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.
Eric Bloodaxe (Old Norse:EirÃkr blóðöx, Icelandic:EirÃkur blóðöx, Norwegian:Eirik Blodøks) (circa 885 – 954), was the second king of Norway (930-934) and the eldest son of his father Harald Fairhair.
Once the power was in his hands, he began to quarrel with his other brothers and had four of them killed, including Bjørn Farmann and later Olaf and Sigrød at the Battle of Tonsberg.
His rule in Northumbria soon degenerated however, and he was expelled by the populace and betrayed by the Earl of Bernicia, Osulf, to one Earl Maccus and killed in battle at Stainmore, Westmorland, in 954 along with his son, Haeric.
Eirik fled and thereafter concentrated his efforts in the British Isles, eventually meeting a violent end there.
His sons allied themselves with the Danes, but were invariably defeated by Haakon, who was successful in everything he undertook except in his attempt to introduce Christianity, which aroused an opposition he did not feel strong enough to face.
The succession issue was settled as Harald II, third son of Eirik, ascended the throne.
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