the Good: "Magnus was a fine bright young fellow, and proved a valiant, wise, and successful King, known among his people as Magnus the Good. He was only natural son of King Olaf but that made little difference in those times and there. . . ." (Carlyle: 88)
the Chain-bearer: " . . . Called the Chain-bearer, from a silver chain which he wore about his neck. . . ." (Scots Magazine, Vol. 77: 885)
the Favourite Lover: " . . .When at last, in 1350, King Magnus gave up the Norwegian throne to his second son, Hakon, known as Hakon VI, . . . the people did not forget him; and after he had fallen into trouble and lost the throne of Sweden, they begged their young king to secure his freedom, with permission for him to live in Norway for the rest of his days. Thus Magnus 'Smek,' or the 'Favourite Lover,' as the Swedes called him, was not quite without friends amongst his subjects." (Scandinavian History: 173)
the Barefoot, Barelegs (Nor. Barfod, Barfot):
--"Magnus III, king of Norway, succeeded his father Olaf Kyrre in 1093. He received the surname of Barfaed, Barefoot, or bare legs, from his having adopted the national dress of the Highlanders during his expedition to the Western islands.; 'he and his people,' as the Sagas relate, 'going about the streets with bare legs and short kirtles and overcoats.'. . ." (Ordericus Vitalis: 212)
--"Opinion is divided as to why Magnus was given the epithet "Bareleg". Snorri Sturluson (Icelandic poet, historian, and chieftain) attributed it to Magnus having adopted Scottish apparel, with legs naked under a short kilt. Others claim the epithet was based on an episode where he had to flee from attackers without having time to put on his shoes. A third explanation is that he rode barefoot as the Irish did.
--" . . . It is said that he took his name 'Barfod,' 'Bare-legs,' from his habit of wearing a kilt like the men of Cantyre, amongst whom he had spent some time. When the people of Norway first saw their king with naked legs and short skirts they laughed at him, but Magnus was not a man to trouble himself about his subjects' laughter, and he kept to the highland dress to the end of his days." (Otte: 152)
Barn-lock (Swe. Ladulas):
--" . . . A law prohibiting voldgcestning, the custom of travellers of taking by violence, or without compensation, food and comfort from the rural population, was also made at Alnsnœ and won for King Magnus the rustic but beautiful surname of Ladulas (Barn-lock). Olaus Petri, the historian and reformer. An official was placed in every country town to see to the traveller's comfort, and to his payment for it. . . ." (Old and Sold)
--" . . . He owed his name 'Ladu-laas,' Barn-lock, to a law which he caused to be passed in favour of the peasants, and which ordered that travellers of noble birth should pay like other persons for the straw and corn that they used on their journeying from place to place. 'No Roman emperor could wish himself a nobler name than Ladu-laas,' says the writer of the Old Swedish Chronicle, 'and very few could have laid claim to it, for the name of 'Ladu-Brott,' Barn-breaker, would suit most rulers much better.'" (Otte: 159)
the Kettle-mender (Swe. Kittelbotaren): " . . . As Waldemar was besides greatly addicted to pleasure and luxury, his consideration declined, while that of Duke Magnus, who was active and ambitious, speedily increased on its ruins. The latter held a magnificent Court in Nykoping and made his knights and courtiers often hold tournaments and other knightly sports . . . and for these reasons the boldest and most ambitious spirits joined the Duke by preference. This did not fail to excite much envy and hatred in the mind of the King [i.e., Valdemar of Sweden], which enmity was increased by his Queen [i.e., Sophia of Denmark]. Her royal husband was as handsome in person as in face; and proud of this distinction she nick-named Duke Magnus, as he was very thin and of a dark complexion, Kittelbotaren, or the Kettle-mender. . . . ." (Fryxell: 221)
the Blind: "It is scarcely an excuse for Harold Gille to say, that his-- friends induced him to commit the atrocity of which he was now guilty. He did not content himself with putting Magnus' eyes out, but he cut off one of his legs and subjected him to another still more revolting mutilation. . . ." (Boyesen: 307)
the Caresser (Swe. Smek)
--" . . . But when Magnus began to rule for himself after the death of his true friend and adviser, Mats Ketilmundson, in 1336, there was an end of the prosperity of the kingdom and everything seemed to go wrong, for he and his queen, Blanka of Namur, showed such taste for pleasure, and such a liking for bad favourites, that the people in both countries soon lost all their love and respect for them. . . ."
--"The nickname Smek was given to Magnus to betoken his low vicious habits." (Otte: 162)
--"However, in some editions of the Swedish chronicles and in some monastery diaries King Magnus is nicknamed as 'Magnus the Smek.' To modern ears the word 'smek' (fondle, in Swedish) alludes to caressing or being caressed, and in modern scholarly tradition this has been connected with Birgitta's accusations, but there is no explicit evidence for such a connection. In its medieval usage, 'smek' also had a strong connotation of flattery. The Swedish Lutheran reformer Olaus Petri explains in a chronicle that Magnus was named 'smek' because he had given away the southern province of Scania to the Danish king: 'King Valdemar was too wise for King Magnus, he snared and fawned and persuaded him' until Scania was his. 'And therefore, because he had let himself be deceived in this way, he was named 'smek'' (Sahlgren 1917, 118-119). 'Smek' referred to credulity and submissiveness in political matters which hardly were considered manly virtues, and it is probably that the word also had an effeminate connotation and thus could be associated with the 'nid' tradition, yet as no more than a faded correspondence to 'arg.' (Scandinavian Homosexualities: Essays on Gay and Lesbian Studies)
the Law-Mender (Nor. Magnus Lagabote):
--"The great glory of Magnus Hakonson, is derived from his fame as a legislator, from which he received the surname of Lagabaeter, or the Law-mender, having collected everything related to the public and constitutional statutes of the kingdom into a regular code called the Hirdskra. . . ." (Crichton & Wheaton: 285)
--"Magnus is best known for his contribution to the transformation of Norwegian legislation. The national legal code that was developed during his reign co-ordinated and harmonised the laws of the four regional assemblies ("lagting"). The new code established national legislation as belonging to the king’s jurisdiction. A common municipal code was established for the centres of trade, and the privileges of the nobility, the higher civil servants and the king’s personal troops were carefully defined in a document called the «Hirdskrå». The purpose of the new legislation was to create a unified legal system for the whole country, doing away with the old, regional differences in the code of law. The new national code can be seen as evidence of the central government’s triumph over the regional assemblies and over the rule of the wealthy farmers. Magnus also introduced titles in accordance with traditions abroad: the feudal lords were now referred to as barons and the courtiers were now called knights." (University of Oslo)
----"But the fame of this monarch chiefly rests on his legislative talents: hence his surname of Lagabeter, or law mender. . . ." (Dunham: 291)
Magnus Vasa:
the Mad Duke:
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