Malmfred of Kiev (between 1095 and 1102 – died after 1137) was a Norwegian and Danish queen consort, wife first to King

Sigurd I of Norway Sigurd Magnusson (1089 – 26 March 1130), also known as Sigurd the Crusader (Old Norse: ''Sigurðr Jórsalafari'', Norwegian: ''Sigurd Jorsalfar''), was King of Norway (being Sigurd I) from 1103 to 1130. His rule, together with his half-brothe ...

and second to king Eric II of Denmark.

Life

Malmfred was born to Grand Prince Mstislav I of Kiev and Princess Christina Ingesdotter of Sweden, paternal granddaughter of Gytha of Wessex and maternal granddaughter of King Inge the Elder of Sweden. She was born between 1095 and 1102. Snorre Sturlasson called her ''Malmfred Haraldsdotter of Holmgard'', which was a Norwegian version of her name. Her sister, Ingeborg of Kiev, was married to the Danish prince Canute Lavard. Malmfred was married to Sigurd between 1116 and 1120. She had a daughter,

Kristin Sigurdsdatter Kristin Sigurdsdatter (ca. 1125–1178) was a Norwegian princess and mother of King Magnus V of Norway. Kristin was a daughter of King Sigurd I of Norway and Malmfred of Kiev. She married Erling Skakke (''Erling Ormsson Skakke''), a Norwegian no ...

, mother of king Magnus V of Norway. Tradition says that the marriage was unhappy. Her husband repudiated her in 1128 and remarried Cecilia. In 1130, her ex-husband's illegitimate son became king, and she left for Denmark, where she married Erik Emune. In 1131, she arranged the marriage between her former stepson Magnus IV of Norway and her sister's daughter,

Christine of Denmark Christina Knutsdatter of Denmark, in Norway known as ''Kristin Knutsdotter'', (c. 1118–1139) was a Danish princess who became Queen of Norway as the spouse of King Magnus IV ''the Blind'' of Norway. Christina was born to Canute Lavard and Ing ...

; they were married in 1133. Christine's husband, King Magnus, supported the struggle of Malmfrid, Erik and Christine's father, Canute, against King

Niels of Denmark Niels ( la, Nicolaus, English exonym Nicholas; – 25 June 1134) was the King of Denmark from 1104 to 1134. Niels succeeded his brother Eric Evergood and is presumed to have been the youngest son of King Sweyn II Estridson. King Niels actively ...

. In 1133, Erik and Malmfrid fled Denmark for Norway and the protection of Magnus. Afterward, Queen Christine, however, found out that Magnus had plans to betray them, she warned them. Erik and Malmfrid then allied themselves with the rival of King Magnus, King Harald IV Gille of Norway. King Magnus then separated from Queen Christine. In 1134, Eric became King, and she Queen of Denmark. She had no more children. In 1137, her second husband, Eric, was murdered at the thing in south Jutland. Malmfred was not mentioned after this date.

References

Bibliography

* "''The Large Danish Encyclopedia''" (1998 edition) * Norwegian Wikipedia :no:Malmfrid Mstislavsdatter * Store norske leksikon * Norsk biografisk leksikon * Edvard Bull. »Magnus Blinde» I: ''Norsk biografisk leksikon'', 1. utg. Bd 9. 1938 * Nils Petter Thuesen. »Magnus 4 Sigurdsson Blinde» I: ''Norsk biografisk leksikon'', 2. utg. Bd 6. 2003. * Knut Helle. ''Aschehougs Norgeshistorie. Bd 3. Under kirke og kongemakt''. 1995 {{DEFAULTSORT:Malmfred Norwegian royal consorts Danish royal consorts Monomakhovichi family 1100s births 1140s deaths Kievan Rus' princesses 12th-century Rus' people 12th-century Rus' women 12th-century Norwegian people 12th-century Norwegian women 12th-century Danish people 12th-century Danish women Remarried royal consorts