Malmfred of Kiev

Malmfred of Kiev (between 1095 and 1102 – d. after 1137), was a Russian princess and a medieval Norwegian and Danish queen consort, wife first to King Sigurd I of Norway and second to king Eric II of Denmark.

Life

Malmfred was born to Grand Prince Mstislav I of Kiev and Princess Christina Ingesdotter of Sweden, paternal granddaughter of Gytha of Wessex and maternal granddaughter of King Inge the Elder of Sweden. She was born between 1095 and 1102.

Snorre Sturlasson called her Malmfred Haraldsdotter of Holmgard, which was a Norwegian version of her name. Her sister, Ingeborg of Kiev, was married to the Danish Prince Canute Lavard. Malmfred was married to Sigurd between 1116 and 1120. She had a daughter, Kristin Sigurdsdatter, mother of king Magnus V of Norway. Tradition say the marriage was unhappy. Her husband repudiated her in 1128 and remarried certain Cecilia.

In 1130 her ex-husband's illegitimate son became king and she left for Denmark, where she married Prince Erik Emune. In 1131, she arranged the marriage between her former stepson Magnus IV of Norway to her sister's daughter, Princess Christine of Denmark; they were married in 1133. Christine's husband king Magnus supported the struggle of Malmfrid, Erik and Christine's father, Canute, against King Niels of Denmark. In 1133, Erik and Malmfrid fled Denmark for Norway and the protection of Magnus. After Queen Christine, however, found out that Magnus had plans to betray them, she warned them and Erik and Malmfrid allied themselwes with the rival of king Magnus, king Harald IV Gille of Norway. King Magnus then separated from Queen Christine.

In 1134, Eric became king, and she Queen of Denmark. She had no more children. In 1137, her second husband was murdered. Malmfred is not mentioned after this date.

Ancestors

Family of Malmfred of Kiev

16. Yaroslav I the Wise               8. Vsevolod I of Kiev                       17. Ingegerd Olofsdotter of Sweden               4. Vladimir II Monomakh                             18. Constantine IX Monomachos               9. Anastasia of Byzantium                       2. Mstislav I of Kiev                                   20. Godwin, Earl of Wessex               10. Harold Godwinson                       21. Gytha Thorkelsdóttir               5. Gytha of Wessex                             11. Edith Swanneck                       1. Malmfred of Kiev                                         12. Stenkil                       6. Inge the Elder                             26. Emund the Old               13. Saint Ingamoder Emundsdotter of Sweden                       27. Astrid Njalsdotter               3. Christina Ingesdotter of Sweden                                   14. Sigtorn? or Prince Ingvar of Sweden                       7. Helena

Bibliography

• "The Large Danish Encyclopedia" (1998 edition)
• Norwegian Wikipedia no:Malmfrid Mstislavsdatter
• Store norske leksikon
• Norsk biografisk leksikon
• Edvard Bull. »Magnus Blinde» I: Norsk biografisk leksikon, 1. utg. Bd 9. 1938
• Nils Petter Thuesen. »Magnus 4 Sigurdsson Blinde» I: Norsk biografisk leksikon, 2. utg. Bd 6. 2003.
• Knut Helle. Aschehougs Norgeshistorie. Bd 3. Under kirke og kongemakt. 1995

Succession

Malmfred of Kiev Rurik Dynasty Born: 1105 Died: after 1137
Royal titles
Preceded by Ingebjørg Guttormsdatter	Queen consort of Norway 1116/20–1128	Succeeded by Christine of Denmark
Preceded by Ulvhild	Queen consort of Denmark 1134–1137	Succeeded by Lutgard of Salzwedel