Gille dynasty was a powerful royal house or dynasty which ruled the

Kingdom of Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and the ...

during the 12th century. It is very unlikely that the rulers ever referred to the Gille dynasty which is a term coined by modern historians. The term "Gille" is probably derived from the Middle Irish Gaelic '' Gilla Críst'', i.e. servant of

Christ Jesus, likely from he, יֵשׁוּעַ, translit=Yēšūaʿ, label= Hebrew/ Aramaic ( AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ or Jesus of Nazareth (among other names and titles), was a first-century Jewish preacher and relig ...

. King

Harald IV of Norway Harald Gille (Old Norse: ''Haraldr Gilli'' or ''Haraldr Gillikristr'', c. 1102 − 14 December 1136), also known as Harald IV, was king of Norway from 1130 until his death. His byname Gille is probably from Middle Irish ''Gilla Críst'' "servant o ...

started the Gille (or Gylle dynasty), a putative cadet branch of the

Hardrada dynasty The Hardrada dynasty ( no, Hardrådeætta) was a powerful royal dynasty which ruled, at various times in history, the Kingdom of Norway, the Kingdom of Mann and the Isles, and the Earldom of Orkney. The royal house was founded, albeit unknowing ...

(and by extension the Fairhair) dynasty. Harald Gille arrived in

Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The remote Arctic island of ...

from

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel, the Irish Sea, and St George's Channel. Ireland is the s ...

or the

Hebrides The Hebrides (; gd, Innse Gall, ; non, Suðreyjar, "southern isles") are an archipelago off the west coast of the Scottish mainland. The islands fall into two main groups, based on their proximity to the mainland: the Inner and Outer Hebri ...

and claimed to be the natural son of King

Magnus Barefoot Magnus Olafsson (Old Norse: ''Magnús Óláfsson'', Norwegian: ''Magnus Olavsson''; 1073 – 24 August 1103), better known as Magnus Barefoot (Old Norse: ''Magnús berfœttr'', Norwegian: ''Magnus Berrføtt''), was King of Norway (being Ma ...

whose reign was marked by aggressive military campaigns and conquest, particularly in the Norse-dominated parts of the

British Isles The British Isles are a group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean off the north-western coast of continental Europe, consisting of the islands of Great Britain, Ireland, the Isle of Man, the Inner and Outer Hebrides, the Northern Isl ...

. From historical sources, his claim seems to have been based largely upon stories told by his mother and her family during his youth. Approximately from the accession of Harald to the throne, the

civil war era in Norway The civil war era in Norway ( no, borgerkrigstida or ''borgerkrigstiden'') began in 1130 and ended in 1240. During this time in Norwegian history, some two dozen rival kings and pretenders waged wars to claim the throne. In the absence of f ...

(''Borgerkrigstida'') lasted from 1130 to 1240. His descendants would expand the influence, wealth and power of the dynasty. The royal house replaced the

in 1135, and was again replaced by scion of the Hardrada dynasty in 1162. The line was briefly restored under Inge II Baardson, a cognatic descendant of the dynasty, but was replaced again by the

House of Sverre The House of Sverre ( no, Sverreætten) was a royal house or dynasty which ruled, at various times in history, the Kingdom of Norway, hereunder the kingdom's realms, and the Kingdom of Scotland. The house was founded with King Sverre Sigurdss ...

in 1217.

List of kings and rival kings

The rulers within the royal house would often have a rival who opposed the established king's right to rule the realm and dominions. Here is a list of the rulers during the period the house held the power in Norway: *

Harald Gille Harald Gille (Old Norse: ''Haraldr Gilli'' or ''Haraldr Gillikristr'', c. 1102 − 14 December 1136), also known as Harald IV, was king of Norway from 1130 until his death. His byname Gille is probably from Middle Irish ''Gilla Críst'' "servant o ...

: 1130–1136 *

Sigurd II of Norway Sigurd Haraldsson (Old Norse: ''Sigurðr Haraldsson''; 1133 – 10 June 1155), also called Sigurd Munn, was king of Norway (being Sigurd II) from 1136 to 1155. He was son of Harald Gille, king of Norway and his mistress Thora Guttormsdotter (''� ...

Sigurd Munn : 1136–1155 *

Eystein II of Norway Eystein II (Old Norse: ''Eysteinn Haraldsson'', Norwegian: ''Øystein Haraldsson''); c.1125 – 21 August 1157) was king of Norway from 1142 to 1157. He ruled as co-ruler with his brothers, Inge Haraldsson and Sigurd Munn. He was killed in ...

(''Øystein Haraldsson'') : 1142–1157 *

Inge I of Norway Inge Haraldsson ( Old Norse: ''Ingi Haraldsson''; 1135 – 3 February 1161) was king of Norway (being Inge I) from 1136 to 1161. Inge’s reign fell within the start of the period known in Norwegian history as the civil war era. He was never the ...

Inge the Hunchback (''Inge Krokrygg'') : 1136–1161 *

Haakon II of Norway Haakon Sigurdsson (1147 – 7 July 1162), also known as Haakon Herdebrei, was King of Norway (being Haakon II) from 1157 until 1162 during the Civil war era in Norway. Biography His nickname, ''Herdebrei'', means broad-shouldered. An illegitimate ...

Haakon Broadshoulder (''Håkon Herdebreid'') : 1157–1162 **

Sigurd Markusfostre Sigurd Sigurdsson Markusfostre (ca. 1155 – 29 September 1163) was a pretender and rival king during the Civil war era in Norway. Background Sigurd Sigurdsson was reportedly a bastard son of King Sigurd II of Norway. He must have been born some t ...

: 1162–1163, rival king **

Eystein Meyla Eystein Meyla (Øystein Øysteinsson Møyla) was elected a rival King of Norway during the Norwegian Civil War period. Biography Eystein was son of King Eysteinn Haraldsson. His nickname ''Møyla'' means maiden, girl, cute woman. His father was ki ...

Eystein the Maiden (''Øystein Møyla'') : 1174–1177, rival king **

Jon Kuvlung Jon Ingesson Kuvlung (died 1188) was a pretender to the Royal Crown during the civil war era in Norway. He was a rival of the reigning King Sverre of Norway. Background Jon Ingesson was claimed to be a son of former King Inge I of Norway, althoug ...

: 1185–1188, rival king *

Inge II of Norway Inge II ( Norwegian: ''Inge Bårdsson'', Old Norse: ''Ingi Bárðarson''; 1185 – 23 April 1217) was King of Norway from 1204 to 1217. His reign was within the later stages of the period known in Norwegian history as the age of civil wars. In ...

(''Inge Bårdsson'') : 1204–1217

References

{{Royal houses of Norway Gille Norwegian monarchy Norwegian people of Irish descent

List of kings and rival kings

See also

References