Battle of Oslo (1161)

The Battle of Oslo was fought outside of Oslo on the night of 3 February 1161 between Haakon II of Norway and Inge I of Norway during the civil war era in Norway. As the son of Ingiríðr Ragnvaldsdóttir and king Harald Gille (making him the only legitimate son of Gille), Inge had been named king of Norway after Gille was killed by Sigurd Slembe. His two half-brothers, Magnus and Sigurd, were also named kings around the same time, and the three ruled Norway. By 1157, Inge's brothers were both dead, and he was the sole remaining ruler of Norway.^[1] Haakon II, an illegitimate son of Gille, then contested Inge's rule, and at the Battle of Oslo Inge was killed.^[2][3][4] According to the Heimskringla, Inge had 4,800 men.^[5]

Battle of Oslo
Part of the Civil war era in Norway
King Inge's army at the battle of Oslo in 1161, as imagined by artist Wilhelm Wetlesen in the 1899 edition of Heimskringla.
Date 3 February 1161 Location Oslo Result King Haakon victory, Inge killed

References

1. Newton, Michael (2014-04-17). Famous Assassinations in World History: An Encyclopedia [2 volumes]. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 9781610692861.
2. McGrew, Julia H.; Thomas, R. George (1970). Sturlunga Saga: Shorter sagas of the Icelanders. Ardent Media. p. 519. ISBN 9780805733655.
3. Stagg, Frank Noel (1953). The Heart of Norway: A History of the Central Provinces. Allen & Unwin. p. 32.
4. Willson, Thomas Benjamin (1903). History of the church and state in Norway from the tenth to the sixteenth century. A. Constable & co. ltd. p. 144.
5. Sturluson, Snorri; Hollander, Lee M. (1964). Heimskringla. University of Texas Press. p. 782. ISBN 9780292730618.