Battle of Bergen (1135)

The Battle of Bergen (1135) initially decided the war over the exclusive right to royal power in the kingdom between the co-kings Magnus Sigurdsson and Harald Gille. In Bergen, Magnus was captured and mutilated by Harald's men, and Harald was now sole king of Norway. It was this battle that gave Magnus his nickname "Blinde".

Background
Harald and Magnus were respectively the half-brother and son of King Sigurd Jorsalfare, who died in 1130. After Sigurd's death, both claimed the Norwegian throne. The conflict between Harald and Magnus was the start of the 110-year civil war in Norway. Harald had the most support in Viken, while Magnus had control over Trøndelag and Vestlandet After the defeat at the Battle of Fyrileiv in 1134, Harald Gille returned with the support of the Danish king Erik Emune.

After the battle at Fyrileiv, Magnus traveled to Bergen to spend the winter there. His lendmen advised him to divide the kingdom with Harald, as Harald's forces grew. Vinteren 1134–1135 ble ifølge Snorre kalt Muge-vinteren fordi store folkemengder sluttet seg til Harald Gilles parti mot den mindre populære kong Magnus.

The battle
The two co-kings met with their respective armies in Bergen at Christmas 1134. Harald Gille did not want to fight at Christmas, which was a holy time, and waited until 7 January 1135. Harald entered the city with his forces, and Magnus' army disbanded. Several escaped, and Magnus and several of his men tried to get away on the king's ship, but the whole of Vågen was closed with an iron chain, and they could not get off. Only a few men were left of Magnus' army, and several of his men were killed. Magnus himself was captured.

Harald deposed Magnus as king and handed him over to his slaves. Magnus was mutilated by gouging out his eyes, cutting off a foot and castrating him. This earned him the nickname Magnus the Blind. Magnus was then placed in Nidarholm abbey (now Munkholmen) in Trondheim, and was entertained by the income from the farm Hernes on Frosta.Snorre quotes from a quadri, Haraldsdråpa, by skald Einar Skulason about the battle: "'


 * Vågen in Bergen
 * a week was closed.
 * Gone could army ships
 * from the city a danger.

'"