Date of Birth: 1270
House: Hardrada-Sverre
Spouse: Eufemia, daughter of Günther, count of Arnstein
Spouse: Eufemia, daughter of Günther, count of Arnstein
Predecessor: Eric II
Reign: 1299 – 1319
Summary: A distant descendant of Saint Olav and the last of the Fairhairs, the kings of Norway were a dying breed when Håkon took to the throne. He was married to the daughter of a regional count and his own daughter, Ingeborg, was married to a Swedish duke. He had no son. The sons of his illegitimate daughter, Agnes, would rule as regents during his grandson's reign.
Håkon, still, would not allow the future to dominate his present. He made Oslo his capital in 1314, the first Norwegian king to do so. He built two massive fortresses, Akershus and Bohus, as well. He continued his brother's war with the Danish until 1309 when he finally made a lasting peace with his smaller but militarily superior neighbor. Håkon also fought to protect his royal prerogative against the growing power of the aristocracy that hoped to turn the king into a puppet. Håkon died the last of his dynasty in 1319 and was succeeded by his grandson, Magnus, the first joint king of Norway and Sweden, though he was a child at the time of his ascension. His son's line would only last three short generations before the Kalmar Union permanently ended Norway's independence until 1905.
Håkon, still, would not allow the future to dominate his present. He made Oslo his capital in 1314, the first Norwegian king to do so. He built two massive fortresses, Akershus and Bohus, as well. He continued his brother's war with the Danish until 1309 when he finally made a lasting peace with his smaller but militarily superior neighbor. Håkon also fought to protect his royal prerogative against the growing power of the aristocracy that hoped to turn the king into a puppet. Håkon died the last of his dynasty in 1319 and was succeeded by his grandson, Magnus, the first joint king of Norway and Sweden, though he was a child at the time of his ascension. His son's line would only last three short generations before the Kalmar Union permanently ended Norway's independence until 1905.
Date of Death: 8 May 1319
Successor: Magnus VII
Other Monarch Deaths:
Ottokar IV, duke of Styria (1192)
Duanzong, emperor of China (1278)
Kamehameha I, king of Hawai'i (1819)
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