# Magnus the Lawmender

_King of Norway (1238–1280)_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/magnus-the-lawmender
Last updated: 2026-11-08

> Magnus the Lawmender, also known as Magnus Haakonsson, was King of Norway from 1263 to 1280. One of his greatest achievements was the modernisation and nationalisation of the Norwegian law-code. He was the first Norwegian monarch known to have used an ordinal number, counting himself as Magnus IV.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 1 May 1238 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q334673#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Tønsberg ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q334673#P19))
- **Died:** 9 May 1280 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q334673#P570))
- **Place of death:** Bergen ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q334673#P20))
- **Citizenship:** Norway ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q334673#P27))
- **Occupation:** monarch ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q334673#P106))
- **Spouse:** Ingeborg of Denmark, Queen of Norway ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q334673#P26))
- **Positions held:** Monarch of Norway (1263–1280) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q334673#P39))

## Questions

**When was Magnus the Lawmender born?**  
Magnus the Lawmender was born on 1 May 1238 in Tønsberg.

**What positions has Magnus the Lawmender held?**  
Positions held by Magnus the Lawmender include: Monarch of Norway (1263–1280).

## Related

- [Christopher of Bavaria](https://diginpl.com/people/christopher-of-bavaria)
- [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): Magnus the Lawmender](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnus_the_Lawmender) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q334673](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q334673) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Magnus Haakonsson (Stavanger cathedral).jpg by Alexander Bugge (1870–1929) (Public domain)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Magnus_Haakonsson_(Stavanger_cathedral).jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Magnus the Lawmender, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Magnus Haakonsson (Stavanger cathedral).jpg — Alexander Bugge (1870–1929), Public domain.

## Cite this page

"Magnus the Lawmender". DigiNepal. Last updated 8 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/magnus-the-lawmender. Retrieved 8 November 2026.