Ingrid Ragnvaldsdotter was born between 1100 and 1110. History has not recorded either the name nor background of Ingrid's mother. She was the daughter of
Ragnvald Ingesson, the only known son of King
Inge I of Sweden. Other than him being the son of king Inge, nothing is known about Ragnvald. Historian Mona Ringvej suggests that this was because he died early and never succeeded as king. Other historians have speculated that he could have been the
Ragnvald Knaphövde who appear in the regnal lists a little later. Though there is no evidence of a link between this Ragnvald and Inge I in the source materials. Ingrid first married
Henrik Skadelår (
Henrik Svendsen Skadelår), son of
Svend Svendsen of Denmark, who was one of the bastard sons of King
Sweyn II of Denmark. Svend Svendsen was an unsuccessful pursuer to the throne, who died when he was at a point of being elected as king. Henrik was crippled and not considered a candidate for kingship. Instead he was a frequent schemer and plotter, generating a number of enemies. Four sons of Henrik and Ingrid are recorded, including King
Magnus II of Sweden. Saxo describes the marriage as tempestuous, and recounts a story where she, disguised as a man, attempts to elope with a lover. Ingrid is known to have intrigued for her son Magnus to obtain the Swedish throne, in Ingrid's opinion her late father's rightful inheritance. She reportedly suggested that her son Magnus employ the man who would kill
Sverker I of Sweden. Henrik Skadelår died on 4 June 1134 at the
Battle of Fotevik in the Bay of Fotevik near
Vellinge in
Skåne. Ingrid soon after married King
Harald Gille of Norway. By him, Ingrid had a son who later became King
Inge Haraldsson of Norway. When King Harald was murdered in 1136, Ingrid played a prominent part in having her son, Inge, and her stepson,
Sigurd, proclaimed co-rulers, and in waging the ensuing war against the attempted usurper,
Sigurd Slembe. She remained one of the most important advisors of King Inge throughout his reign. Her third husband was Ottar Birting (
Óttarr Birtingr), a prominent
lendmann, but she was again widowed when he was killed in
Nidaros at some point in the 1140s. Between her third and fourth husband, Ingrid bore a child out of wedlock, Orm Ivarsson, by an otherwise unknown man called Ivar Sneis. Ingrid's fourth and last husband was Arne Ivarsson of
Stårheim, (
Árni Ívarsson á Stoðreimi), another prominent
lendmann with whom she had four children. Arne Ivarsson was subsequently called
Kongsmåg meaning in-law of the king. As an advisor to her son King Inge, Ingrid played a prominent part in many of the events of the early
civil war era in Norway. On 3 February 1161, King Inge was defeated and killed, leading his men into battle against King
Haakon the Broadshouldered. In the saga
Heimskringla, Ingrid is last mentioned when she and her husband left Norway for exile in
Denmark.
Notes on name Ingrid's name can be found in a wide variety of spellings in the modern Scandinavian languages and English. Her first name, in Old Norse
Ingiríðr, is rendered as
Ingrid or
Ingerid. Her
patronym, in Old Norse
Rögnvaldsdóttir, can be rendered as
Ragnvaldsdotter,
Ragvaldsdotter or
Ragnvaldsdatter. ==Issue==