Kings of Norway
996-1020: Raud the Strong [1] House of Raud
1020-1049: Magnus the Magnificent [2] House of Raud
1049-1058: Henrik Magnusson [3] House of Raud
[1] Raud the Strong would have not become King of Norway had not the previous King, Olaf Tryggvason tried to enforce Christianity in fine Viking style, by
“looting and burning Pagan temples and compelling community after community to be baptized or die, taking hostages to enforce continued Christian observance.”
When Olaf tried to enforce the new faith in in Raud's lands, Raud fled, using the new techniques involving sailing against the wind to escape and then outmanuevering the King at sea with his legendary boat, the Serpent, and isolated killed Olaf's ship and killed the King.
This sudden death of an unpopular King who used force to enforce an alien faith upon the people of Norway led to a counterrevolution with Raud being proclaimed King by popular decree. His turning back the an invasion by the previous King (who had been deposed by Olaf) Sweyn Forkbeard is still celebrated as Norway's national day.
While knowing percecution himself and a Godi himself who worked hard to uphold Norse Paganism, he left lay Christians alone, only banishing the priests and preventing their return, something that delayed the conversion not only of Norway, but Sweden, Iceland, Vinland by several centuries. When he died in bed but with a sword in hand, He was succeeded by his son Magnus the Magnificent
[2] Raud's son Magnus was a Norse King in the mold of his father and was highly religious whilst also being tolerant of the Christian worshippers within his realm, excepting envoys and priests who banished from his kingdom as his father had done. During his reign he turned back two invasions from Canute King of England, son of Sweyn Forkbeard.
After this Magnus would invade England himself, defeating the forces of Canute and capturing the King, allowing Edward the Confessor to reclaim the throne of his ancestors, having lived in exile in Normandy since his father's death at the ends of Sweyn Forkbeard.
After this great victory, Magnus attempted to invade Alba, the kingdom north of England which was ruled by Duncan I, who had survived an assassination attempt by his cousin Macbeth. After three stalemate battles in which neither side gained an advantage, Duncan I challenged Magnus to single combat and in doing so gained the respect of Magnus.
The two fought and Magnus was able to defeat Duncan I, capturing the King. Magnus would crown himself as King of Alba after defeating the King but the three previous battles with Duncan had left Magnus without a strong enough army to hold the country and so he returned to Norway. Magnus would ransom Duncan back to Alba and execute Canute. He ruled for the next four years before Magnus was cut down in battle with an invading force led by Harthacnut, son of Canute. Magnus was succeeded by his son _____ as King of Norway.
[3] Henrik, son of Magnus, son of Raud was not the warrior that his father was as was proven when he suffered two humiliating defeats to Harthacnut withing a year of his ascension to the throne of Norway. However Harthacnut's death in 1051 took away the greatest challenge to Henrik's challenge and he ruled peacefully for the seven years before his own death from ilnesss. He was succeeded by his brother _______
996-1020: Raud the Strong [1] House of Raud
1020-1049: Magnus the Magnificent [2] House of Raud
1049-1058: Henrik Magnusson [3] House of Raud
[1] Raud the Strong would have not become King of Norway had not the previous King, Olaf Tryggvason tried to enforce Christianity in fine Viking style, by
“looting and burning Pagan temples and compelling community after community to be baptized or die, taking hostages to enforce continued Christian observance.”
When Olaf tried to enforce the new faith in in Raud's lands, Raud fled, using the new techniques involving sailing against the wind to escape and then outmanuevering the King at sea with his legendary boat, the Serpent, and isolated killed Olaf's ship and killed the King.
This sudden death of an unpopular King who used force to enforce an alien faith upon the people of Norway led to a counterrevolution with Raud being proclaimed King by popular decree. His turning back the an invasion by the previous King (who had been deposed by Olaf) Sweyn Forkbeard is still celebrated as Norway's national day.
While knowing percecution himself and a Godi himself who worked hard to uphold Norse Paganism, he left lay Christians alone, only banishing the priests and preventing their return, something that delayed the conversion not only of Norway, but Sweden, Iceland, Vinland by several centuries. When he died in bed but with a sword in hand, He was succeeded by his son Magnus the Magnificent
[2] Raud's son Magnus was a Norse King in the mold of his father and was highly religious whilst also being tolerant of the Christian worshippers within his realm, excepting envoys and priests who banished from his kingdom as his father had done. During his reign he turned back two invasions from Canute King of England, son of Sweyn Forkbeard.
After this Magnus would invade England himself, defeating the forces of Canute and capturing the King, allowing Edward the Confessor to reclaim the throne of his ancestors, having lived in exile in Normandy since his father's death at the ends of Sweyn Forkbeard.
After this great victory, Magnus attempted to invade Alba, the kingdom north of England which was ruled by Duncan I, who had survived an assassination attempt by his cousin Macbeth. After three stalemate battles in which neither side gained an advantage, Duncan I challenged Magnus to single combat and in doing so gained the respect of Magnus.
The two fought and Magnus was able to defeat Duncan I, capturing the King. Magnus would crown himself as King of Alba after defeating the King but the three previous battles with Duncan had left Magnus without a strong enough army to hold the country and so he returned to Norway. Magnus would ransom Duncan back to Alba and execute Canute. He ruled for the next four years before Magnus was cut down in battle with an invading force led by Harthacnut, son of Canute. Magnus was succeeded by his son _____ as King of Norway.
[3] Henrik, son of Magnus, son of Raud was not the warrior that his father was as was proven when he suffered two humiliating defeats to Harthacnut withing a year of his ascension to the throne of Norway. However Harthacnut's death in 1051 took away the greatest challenge to Henrik's challenge and he ruled peacefully for the seven years before his own death from ilnesss. He was succeeded by his brother _______