Håkon IV

Håkon IV, called The Old (1204-1263), king of Norway (1217-1263), who presided over the greatest extension of medieval Norwegian power. Håkon was the illegitimate son of King Håkon III, and his claim to the throne was contested by Earl Skule, brother of the preceding king. Although Håkon granted him concessions and married his daughter, Skule persisted in his rebellion until he was killed. Håkon's reign thereafter was generally peaceful.

A shrewd, forceful ruler, Håkon added Greenland to his realm in 1261. Having long had designs on Iceland, too, he adeptly exploited the internal power struggle there to secure its submission in 1262. In the process he instigated the murder of the Icelandic historian Snorri Sturluson, who had proved an unreliable ally.