Magnus Erlingsson was probably born in
Etne in
Hordaland. He was the son of
Erling Skakke, a Norwegian nobleman who earned his reputation crusading with
Rögnvald Kali Kolsson, the
earl of Orkney. Magnus's mother, Kristin, was the daughter of
Sigurd the Crusader, who was the
king of Norway from 1103 to 1130. Magnus Erlingsson was named king in 1161 at the age of five. He was the first Norwegian king to be crowned. His father Erling took the title of
earl and held the real power since Magnus was a minor. Erling Skakke continued to be the country’s real ruler even after Magnus had come of age. Magnus' reign saw the arrival in Norway of
Sverre Sigurdsson, who claimed the throne for himself as an allegedly illegitimate son of a previous king. Several more years of warfare ended with Magnus' defeat and death in the
Battle of Fimreite on June 15, 1184. ==Historic context==