# Haakon IV

_King of Norway_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/haakon-iv
Last updated: 2026-11-08

> Haakon IV Haakonsson, sometimes called Haakon the Old in contrast to his namesake son, was King of Norway from 1217 to 1263. His reign lasted for 46 years, longer than any Norwegian king since Harald Fairhair. Haakon was born into the troubled civil war era in Norway, but his reign eventually managed to put an end to the internal conflicts. At the start of his reign, during his minority, Earl Skule Bårdsson served as regent. As a king of the Birkebeiner faction, Haakon defeated the uprising of the final Bagler royal pretender, Sigurd Ribbung, in 1227. He put a definitive end to the civil war era when he had Skule Bårdsson killed in 1240, a year after Skule had himself proclaimed king in opposition to Haakon. Haakon thereafter formally appointed his own eldest son, Haakon the Young, as his co-regent.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 1204 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q316039#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Folkenborg ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q316039#P19))
- **Died:** 16 December 1263 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q316039#P570))
- **Place of death:** Bishop's Palace ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q316039#P20))
- **Citizenship:** Kingdom of Norway ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q316039#P27))
- **Occupation:** royalty ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q316039#P106))
- **Education:** Trondheim Cathedral School; Bergen Cathedral School ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q316039#P69))
- **Spouse:** Margrete Skulesdatter; Kanaga ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q316039#P26))
- **Positions held:** Monarch of Norway (1217–1263) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q316039#P39))

## Questions

**When was Haakon IV born?**  
Haakon IV was born on 1204 in Folkenborg.

**What positions has Haakon IV held?**  
Positions held by Haakon IV include: Monarch of Norway (1217–1263).

**Where did Haakon IV study?**  
Haakon IV was educated at Trondheim Cathedral School, Bergen Cathedral School.

## Related

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- [Cnut](https://diginpl.com/people/cnut)
- [Christian VIII](https://diginpl.com/people/christian-viii)
- [Frederick I of Denmark](https://diginpl.com/people/frederick-i-of-denmark)
- [Hans, King of Denmark](https://diginpl.com/people/hans-king-of-denmark)
- [Frederick II of Denmark](https://diginpl.com/people/frederick-ii-of-denmark)

## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Haakon IV](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haakon_IV) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q316039](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q316039) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Kong Haakon Haakonsson PI III 1.jpg by Drawing by Hakon Thorsen (d. before 1924) (Public domain)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kong_Haakon_Haakonsson_PI_III_1.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Haakon IV, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Kong Haakon Haakonsson PI III 1.jpg — Drawing by Hakon Thorsen (d. before 1924), Public domain.

## Cite this page

"Haakon IV". DigiNepal. Last updated 8 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/haakon-iv. Retrieved 14 November 2026.