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Erik Haraldsson, called Erik Blódřx ('Bloodaxe') d.954
King of Norway

The eldest son of Harald I Halfdanarson, he succeeded to the throne of Norway (c.942) when his father abdicated. His wife was Gunnlaug, sister of King Harald Gormsson of Denmark. His reign in Norway was violent, and Erik killed several of his half-brothers who had rebelled against him. He was deposed by his youngest brother, Haakon I Haraldsson (947) and sought refuge in England, where he was accepted as king in York of the Norse realm in Northumbria (948, 952-54). He was eventually expelled (954) and killed in battle at Stainmore, Yorkshire.