Malmfred of Kiev


Malmfred of Kiev was 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 says that the marriage was unhappy. Her husband repudiated her in 1128 and remarried Cecilia.
In 1130, her ex-husband's illegitimate son became king, and she left for Denmark, where she married Erik Emune. In 1131, she arranged the marriage between her former stepson Magnus IV of Norway and her sister's daughter, 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. Erik and Malmfrid then allied themselves 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.