Haakon Sigurdsson

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Haakon Sigurdsson Jarl (Old Norse: Hákon Sigurðsson) (d. 995) was the son of Sigurd Haakonsson, Earl of Lade, and thus Trøndelag.

Haakon became earl after his father was killed by King Harald Greyhide's men in 961. He warred with King Harald for some time, until he was forced to flee to Denmark and Harald Bluetooth. In Denmark he conspired with Harald Bluetooth against Harald Greyhide.

Harald Greyhide was killed in 971. After this, Haakon Jarl ruled Norway as a vassal of Harald Bluetooth, but he was in reality an independent ruler. Haakon was a strong believer in the old Norse gods, and when Harald Bluetooth attempted to force Christianity upon him around 975, Haakon broke his allegiance to Denmark. A Danish invasion force was defeated at the battle of Hjörungavágr in 986.

In 995, a quarrel broke out between Haakon and the Trønders just as Olav Trygvason, a descendant of Harald Fairhair arrived. Haakon quickly lost all support, and was killed by his own slave and friend, Þormóðr Karkr, while hiding in the pig sty. Haakon's son, Eirik Håkonson, would avenge this killing at the battle of Svolder and then govern Norway with his half-brother, Sveinn Hákonarson.

Hákon's daughter, Bergljót, married Einar Tambarskjelvar.

According to Skáldatal, Haakon had the following court poets:

According to Hallfreðar saga the poet Hallfreðr also composed a drápa on the earl. Several disjoint stanzas by Hallfreðr in Skáldskaparmál are often thought to belong to this otherwise lost poem.

"|Preceded by:
Sigurðr Hákonarson

|width="30%" align="center" rowspan=""|Succeeded by:
Eiríkr Hákonarson |- |}

|- style="text-align: center;"

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