf Kyrre came to an abrupt end when Magnus succeeded him in 1093. Magnus made war with Sweden and Denmark and sought to build a Norwegian empire around the Irish Sea. In 1098 Magnus left with a fleet of 60 ships and 5,000 men to Orkney, where the great strength helped to highlight the Norwegian king's dominion. Magnus Barefoot led a Norse fleet from Mann to Ynys Môn, Gwynedd, and appeared off of the coast at Ynys Seiriol (Puffin Island), interrupting a Norman victory celebration after they had recently defeated the Welsh of Gwynedd.

In the battle that followed between the Norman occupiers and the Norse, known as the Battle of Anglesey Sound, Magnus shot dead the earl of Shrewsbury with an arrow to the eye. The Norse left as suddenly as they had arrived, leaving the Norman army weakened and demoralized. Magnus conquered the Orkney Islands, the Hebrides and the Isle of Man. Magnus returned to Norway in 1099 but in 1103 set out again, according to the sagas to conquer Ireland. He was mistakenly believed by the saga-writers to have captured Dublin and the surrounding area.

Death in battle

He made a move to the north in support of his ally, the powerful Munster king, and King of Ireland, Muirchertach Ua Briain, whose daughter had married Magnus's son, Sigurd I Magnusson. Muirchertach Ua Briain was defeated in battle and Magnus decided now to return to Norway. He sent message with a small group of his men to Muirchertach Ua Briain to send provisions for the sea journey ahead of him. While awaiting these supplies, they saw a large dust cloud on the horizon. Unsure as to whether this was an enemy force or the overdue supplies from Connaught, King Magnus advanced through a marshy area to observe the approach. It was discovered that it was indeed the men with the supplies they were awaiting, satisfied at this, Magnus ordered his men back to the camp area to get prepared for the embarkation.

It was at this point that a large Irish force reared out from their hiding places in the marsh, putting into action an ambush that had been stalking the Norwegians for some time. The Norse forces being taken by surprise were not in battle order and Magnus attempted to assert control over his disordered army, ordering a portion of his force to seize the high ground and provide archer fire to slow down the Irish. In the ensuing melee, King Magnus received wounds to his legs, being pierced by a spear through both thighs above the knees but fought on, attempting to get his men back to the level ground of the camp site. An axe wielding Irishman charged the King and struck him in the neck, before he was himself killed by Magnus's personal guard. King Magnus died where he fell. Magnus Barelegs was killed on St Bartholomew's day 24th Aug 1103, aged 29 years. He was the last Norwegian king who fell in battle abroad.The Norse who escaped the ambush sailed immediately away back to Norway.One of Magnus' men who survived the attack took Magnus' famous sword Legbiter back to Norway.

Succession

Magnus' consort was Margaret Fredkulla, daughter of King Inge the Elder of Sweden and Queen Helena, whom he married in 1101 at Kungahälla. The marriage had been arranged as a part of the peace treaty between Sweden and Norway, and she was from this point known as Margaret Fredkulla meaning "Margaret the Maiden of Peace". They did not have surviving children. Magnus' illegitimate daughter Ragnhild Magnusdotter married Harald Kesja, an illegitimate son of Eric I of Denmark.

At the time of the death of King Magnus, his known illegitimate sons were Øystein Magnusson , Sigurd Magnusson and Olaf Magnusson. They all had different mothers. They jointly succeeded Magnus as kings of Norway. Harald Gille and Sigurd Slembedjakn later came forward and both claimed to also be illegitimate sons of King Magnus and thus heirs to the throne. Harald Gille became King Harald IV of Norway following the death of his half-brother King Sigurd in 1130.

Burial Site

There is no concrete evidence as to the exact location of his death but the medieval Chronicle of the Kings of Man and the Isles points to a location just outside Downpatrick, County Down. An early 20th century source has given another location known locally as the war hollow situated in County Antrim. The study of the annals and the folklore of Strangford Lough, Co. Down tell of Viking dominance over the Lough area from the 9th to the 11th Century, and examines an incident of near international proportions which occurred when King Magnus (nicknamed ‘Barelegs’) was killed in battle near Downpatrick in 1103.

Downpatrick and County Down Railway museum have halted building at the site of the sited credited to be the burial mound of the King Magnus. Although the Chronicle of the kings of Man and the Isles speaks of Magnus being buried at the church at Downpatrick, Magnus and his soldiers are commonly believed to have been buried around the trees behind the platform. The runestone monument marking the site was erected in March 2003 to mark the 900th anniversary of his death.

Further descendants in Ireland?

A source discussing who the Irish believed to be descendants of Magnus remaining in Ireland is known to have existed at least as late as the time of the celebrated scholar Duald Mac Firbis (died 1671). According to him the Great Book of Lecan contained a section on "the pedigrees and wars and battles of the Danes [recte, the Norse in general] in Ireland", and he says specifically that "Magnus of the swift ship, son of the king of Lochlann, and his descendants in Ireland are mentioned in the Great Book of Lecan." Alexander Bugge identified this as Magnus Bareleg, but unfortunately by the 19th century this section had become lost, and he quotes Eugene O'Curry observing that "of these tracts not a vestige remains in this book."

Irish legend

[1] [2] [3] [4]

External links

• Who was Magnus? from the Magnus Vikings re-enactment group website
• "The Magnanimous Enemy" (Jorge Luis Borges, Dreamtigers)

Ancestry

Ancestors of Magnus III of Norway

8. Sigurd Syr Halfdansson, King of Ringeringe

4. Harald III of Norway

18. Gudbrand Kula

9. Åsta Gudbrandsdatter

2. Olaf III of Norway

20. Arne Arnmodsson

10. Torberg Arnesson

21. Tora Torsteinsdotter

5. Tora Torbergsdatter

22. Erling Skjalgsson

11. Ragnhild Erlingsdatter

23. Astrid Tryggvasdotter

1. Magnus III of Norway

6. Johan or Árni lági

3. Thora