Malmfred VON NOVGOROD

Malmfred of Kiev (c. 1105 – 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.

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. 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, mother of King Magnus V of Norway. Tradition say the marriage was unhappy.

Widowed in 1130, her husband's illegitimate son becomes king and she left for Denmark, were 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. Christines husband king Magnus supported the struggle of Malmfrid, Erik and Christinesfather 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 of Norway. King Magnus then separated from queen Christine.

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

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