Magnus I

Magnus I (Magnus the Good), 1024-47, king of Norway (1035-47) and Denmark (1042-47), son of Olaf II. He was recalled from exile in 1035 by the former opponents of Olaf when they rebelled against Sweyn, son of Canute. In 1038 he made a treaty with another son of Canute, Harthacanute of Denmark, by which either king, if he died without an heir, was to be succeeded by the other. Magnus at first dealt harshly with his father's enemies and kept the oppressive laws of Sweyn in force, but later he granted an amnesty and revoked Sweyn's laws. He succeeded (1042) Harthacanute in Denmark and claimed the throne of England, but he was prevented from pressing his claim by the necessity of crushing a Danish revolt and of fighting against the Wends. In 1046 he consented to dividing the Norwegian realm with his uncle Harold III, who became sole king at Magnus's death.