Ragnvald Ulfsson

Ragnvald Ulfsson the Old (beginning 11th century) was a jarl of Västergötland or Östergötland, and married to a sister of Olav Tryggvason.Winroth 1995-1997:616]

Ragnvald is mentioned in the skaldic poem "Austrfaravísur", ascribed to Sigvatr Þórðarson, skald of King Olaf Haraldsson of Norway ("Olaf the Holy"), who had been on a diplomatic mission to Sweden. This poem is quoted in the 13th century sagas "Fagrskinna" and Snorri Sturluson's "Heimskringla". In addition to the poem, "Fagrskinna" only briefly mentions Ragnvald, while "Heimskringla" contains a more elaborate account of him. This 13th century prose text is not considered historically reliable.

According to Snorri, Ragnvald was the son of jarl Ulf Tostesson and Ingeborg and the foster-son of Þorgnýr the Lawspeaker. He was the cousin of Olof Skötkonung, through his aunt Sigrid the Haughty, and he was married to Ingeborg Tryggvasdotter.

During his days the Norwegians pillaged in Västergötland, but then the Norwegian king, Olaf the Holy, proposed to the Swedish princess Ingigerd Olofsdotter, the daughter of Sweden's king Olof Skötkonung. This pleased Ragnvald who was related to both.

However, at the Thing at Gamla Uppsala, Ragnvald and his foster-father Þorgnýr the Lawspeaker had to force Olof, the Swedish king, to promise his daughter to Olaf, the Norwegian king, whom he did not like. When the Swedish king failed to deliver his daughter, Ragnvald realized that he was in trouble. He has not only fallen out of grace with the Swedish king, but he could also expect the revenge of the Norwegians.

During a visit by the skald Sigvatr Þórðarson, Ragnvald learned that Prince Jaroslav of Kievan Rus' has proposed to Ingigerd, and so he had the idea that Olaf the Holy should marry the illegitimate daughter of Olof Skötkonung, Astrid, who was staying with Ragnvald. Sigvat promised to deliver the message, and the Norwegian king accepted.

Ragnvald delivered Astrid at Sarpsborg in Norway and she married the king after Christmas, 1019.

Olof Skötkonung was now so upset that he intended to hang Ragnvald at the next Thing. However, when Ingigerd Olofsdotter married Jaroslav, Ingigerd managed to arrange that Ragnvald became the jarl of Staraja Ladoga (Aldeigjuborg) and Ingria, and Olof let him depart with Ingigerd in the summer of 1019.

"Fagrskinna's" account of Olaf the Holy's betrothal to Ingigerd, and eventual wedding with Astrid, differs significantly from the account in "Heimskringla". In "Fagrskinna's" account, Ragnvald is not given a prominent role in the proceedings.

Married to Ingeborg Tryggvasdotter. Children:
#Ulf Ragnvaldsson Jarl
#Eilif Ragnvaldsson Jarl

He is considered to have fathered king Stenkil,The entry Stenkil in Larsson 2000:33]

Notes

Literature

*Larsson, Lars-Ove (1993, 2000). "Vem är vem i svensk historia, från år 1000 till 1900". Prisma, Stockholm. ISBN 91-518-3427-8
*Larsson, Mats G (2002). "Götarnas Riken : Upptäcktsfärder Till Sveriges Enande". Bokförlaget Atlantis AB ISBN 9789174866414
*Lagerquist, Lars O. (1997). "Sveriges Regenter, från forntid till nutid". Norstedts, Stockholm. ISBN 91-1-963882-5
*Winroth, Anders (1995-1997) "Ragnvald Ulfsson", "Svenskt Biografiskt Lexikon", volume 29, page 616.
*Wisén, Theodor [Th.W.] , revised by Erik Brate [B-e.] (1915), " [http://runeberg.org/nfcb/0477.html Ragnvald Ulfsson] ", Nordisk familjebok, volume 22, 913-914