Birger Jarl
Birger Jarl | |
---|---|
Jarl of Sweden | |
Tenure | c. 1248[1] – 1266[2] |
Monarchs |
|
Predecessor | Ulf Fase[1] |
Born | c. 1210[3] probably in Östergötland[3] |
Died | 21 October 1266[2] Jälbolung, Västergötland[2] | (aged 55–56)
Buried | Varnhem Abbey, Västergötland[2] |
Spouse(s) | |
Issue | |
Parents |
Birger Jarl (c. 1210[3][4] – 21 October 1266),[2] also known as Birger Magnusson, was a Swedish statesman and regent, jarl, and a member of the House of Bjelbo, who played a pivotal role in the consolidation of Sweden.[5] His first marriage was to Princess Ingeborg of Sweden, which created his base of power. Birger led the Second Swedish Crusade, which established Swedish rule in Finland. Additionally, he is traditionally attributed with the foundation of the Swedish capital, Stockholm, around 1250. Birger used the Latin title of Dux Sweorum ("Duke of Sweden"), and the design of his coronet combined those used by continental European and English dukes.[6]
Biography
Early life
Birger grew up and spent his adolescence in
Birger, thus most likely born at the time of the
During the following 15 years Birger consolidated his position and was probably one of the most influential men years before being formally given the title
Although Birger Jarl saw many battles, some have speculated that traces of a sword blow in Birger's cranium might have originated from this battle.[9] However, the original 14th-century Russian record of the battle gives no information on this at all.[10]
Career
When the papal diplomat William of Modena visited present Sweden around 1248, he urged the Swedish kings to fulfill the rules of the Catholic Church, an exhortation which Birger seems to have taken as a chance to strengthen his position by simply taking the side of the church against other members of his family (alternatively it's possible to interpret this as a manifestation of his pious side). This was a choice of historical importance as it was to make Birger a jarl powerful enough to ultimately wind up the office, thus making him the last Swedish jarl ever, even called as the "first true king of Sweden" by historians. As this happened during an era when the inherited concept Folkung became more of a political party, it also meant Swedish magnates lost most of their influence which paved the way for a consolidated Swedish kingdom supported by the Pope.[11]
In 1247, royal troops led by Birger at the Battle of Sparrsätra (Slaget vid Sparrsätra) fought with Folkung forces led by pretender Holmger Knutsson, son of King Canute II. The Folkungs lost the battle and were unable to resist the central government and its taxes. Holmger Knutsson fled to Gästrikland and was captured there by Birger in the following year. Quickly brought to trial, he was beheaded.
In 1249, Birger succeeded in ending a decades-long period of hostilities with Norway. As a part of the
In 1252, a year after another victory over the folkungs at the Battle of Herrevadsbro (Slaget vid Herrevadsbro), Birger wrote two carefully dated letters, the first mention of
Late life
Ingeborg died in 1254 and in 1261 Birger married the Danish queen dowager Matilda of Holstein. Birger died on 21 October 1266, at Jälbolung in Västergötland. His grave in Varnhem Abbey was opened in May 2002.
There is a statue of the great duke in his own square
Children
Source:[15]
Mother unknown
From marriage with Ingeborg Eriksdotter of Sweden
The marriage was contracted relatively near the time when Ingeborg's brother the once-deposed Eric XI returned from exile in Denmark in 1234.
- Rikissa Birgersdotter, born 1238, married firstly 1251 Haakon Haakonsson the Young, co-king of Norway, and secondly, Henry I, Prince of Werle
- Valdemar Birgersson, born c 1238, king of Sweden 1250–1275, lord of parts of Gothenland until 1278
- Christina Birgersdotter, married presumably several times, one of her husbands was lord Sigge Guttormsson
- Magnus Birgersson, born 1240, Duke (of Södermanland), then king of Sweden 1275–90
- probably: Catherine of Sweden, born 1245, married Siegfried, Count of Anhalt
- Eric Birgersson, born 1250, Duke (of Småland)
- probably: Ingeborg of Sweden, born ca. 1254, died 30 June 1302, married John I of Saxony, Duke of Lauenburg in 1270
- Benedict, Duke of Finland, born 1254, bishop of Linköping
See also
- List of monarchs and heads of state of Finland
- Ingeborg Eriksdotter of Sweden, Duchess of Sweden 1248–1254
- Matilda of Holstein, Duchess of Sweden 1261–1288
References
- ^ a b Harrison 2002, pp. 257–58
- ^ a b c d e Harrison 2002, p. 271
- ^ a b c Estimates range from c. 1190 to c. 1210 (Harrison 2002, p. 232).
- ^ "Personakt för Birger (Birger jarl) Magnusson, Född omkring 1210 Bjälbo, Östergötland". Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
- ^ Lindström & Lindström 2006, p. 267
- ISBN 91-85884-52-9pp. 104–106
- ISBN 951-0-28321-5. See page 119.
- ^ a b Lindström & Lindström 2006, pp. 191–193
- ^ Lindström & Lindström 2006, pp. 193–195. See also "Battle on the Neva", a 16th-century account of the battle, provided by the Slavic Interest Group of the Society for Creative Anachronism. In English.
- ^ "Description of the battle in the First Novgorod Chronicle". Archived from the original on 27 September 2007.. Hosted by the National Archive of Finland Archived 15 September 2010 at the Wayback Machine. in Swedish. See also original text; in Russian.
- ^ Lindström & Lindström 2006, pp. 195–198
- ^ Kari, p. 149.
- ^ Lindström & Lindström 2006, pp. 201–206
- ^ a b Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 3 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 981.
- ISBN 91-85884-52-9p 243
Bibliography
- ISBN 978-91-7441-359-5.
- Lindström, Henrik; Lindström, Fredrik (2006). Svitjods undergång och Sveriges födelse. Stockholm: ISBN 91-0-010789-1.
External links
- Media related to Birger jarl at Wikimedia Commons
- Birger Magnusson Genealogy