Christina Knutsdatter of Denmark, in Norway known as ''Kristin Knutsdotter'', (c. 1118–1139) was a Danish princess who became

Queen of Norway The list of Norwegian monarchs ( no, kongerekken or ''kongerekka'') begins in 872: the traditional dating of the Battle of Hafrsfjord, after which victorious King Harald Fairhair merged several petty kingdoms into that of his father. Named after ...

as the spouse of King Magnus IV ''the Blind'' of Norway. Christina was born to

Canute Lavard Canute Lavard ( Danish: Knud Lavard; cognate with English Lord) (12 March 1096 – 7 January 1131) was a Danish prince. Later he was the first Duke of Schleswig and the first border prince who was both a Danish and a German vassal, a position ...

and

Ingeborg of Kiev Ingeborg Mstislavna of Kiev ( fl. 1137) was a Ruthenian princess, married to the Danish prince Canute Lavard of Jutland. She was the daughter of Grand Prince Mstislav I of Kiev and Christina Ingesdotter of Sweden and was in about 1116 married to C ...

. Her marriage to Magnus was arranged by her maternal aunt, Malmfred, former Queen of Norway and the former stepmother of Magnus, and at the time the wife of Christina's paternal uncle

Eric The given name Eric, Erich, Erikk, Erik, Erick, or Eirik is derived from the Old Norse name ''Eiríkr'' (or ''Eríkr'' in Old East Norse due to monophthongization). The first element, ''ei-'' may be derived from the older Proto-Norse ''* ain ...

. Christina was engaged in 1131, and the marriage took place in 1132/33. King Magnus supported the struggle of her father Canute and uncle Eric 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, Eric and Malmfrid fled Denmark for Norway and the protection of Magnus. After Queen Christina, however, found out that Magnus had plans to betray them, she warned them, and Eric and Malmfrid allied themselves with Magnus' rival,

Harald IV of Norway Harald Gille (Old Norse: ''Haraldr Gilli'' or ''Haraldr Gillikristr'', c. 1102 − 14 December 1136), also known as Harald IV, was king of Norway from 1130 until his death. His byname Gille is probably from Middle Irish ''Gilla Críst'' "servant o ...

. King Magnus then separated from Queen Christina.

References

* Alf Henrikson: ''Dansk historia'' (Danish history) (1989) (Swedish) * Sven Rosborn (In Swedish): ''När hände vad i Nordens historia'' (When did what happen in the historiy of the Nordic countries) (1997) * 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 , - 12th-century deaths Norwegian royal consorts 12th-century Norwegian women 12th-century Norwegian people 12th-century Danish women 12th-century Danish people Danish princesses House of Estridsen Year of birth unknown Fairhair dynasty Daughters of monarchs {{Europe-royal-stub