Biography
Ingrid Ragnvaldsdotter was born between 1100 and 1110. History has not recorded either the name nor background of Ingrid's mother. She was the daughter of Ragnvald Ingesson, the only known son and heir of King Inge I of Sweden. However, Ragnvald died early and never succeeded as king.
Ingrid first married Henry Skadelaar (Henrik Svendsen Skadelår), son of Svend Svendsen of Denmark, who was one of the bastard sons of King Sweyn II of Denmark. Svend Svendsen was an unsuccessful pursuer to the throne, who died when he was at a point of being elected as king. Henry Skadelaar was crippled and not considered a candidate for kingship. Instead he was a frequent schemer and plotter, generating a number of enemies. Three sons of Henry and Ingrid are recorded, including King Magnus II of Sweden. Ingrid is known to have intrigued for Magnus to obtain the Swedish throne, in Ingrid's opinion her late father's rightful inheritance. She reportedly suggested that her son Magnus employ the man who would kill Sverker I of Sweden. Henry Skadelaar died on June 4, 1134 at the Battle of Fotevik in the Bay of Fotevik near Vellinge in Skåne.
Ingrid soon after married King Harald Gille of Norway. By him, Ingrid had a son who later became King Inge Haraldsson of Norway. When King Harald was murdered in 1136, Ingrid played a prominent part in having her son, Inge, and her stepson, Sigurd, proclaimed co-rulers, and in waging the ensuing war against the attempted usurper, Sigurd Slembe. She remained one of the most important advisors of King Inge throughout his reign.
Her third husband was Ottar Birting (Óttarr Birtingr), a prominent lendmann, but she was again widowed when he was killed in Nidaros at some point in the 1140s.
Between her third and fourth husband, Ingrid bore a child out of wedlock, Orm Ivarsson, by an otherwise unknown man called Ivar Sneis.
Ingrid's fourth and last husband was Arne Ivarsson of Stårheim, (Árni Ívarsson á Stoðreimi), another prominent lendmann with whom she had four children. Arne Ivarsson was subsequently called Kongsmåg meaning in-law of the king.
As an advisor to her son King Inge, Ingrid played a prominent part in many of the events of the early civil war era in Norway. On 3 February 1161, King Inge was defeated and killed, leading his men into battle against King Haakon the Broadshouldered. In the saga Heimskringla, Ingrid is last mentioned when she and her husband left Norway for exile in Denmark.
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