THORA Thorbergsdatter

• Daughter of THORBERG Arnesson [Arnung] from Giske & his wife Ragnhild Erlingsdatter

Mistress of HARALD III "Hardråde" King of Norway

• Mistress of HARALD III "Hardråde" King of Norway. Mistress (1): THORA Thorbergsdatter, daughter of THORBERG Arnesson [Arnung] from Giske & his wife Ragnhild Erlingsdatter ([1020/25-after 1066). Morkinskinna records that King Harald had married “the daughter of Thorbergr Árnason…Thóra”[322]. Snorre names "Thora, daughter of Thorberg Arnason" as mother of King Harald's sons Magnus and Olav, in a later passage clarifying that she was "Fin Arnason's brother's daughter"[323]. Her birth date range is estimated on the assumption that her relationship with King Harald started around the time of his accession to the Norwegian throne, corroborated by the fact that her son King Magnus was old enough to have fathered a son before his death in 1069. She gave birth to a son by another relationship, as shown by Snorre recording that her grandson "Hakon…was fostered by Thorer of Steig in Gudbrandsdal, who was a brother of King Magnus by the mother's side"[324], although no indication has yet been found of the identity of Thorer's father. It is assumed that this relationship predated her relationship with King Harald, as it is likely that Thorer was older than his half-brother King Magnus to have been chosen as foster-father for his nephew. According to Europäische Stammtafeln[325], Thora Thorbergsdotter is identified with Thora who was the wife of Svend II King of Denmark and mother of King Svend's son Magnus. Christiansen considers that this identification is far-fetched, considering Thora's age at the time of the supposed marriage[326]. There appears to be another chronological problem: the proposed consecration of Thora's son Magnus at Rome is best explained if he was King Svend's oldest son, which would place his birth (and therefore his parents' marriage) in the late 1030s. Morkinskinna records that King Harald left “his wife Thora and his daughter Máría” in Orkney when he sailed for England[327]

Children

• Magnus II; MAGNUS Haraldsson ([1045/50]-Nidaros 28 Apr 1069, bur Nidaros). Snorre names Magnus and Olav as the sons of King Harald and Thora[335]. Morkinskinna names “the older…Magnus, the younger Óláfr” as the two sons of King Harald and “the daughter of Thorbergr Árnason…Thóra”[336]. The Gwentian Chronicle records that "Macht son of Harallt came to Wales with a great army…and the Prince Grufudd and Macht with combined forces proceeded against the Saxons…and returned to Wales with great spoil" in 1059[337]. The dating of this passage seems early for it to apply to Magnus, son of Harald III King of Norway, but no other contemporary with this name has so far been identified to whom it can apply. If the identification is correct, Magnus must have been born earlier than indicated above. Another possibility is that the Gwentian Chronicle is indicating one of the brothers of the future Harold II King of England, incorrectly named. Magnus may have fought with his father at Stamford Bridge 1066[338]. His birth date range is estimated on the assumption that his father's relationship with his mother took place around the time of his accession to the Norwegian throne. He succeeded his father in 1066 as MAGNUS II King of Norway, jointly with his brother Olav, ruling in the northern part of the country for two years[339]. Snorre records that King Magnus died "of the ringworm disease" at Nidaros and that he was buried in the same place[340]. Mistress: ---. No information has been identified concerning King Magnus's concubine.

King Magnus II had one illegitimate child by his Mistress:

• a) HAAKON Toresfostre ([1068/69]-Feb 1095, bur Trondheim, Christ Church). Snorre names "Hakon, who was fostered by Thorer of Steig in Gudbrandsdal, who was a brother of King Magnus by the mother's side" as the son of King Magnus[341]. He succeeded in 1093 as HAAKON II King of Norway. Snorre records that, when Magnus son of King Olav III was proclaimed king at Viken, the "Upland people on hearing of King Olaf's death chose Hakon, Thorer's foster-son" and that he was proclaimed king of half Norway in Trondheim[342]. Snorre records that King Magnus travelled north to Trondheim to impose his authority but that Haakon died on the mountains while out hunting ptarmigan, aged "full twenty five years old", and was buried at Christ Church[343]. Morkinskinna records that after Haakon died, the people of Trondheim took “Sveinn, the son of Haraldr flettir (Despoiler) as their king”, adding that King Magnus forced him to flee to Denmark where he remained “until he became reconciled with King Eysteinn Magnusson”[344].
  

• Olav Kyrre; OLAV (-Håkeby, Sweden 22 Sep 1093, bur Nidaros [Trondheim], Christ's Church). Snorre names Magnus and Olav as the sons of King Harald and Thora[345]. Morkinskinna names “the older…Magnus, the younger Óláfr” as the two sons of King Harald and “the daughter of Thorbergr Árnason…Thóra”[346]. He fought with his father at Stamford Bridge 1066. He succeeded his father in 1066 as OLAV III "Kyrre/the Gentle" King of Norway, jointly with his brother Magnus, ruling in the eastern part of the country[347]. Snorre records that King Olav remained as sole king after the death of his brother[348]. Pope Gregory VII addressed a document to "Olauo Noruecchorum regi" dated 15 Dec 1078[349]. Snorre records that King Olav "when he was east in Ranrike, on his estate of Haukby, took the disease which ended in his death" and that he was buried at "Nidaros…in Christ Church which he himself had built there"[350]. married ([1070]%29 INGERID Svendsdatter, illegitimate daughter of SVEND II Estridsen King of Denmark & his mistress ---. Morkinskinna records the betrothal of “King Óláfr” and “King Sveinn…his daughter Ingirídr”, dated to soon after his accession as sole king in Norway[351]. Snorre records the marriage of King Olav anIngerid, a daughter of Svein, the Danish king"[352]. Mistress (1): THORA, daughter of [JOHAN or ARNI Lagi] & his wife ---. Snorre names "Thora, Joan's daughter" as mother of King Olav's son Magnus[353]. Morkinskinna names “Thóra, the daughter of Árni lági” as the concubine of King Olav[354].

King Olav had [two] illegitimate children by Mistress (1):

• a) MAGNUS (-killed in battle in Ireland 24 May 1103). Snorre names Magnus as son of King Olav and Thora, commenting that he was brought up at the king's court[355]. Morkinskinna names “Magnus nicknamed…berfœttr and…Styrjaldar (Battle-Age) Magnus” as son of King Olav and his concubine “Thóra, the daughter of Árni lági”[356]. He succeeded his first cousin in 1095 as MAGNUS III "Berrføtt/Barfod/Barfot/Barefoot" King of Norway.
  
• b) SKJALDVOR Snorre names "the king's relative, Sigurd Hranason" when recording that he "came into strife with King Sigurd", adding in a later passage that King Eystein reminded King Sigurd that Sigurd "was married to their aunt, Skialdvor" and that ultimately Sigurd forgave him and gave him "leave to go north to his farm, gave him employment, and was always afterward his friend"[357]. Morkinskinna records that “Skjaldvor…sister of King Magnús berfoettr” married “Sigurdr Hranason”[358]. It is possible that Skjaldvor was only uterine sister of King Magnus, in view of the refusal of her son to become king on the grounds that "some one should be chosen king who was of the royal race" as reported by Snorre[359]. married SIGURD Hranason, son of ---.]
  

Sigurd & his wife SKJALDVOR had one child:

• i) NIKOLAS Skialdvarson (-killed in battle after 1161). Snorre records that "Nikolas Skialdvarson, a sister's son of King Magnus Barefoot" was proposed as king in 1161 but he refused on the grounds that "some one should be chosen king who was of the royal race"[360]. If his parentage is as shown here, he must have been very old at the time. In another passage, Snorre names "Nikolas…a son of Sigurd Hranason and of Skialdvor, a daughter of Brynjolf Ulfalde, and a sister of Haldor Brynjolfson by the father's side, and of King Magnus Barefoot by the mother's side", recording that he "had a farm at Ongul in Halogaland…called Steig" and "a house in Nidaros, below St Jon's church, where Thorgeir the scribe lately dwelt"[361]. Snorre records that he was killed fighting the Birkebeins[362]. m ---. The name of Nikolas's wife is not known.
  

Nikolas & his wife had one child:

• (a) SKIALDVOR Snorre names "Skialdvor, Nikolas's daughter…married to Eirik Arnason…a lenderman"[363]. m ERIK Arnasson, son of ARNE --- & his wife ---.
  

Source Project MedLands, Norway Kings - https://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/NORWAY.htm#HaraldIIIdied1066B

Tora Torbergsdatter, by Wikipedia

Tora Torbergsdotter (born 1025 at Giske ) was a Norwegian royal mother. She was either married to Harald Sigurdsson (Hardråd), or she became his wife (mistress), in 1048 . Harald was then married to Ellisiv of Kiev .

The Torah was the daughter of the eagle-mare Torberg Arneson of Giskeætten and Ragnhild Erlingsdotter , daughter of Erling Skjalgsson at Sola. The Torah was thus the brother-in-law of Finn Arneson and Calv Arneson , and mother of the kings Magnus II and Olav Kyrre . After the death of Harald Hardråd at the Battle of Stamford Bridge in 1066 , she probably married King Svein Estridsson of Denmark , or possibly the Swedish King Håkan Røde . In both cases, the goal must have been alliance building and the desire for political stabilityScandinavia . [1]

Links

• Geneall
• Medlands
• Wikipedia
• Biografi in Norwegian
• Slekt in Norwegian
• Wikipedia, Tora Torbergsdatter
• https://nbl.snl.no/Tora_Torbergsdatter Tora Torbergsdatter]
• http://genealogics.org/getperson.php?personID=I00140269&tree=LEO Get Persons]