Sverker I. (Sweden)

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Sverker I. , Sverker the Elder , († around 1156 ) was King of Östergötland and King of Sweden .

All information about Sverker is still unsecured and is subject to change. His father was possibly a farmer from Östergötland named Kol , Cornube , Karnuka or Ulf . But there are also sources that name Erik Årsäll ( victim Sven's son ) as his father. Probably Sverker had first held the title of king of Östergötland before 1130 Swedish became king.

A strong aspect was Sverker's marriage policy, which made his empire stronger. First he married Ulvhild Håkonsdatter von Norway , the widow of Inge the Younger , whom according to Saxo Grammaticus he had kidnapped her second husband, the Danish King Niels Svensson , and thus created a strong bond between the two Scandinavian countries. After Ulvhild's death he married Rikissa (Rycheza) of Poland , daughter of Bolesław III. Wrymouth , the widow of his predecessor, Ulvhild's stepson Magnus Nilsson . Through this marriage he wanted to be accepted as king in Västergötland as well.

Sverker's and Ulvhild's names appear in connection with the founding of Sweden's first Cistercian monastery . This was built in 1143 ( Alvastra ) on a piece of land that Ulvhild had received as a bride gift from her husband. Around 1150 Sverker is said to have got into a war with Denmark . But his allies from Småland were able to repel the attacks of the Danish king Sven Grate in 1153. The attack is said to be due to the fact that Sverker's son, Jon, stole some noble-born women from Halland. He was murdered on a ting. Towards the end of his reign his position in Svealand was very weak, and there is even said to have been an anti-king.

Sverker is said to have been murdered by his head stable master in 1156 on the way to Christmas mass. According to Saxo Grammaticus , he was murdered in his sleep by his valet at the instigation of Magnus Henriksson . He was buried in Alvastra .

progeny

Sverker was married twice. From the first marriage with Ulvhild Håkonsdatter (Thjotta Orte), a daughter of the Norwegian magnate Hakon Finnson - a descendant of the great Norwegian skald Eyvindr Skáldaspillir (* c. 920, + c. 990) - from the Thjotta family:

  • Charles VII. Sverkersson († murdered April 12, 1167), King of Sweden (1161–1167), ⚭ 1163 Christine Stigsdotter, daughter of Stig Hvitaledhr and Margaret Princess of Denmark
    • His son was Sverker II. Karlsson, King of Sweden (1196–1208)
  • Helena (Sophie) Sverkersdotter (* c. 1130, † after 1158), ⚭ 1156 Knut V. Magnusson 1147 King of Jutland, 1154–1157 Co- King of Denmark , † murdered August 9, 1157
  • Jon Sverkersson († murdered 1153/54), Jarl in Sweden
  • Ingegerd Sverkersdotter († 1204); from 1164 prioress of the Vreta monastery

From the second marriage with Rikissa (Rycheza) of Poland, the daughter of Bolesław III. Schiefmund and Salome von Berg :

Remarks

  1. Saxo Grammaticus: Gesta Danorum 11th book chapter 10.
  2. ^ Gesta Danorum 14th book, chap. 17, 2.
  3. For Sverker's descendants, see Detlev Schwennicke : Europäische Stammtafeln , Verlag JA Stargardt , Marburg, 1984 New Series, Volume II, Plate 115
  4. Detlev Schwennike: European family tables, Verlag JA Stargardt, Marburg, 1984 New Series, Volume II, Plate 105
  5. Lagerqvist p. 54.

literature

predecessor Office successor
Magnus King of Sweden
1130–1156
Erik IX.