Magnus IV "the Blind" of Norway (1115-12 November 1139) was King of Norway from 26 March 1130 to 7 January 1135 (succeeding Sigurd the Crusader and preceding Harald Gille). His reign marked the start of the Norwegian Civil War, during which he was overthrown by the impostor Harald Gille, who claimed to be Magnus' long-lost uncle.
Biography[]
Magnus Sigurdsson was born in 1115, the illegitimate son of King Sigurd the Crusader of Norway. In 1130, he became King of Norway, but his supposed uncle Harald Gille claimed the throne for himself, as Magnus was illegitimate, and Sigurd had recognized Harald as his "long-lost half brother" from Ireland after Harald endured a trial by fire. On 9 August 1134, Magnus defeated Harald at Farlev and forced him to flee to Denmark, but Magnus then dismissed his army and spent the winter at Bergen. Harald returned to Norway with the backing of King Eric II of Denmark, and Magnus was captured in a surprise attack by Harald's army on 7 January 1135. He was blinded, castrated, and had one leg cut off, and he was forced into a monastery until the pretender Sigurd Slembe seized power in 1136 and made Magnus his co-king. Magnus headed for eastern Norway, where he was defeated by Inge Crouchback at Minne. Magnus fled to Gotaland and then to Denmark, and he persuaded Eric II to invade Norway, although Eric's invasion ended in disaster. On 12 November 1139, Magnus and Sigurd's rebel army met Inge and Sigurd Munn in a decisive naval battle at Holmengra, and Magnus was impaled and killed by a throwing spear.