Eric I of Norway - Definition and Overview

Eric I (Norw. Eirik I) (b. ca 885 - d. 954), nicknamed "Bloodaxe" (Blodøks), was the second king of Norway (930-934) and the eldest son of his father King Harald Finehair. Once the power was in his hands, he began to quarrel with his other brothers and had four of them killed. A Latin text describes him as fratris interfector (brother-slayer), and it is entirely conceivable the "blood" component of his soubriquet refers to his propensity for fratricide.

In 920, he undertook a viking expedition to Bjarmaland, in northern Russia.

His youngest brother, Haakon returned England and won support from the Norwegian nobles to oust Eric in 934; Eric's rule was hard and despotic, and this would account for the alacrity with which the nobles joined forces to oust him. After waging unsuccessful campaigns to regain the throne, Eric moved to the Orkney Islands and later to the Kingdom of Jorvik. Although met initially warmly by Athelstan, who made Eric ruler in Northumbria, with a brief to provide a defence against the ravages of the Scots, and the Irish. His rule in Northumbria soon degenerated, however, and he was killed in battle at Stainmore, Westmorland, in 954.