Eric II of Norway

Eric Magnusson (May 126815July 1299) (; ) was king of Norway from 1280 until 1299.

Background Eric was the eldest surviving son of King Magnus VI the Lawmender and Queen Ingeborg of Denmark. In 1273, he was designated king alongside his father, while his younger brother Haakon was given the title of duke.

King Magnus planned to hold a coronation for Eric as subordinate co-ruler in the summer of 1280. However, Magnus died before this could be arranged, and Eric became sole king and was crowned at Bergen in the summer of 1280. During his minority, the kingdom was ruled by a royal council consisting of prominent barons and probably also his mother, Queen Ingeborg. King Eric briefly and unsuccessfully laid claim to the Scottish crown as his daughter's heir.

Reign

A major feature of Eric's reign was the War of the Outlaws (, 1287–1295) against Denmark, partly motivated by his claim to his mother's Danish inheritance. In 1287, he granted sanctuary in Norway to a group of Danish nobles, including Jacob Nielsen, Count of Halland and Stig Andersen Hvide, outlawed for the alleged murder of King Eric V. In 1289, Eric personally led a Norwegian fleet with the exiles, raiding Denmark, burning Elsinore and threatening Copenhagen. Further raids occurred in 1290 and 1293, but these campaigns had limited lasting effect. Peace was concluded in 1295.

Within Norway, the baronial council that governed during his minority continued to wield much of the power, limiting Eric's authority.

Death and succession Eric died in Bergen in 1299 and was buried in the old Christ Church, Bergen.