Sigurd Syr was a local ruler of Ringerike, a region in Buskerud, Norway. Born around the year 970, he married Asta Gudbrandsdatter and there were five children born to this union, the youngest being future Norwegian King Harald III Sigurdsson, also known as Harald Hardrada. By Asta, he was also the stepfather of Norwegian King Olaf II (later Saint Olaf), who was killed at the Battle of Stiklestad, in a effort to be restored to the Norwegian throne. Accordingto the Snorri Sturlusson's "Heimskringla," he was very wealthy but modest, wise, peaceful, taciturn, and prudent, and personally managed his property. He and his wife were baptized into the Christian faith in 998. While not personally ambitions, he fully supported his stepson Olaf's ambitions to leadership and in 1014, he successfully petitioned his peers, the other regional Norwegian leaders, for their support in a new war against Sweden, Denmark, and England that commenced in 1015. He died around the age of 48∼Sigurd Syr was a Norwegian petty king of Ringerike, a region in Buskerud. He was notable in Norwegian history largely through his association with Kings Harald Hardrada and Olaf II of Norway. By his marriage with Åsta Gudbrandsdatter after her first husband Harald Grenske had died, Sigurd Syr was stepfather of King Olaf II and the father of King Harald III.
The traditional view of Sigurd Halvdansson Syr's pedigree, as presented in various Icelandic poems and historical sagas culminating in Snorri Sturluson's Heimskringla, is that he was a great-grandson of King Harald Fairhair, through Harald's son Sigurd Rise. Doubt has been cast on his connection with Sigurd Rise, a relatively obscure son of Harald Fairhair by a Sami girl named Snæfrithr Svásadottir. Sigurd Syr's father Halfdan may not have been King Harald's grandson Halfdan of Hadafylke. There are no contemporary attestations of such a Halfdan. It is not very likely that this lineage represent historical realities. Many modern historians regard the Fairhair genealogy as in large part invented.
According to Heimskringla, Sigurd Syr was a prudent man, taciturn and generally modest, although very wealthy. He was known as a good caretaker of his property, personally involved in managing it, and wise and peaceful. He may well have owned several large farms. His nickname "Syr" can be translated as meaning "sow or swine" (related to Old Norse svīn). The reason for this is unknown; P. A. Munch suggested that it was because his attention was so focused on farming and that his nickname meant: "One who digs or roots in the soil of the field". Since Sigurd was a respected man of high birth, the epithet was most probably an honorable title. He was also promised the throne of England and his son Harald went to get it for him when he died.
Sigurd Syr was baptized into the Christian faith in 998. According to the Heimskringla, "King Olaf Tryggvason came to Ringerike to spread Christianity, Sigurd Syr and his wife allowed themselves to be baptized".
Sigurd Syr was not personally politically ambitious. He was not fond of the pomp and ceremony of nobility, but played his expected part. He fully supported his stepson Olaf's ambitions to leadership and command. In 1014, he successfully petitioned his peers, the other Norwegian local kings, for their support in his stepson's cause when Olav wanted to build an army in Norway.
The traditional view of Sigurd Halvdansson Syr's pedigree, as presented in various Icelandic poems and historical sagas culminating in Snorri Sturluson's Heimskringla, is that he was a great-grandson of King Harald Fairhair, through Harald's son Sigurd Rise. Doubt has been cast on his connection with Sigurd Rise, a relatively obscure son of Harald Fairhair by a Sami girl named Snæfrithr Svásadottir. Sigurd Syr's father Halfdan may not have been King Harald's grandson Halfdan of Hadafylke. There are no contemporary attestations of such a Halfdan. It is not very likely that this lineage represent historical realities. Many modern historians regard the Fairhair genealogy as in large part invented.
According to Heimskringla, Sigurd Syr was a prudent man, taciturn and generally modest, although very wealthy. He was known as a good caretaker of his property, personally involved in managing it, and wise and peaceful. He may well have owned several large farms. His nickname "Syr" can be translated as meaning "sow or swine" (related to Old Norse svīn). The reason for this is unknown; P. A. Munch suggested that it was because his attention was so focused on farming and that his nickname meant: "One who digs or roots in the soil of the field". Since Sigurd was a respected man of high birth, the epithet was most probably an honorable title. He was also promised the throne of England and his son Harald went to get it for him when he died.
Sigurd Syr was baptized into the Christian faith in 998. According to the Heimskringla, "King Olaf Tryggvason came to Ringerike to spread Christianity, Sigurd Syr and his wife allowed themselves to be baptized".
Sigurd Syr was not personally politically ambitious. He was not fond of the pomp and ceremony of nobility, but played his expected part. He fully supported his stepson Olaf's ambitions to leadership and command. In 1014, he successfully petitioned his peers, the other Norwegian local kings, for their support in his stepson's cause when Olav wanted to build an army in Norway.
Sigurd Syr was a local ruler of Ringerike, a region in Buskerud, Norway. Born around the year 970, he married Asta Gudbrandsdatter and there were five children born to this union, the youngest being future Norwegian King Harald III Sigurdsson, also known as Harald Hardrada. By Asta, he was also the stepfather of Norwegian King Olaf II (later Saint Olaf), who was killed at the Battle of Stiklestad, in a effort to be restored to the Norwegian throne. Accordingto the Snorri Sturlusson's "Heimskringla," he was very wealthy but modest, wise, peaceful, taciturn, and prudent, and personally managed his property. He and his wife were baptized into the Christian faith in 998. While not personally ambitions, he fully supported his stepson Olaf's ambitions to leadership and in 1014, he successfully petitioned his peers, the other regional Norwegian leaders, for their support in a new war against Sweden, Denmark, and England that commenced in 1015. He died around the age of 48∼Sigurd Syr was a Norwegian petty king of Ringerike, a region in Buskerud. He was notable in Norwegian history largely through his association with Kings Harald Hardrada and Olaf II of Norway. By his marriage with Åsta Gudbrandsdatter after her first husband Harald Grenske had died, Sigurd Syr was stepfather of King Olaf II and the father of King Harald III.
The traditional view of Sigurd Halvdansson Syr's pedigree, as presented in various Icelandic poems and historical sagas culminating in Snorri Sturluson's Heimskringla, is that he was a great-grandson of King Harald Fairhair, through Harald's son Sigurd Rise. Doubt has been cast on his connection with Sigurd Rise, a relatively obscure son of Harald Fairhair by a Sami girl named Snæfrithr Svásadottir. Sigurd Syr's father Halfdan may not have been King Harald's grandson Halfdan of Hadafylke. There are no contemporary attestations of such a Halfdan. It is not very likely that this lineage represent historical realities. Many modern historians regard the Fairhair genealogy as in large part invented.
According to Heimskringla, Sigurd Syr was a prudent man, taciturn and generally modest, although very wealthy. He was known as a good caretaker of his property, personally involved in managing it, and wise and peaceful. He may well have owned several large farms. His nickname "Syr" can be translated as meaning "sow or swine" (related to Old Norse svīn). The reason for this is unknown; P. A. Munch suggested that it was because his attention was so focused on farming and that his nickname meant: "One who digs or roots in the soil of the field". Since Sigurd was a respected man of high birth, the epithet was most probably an honorable title. He was also promised the throne of England and his son Harald went to get it for him when he died.
Sigurd Syr was baptized into the Christian faith in 998. According to the Heimskringla, "King Olaf Tryggvason came to Ringerike to spread Christianity, Sigurd Syr and his wife allowed themselves to be baptized".
Sigurd Syr was not personally politically ambitious. He was not fond of the pomp and ceremony of nobility, but played his expected part. He fully supported his stepson Olaf's ambitions to leadership and command. In 1014, he successfully petitioned his peers, the other Norwegian local kings, for their support in his stepson's cause when Olav wanted to build an army in Norway.
The traditional view of Sigurd Halvdansson Syr's pedigree, as presented in various Icelandic poems and historical sagas culminating in Snorri Sturluson's Heimskringla, is that he was a great-grandson of King Harald Fairhair, through Harald's son Sigurd Rise. Doubt has been cast on his connection with Sigurd Rise, a relatively obscure son of Harald Fairhair by a Sami girl named Snæfrithr Svásadottir. Sigurd Syr's father Halfdan may not have been King Harald's grandson Halfdan of Hadafylke. There are no contemporary attestations of such a Halfdan. It is not very likely that this lineage represent historical realities. Many modern historians regard the Fairhair genealogy as in large part invented.
According to Heimskringla, Sigurd Syr was a prudent man, taciturn and generally modest, although very wealthy. He was known as a good caretaker of his property, personally involved in managing it, and wise and peaceful. He may well have owned several large farms. His nickname "Syr" can be translated as meaning "sow or swine" (related to Old Norse svīn). The reason for this is unknown; P. A. Munch suggested that it was because his attention was so focused on farming and that his nickname meant: "One who digs or roots in the soil of the field". Since Sigurd was a respected man of high birth, the epithet was most probably an honorable title. He was also promised the throne of England and his son Harald went to get it for him when he died.
Sigurd Syr was baptized into the Christian faith in 998. According to the Heimskringla, "King Olaf Tryggvason came to Ringerike to spread Christianity, Sigurd Syr and his wife allowed themselves to be baptized".
Sigurd Syr was not personally politically ambitious. He was not fond of the pomp and ceremony of nobility, but played his expected part. He fully supported his stepson Olaf's ambitions to leadership and command. In 1014, he successfully petitioned his peers, the other Norwegian local kings, for their support in his stepson's cause when Olav wanted to build an army in Norway.
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