Johann I (Sweden)

Johann I , Johan Sverkersson , (* 1201 ; † March 10, 1222 ) was King of Sweden from 1216 until his death . He was the son of Sverker Karlsson , King of Sweden , and Ingegerd Birgersdotter.

As early as 1202 he received the title Jarl from his father . When Johann's father died in 1210, he was certainly still so young that the ruling class shied away from long guardianship and elected Erik Knutsson as king. So Johann and his mother Ingegerd had to move to Denmark. After Erik's death in 1216, Johann was elected king. The decisive factor for the choice was certainly the great power of his mother's family. The coronation took place after he had come of age, despite the protest of the Danes to the Pope in the autumn of 1219 in Linköping by the aged Archbishop Valerius.

In 1219 Waldemar II of Denmark began a crusade against Estonia . In order to protect Swedish interests, Johann also embarked on a crusade to Estonia, which initially went so well that he returned to Sweden with part of his army. The Crusaders initially made some conquests, but these did not last long. Those who stayed behind sat in Leal Fortress . In autumn they were attacked by Estonians, with John's closest allies, Jarl Karl Döve and Bishop Karl Magnusson falling.

Johann died of an illness on Visingsö in 1222 and was buried in the monastery of Alvastra . Since he died unmarried and childless, he was the last king of the Sverker family , which had now died out on the male side.

The term "John the Younger", which appears in more recent chronicles, was based on an incorrect translation of Latin scripts. In it he was called " Johannes, Suercheri junioris filius " , or "Johann, son of Sverker the Younger".

literature

• Lars o. Lagerqvist: Sveriges regenter. Från forntid till nutid . Norsteds Förlag AB Stockholm 1996. ISBN 91-1-963882-5

predecessor	Office	successor
Erik X.	King of Sweden 1216–1222	Erik XI.