Inge II of Norway

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Inge Baardson (1185 - 23 April 1217), (Norwegian Inge Bårdsson, Old Norse Ingi Bárðarson), was a king of Norway between 1204 and 1217. He was the son of Baard Guttormsson and his second wife, daughter of king of Norway. When the Birkebein claimants or rival kings Haakon III and Guttorm died both successively in the same year 1204, Inge was chosen as the next Birkebein claimant against the Bagli. His seat was in north of the country, in Trondelag. He held also increasingly much of the western coast.

The civil wars period of Norwegian history lasted from 1130 to 1240. During this period there were several interlocked conflicts of varying scale and intensity. The background for these conflicts were the unclear Norwegian succession laws, social conditions and the struggle between different aristocratic parties and between Church and King. There were then two main parties, firstly known by varying names or no names at all, but finally condensed into parties of Bagler and Birkebeiner. The rallying point regularly was a royal son, who was set up as the head figure of the party in question, to oppose the rule of king from the contesting party.

In 1206, Haakon Haakonsson, the two-year-old putative son of Haakon III was placed under the protection of king Inge, after he had fled from Bagler-held Hamar to north.

Inge's half-brother Skule Baardsson was given some power already during Inge's reign. Afterwards, when Haakon IV ascended, he received much more power and the title of Duke.

Inge was firstly rivalled as king by Erling Steinvegg, a putative son of Magnus V of Norway, and after his death in 1207, by Philip Simonson.

Between Philip and Inge, a pact was made in 1208. The realm was divided into three parts. Philip was confirmed to rule in Opland and a part of Vigen, but not the title of king. Philip should marry late king Sverre's daughter Christina. Inge remained as king, and ruled most of the country. The pact was made in Kvitsøy in Rogaland in Autumn 1208. It was known as "Kvitsøyforliket". The death of Philip in 1217, same year as Inge died, sealed the end of the dispute. The successor, Haakon IV of Norway was proclaimed by both baglar and birkebeinar. Philip's lands in Viken returned to the crown, leaving Haakon more or less uncontested monarch.

Inge is buried in Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim. Template:Start box Template:Succession box Template:End boxda:Inge Bårdsson de:Inge II. (Norwegen) fr:Inge II de Norvège no:Inge Bårdsson nn:Inge II av Noreg fi:Inge II Bårdinpoika