Haakon (Sweden)

Haakon the Red , Håkan Röde , (* around 1040; † after 1079) was, according to old Scandinavian legends, the Swedish king between around 1070 and 1079 . Since most of the information about Haakon comes from poetry, its historical accuracy is controversial.

Some sources indicate that Haakon took over the royal power from Halsten around 1070 , as Halsten refused to sacrifice for the pagan gods. Some historians suspect that the change of power was due to Halsten's death and that it was actually Inge I who did not make sacrifices. Perhaps the Svear had another king, Anund Gårdske, in the early 1070s . It is believed that Sweden at that time was divided into the kingdoms of the pagan Svear under Anund Gårdskes leadership, the Christian Svear with Haakon as king and the Christian Västergötland under Inge I or Halsten. There are also stories that claim that Haakon and Anund were only candidates for the royal throne and Inge I was only supported by the most devout Christians in Västergötland. All of these uncertainties make it clear that Sweden was not yet a homogeneous society at that time.

Some sources claim that Haakon was a stepson of Stenkil Ragnvaldsson , and thus half-brother of Halsten and Inge I. Haakon is said to have married the widow of the pagan tribal leader, Erik Hedningen .

One of the few sources that exist at Haakon is a damaged rune stone from Hovgården on the island of Adelsön in Lake Mälaren . It says:

“ Tyd you runorna! Rätt lät rista dem Tolir, bryte, i Roden, åt konungen. Tolir och Gylla läto rista, båda makarna efter sig till en minnesvård, Håkon bjöd rista. “(You interpret the runes, easily carved by Tolir, slave, in Roden, the king. Tolir and Gylla had scratched, both married couples to commemorate themselves, Haakon allowed to scratch.) This was the first time that the word king was in Sweden was documented.

predecessor	Office	successor
Neck	King of Sweden around 1070-1079	Inge I.