Tora Torbergsdatter

Who is Tora Torbergsdatter?

Tora Torbergsdatter was a Norwegian royal consort. She was the mother of two kings of Norway. It is possible, but unconfirmed, that she was also queen of Denmark or Sweden.

Tora Torbergsdatter was born on Giske in Møre og Romsdal, Norway. She belonged to the Giskeætten, a powerful family from Giske in Sunnmøre. She was the daughter of Torberg Arnesson and Ragnhild Erlingsdatter, maternal grandchild of Erling Skjalgsson and niece of Finn Arnesson and Kalv Arnesson.

Tora married King Harald Hardrada in 1048. The marriage can largely be explained by politics and alliance building. The chiefs of the Giske family played a key role in power politics. The relationship between Tora and Harald Hardrada created strong ties with the royal family. King Harald had previously married Elisaveta Yaroslavna during the winter of 1043–44. However, the marriage between Harald and Elisaveta is only documented by the poet Stuv Blinde, and there are no documents about her stay in Norway. It is therefore possible that Elisaveta stayed in Russia, or that she died on her way to Norway.