Haakon II

[1] His nickname, Herdebrei, means broad-shouldered, which he was called because of his big size for the age, and unusual broad shoulders.

On 3 February 1161, King Inge I was defeated and killed while leading his men into battle against Haakon II near Oslo, after many of his men, led by his vassal Godred II Olafsson, defected to Haakon's side.

On 7 July 1162 King Haakon II was killed in the Battle of Sekken not far from the market town Veøya in Romsdalen.

After Inge's fall, his supporters had rallied behind the lendmann Erling Skakke and his son, Magnus Erlingsson.

The background for these conflicts were the unclear Norwegian succession laws, social conditions and the struggle between Church and King.