1268 – 15 July 1299
House: Sverre
Titles: King of Norway, Duke of Norway (rex iunior)
Eric Magnusson, born in 1268, ascended to the Norwegian throne as Eric II in 1280 after the death of his father, King Magnus the Lawmender. During his minority, a royal council, likely including his mother Queen Ingeborg, governed the kingdom. After reaching majority in 1282, Eric continued to rule with significant influence from the council. He resided mainly in Bergen and had his brother, Haakon, ruling as Duke of Norway over areas around Oslo and Stavanger.
Eric’s marriages to Princess Margaret of Scotland and later to Isabel Bruce did not yield a surviving male heir, although he had two daughters, Margaret, Queen of Scots, and Ingeborg, Duchess of Finland. His reign was marked by the War of the Outlaws against Denmark, rooted in his claim to his mother’s Danish inheritance. This conflict, which saw intermittent hostilities from 1289 to 1295, ultimately concluded with peace. Eric’s death in 1299 without sons led to his brother Haakon’s succession as Haakon V of Norway.
Death: Died at age 31 in Bergen, buried in the old cathedral of Bergen.
Reign: 19 years and 67 days
Children: 2 daughters: Margaret, Queen of Scots; Ingeborg, Duchess of Finland
Marriages: Margaret of Scotland, Isabel Bruce
Parents: Father: Magnus VI of Norway, Mother: Ingeborg of Denmark