This theme is about forgotten royal women, and the first is Ingegerd Olofsdotter, princess and later – saint. But to understand her story, it needs to be put it in a bigger perspective. Therefore, let’s start with some background.
When Ingegerd was born, around the year 1000, the Nordic countries were somewhere between the Viking Age and the Middle Ages. Denmark, Norway and Iceland were already Christian at this time. Sweden however, were divided.
First of all, there was no ”Sweden”, as we know it today. It consisted of many petty kingdoms, of which Götaland and Svealand were the largest and most influential. The first to become king of both was Ingegerd’s grandfather, Erik Segersäll (the Victorious), and he was the first king to convert to Christianity. However, when his reign was under threat, he reverted. Maybe he felt that the old Gods were better warriors – which maybe they were, since he won the battle.
But his son, Ingegerd’s father, Olof Skötkonung was the first king in what was to become Sweden, to convert, be baptized and remain Christian. It was a daring move, since the ”battle” between the old and new religion was still ongoing, and he would even be deposed for a time by followers of the Norse religion.
Olof was married to Estrid of the Obotrites, a Slavic princess. They had two children, Ingegerd and her brother Jakob. Olof also had a mistress, Edla, daughter of a Wendish cheiftain, with whom he had another three children, Emund, Astrid and Holmfrid. As was the custom in Viking Age society, the illegitimate children had the same status as the ones born in wedlock.
Olof Skötkonung was a bitter rival to the Norwegian kings, as he wanted to rule Norway as well. This enmity will be important later on in Ingegerd’s life.
We don’t know much about Ingegerd’s childhood. But we do know that the family spent time at Sigtuna, a new Christian city founded by Ingegerd’s grandfather Erik Segersäll. Her father, Olof Skötkonung, had coins minted there, and remains of a royal estate from the time have been found.
At the time, it was common for children of royal families were sent to relatives to be raised. All Ingegerd’s siblings were sent away. For example, her brother Jakob was sent to their mother’s Slavic relatives. There are no sources that Ingegerd left home though.
Her father converted to Christianity and had his whole family baptized sometime around 1000 – 1008. Ingegerd probably received education in the sense that she was taught the Christian doctrine. One source mentions she wrote letters, so maybe she knew how to read and write as well.
Her father and the Danish king Sven Forkbeard had conquered and divided Norway between them around the year 1000. In 1015 a new Norwegian king appeared – Olav Haraldsson (the future Saint Olav), a descendant from Norway’s first king Harald Fairhair. It was set for new conflicts. But people wanted peace, and a sort of pro-Norwegian party was created, which worked for peace.
Ingegerd would become one of the leading champions for this cause. Since king Olof refused to agree to any peace negotiations, the princess was approaced with a tempting proposition: to create peace by marrying Olav. She apparently accepted without consulting her father in the matter.
But when the king was confronted with the matter at a local Ting, he was furious and refused. First after the angry crowd treathened to kill him, he agreed (according to Snorri Sturlasson, author and historian in the 12th century).
But he had other plans…
After Olof Skötkonung had agreed to the engagement between Ingegerd and Olav Haraldsson (above), king of Norway, a time and place for the wedding was decided. Olav sailed to Kungahälla in Bohuslän (an area that has alternately been both Norwegian and Swedish) were he waited for his bride. He had to wait all summer. Ingegerd never came.
Beacuse her father had made other plans for her. He had promised her hand in marriage to the prince of Novgorod, Yaroslav I Vladimirovich (better known as Yaroslav the Wise). Ingegerd is said to have agreed reluctantly, but she had two conditions: That she would recieve the city of Ladoga as her dowry and that she could appoint her own vassal, who would govern it in her place.
Both her requests were accepted, and in the spring 1019 she and her retinue left the country and traveled towards Novgorod.
What about king Olav? He was of course very angry and disappointed, but the crisis was averted by a new engegement – to Ingegerd’s half sister Astrid.
Find out more about Ingegerd Olofsdotter’s life in her new country in the next post!
Sources:
Edberg, Rune. Viking princess, Christian saint. (2005)
UR bildningsbyrån. Ingegerd Olofsdotter – svensk storfurstinna i Ukraina (2022)