Eric X of Sweden

Eric "X"

Nothing is known about his youth, but he may have been born around 1180 in Eriksberg royal manor. When Eric's father, King Canute I, died peacefully in 1195 or 1196, his four sons were youthful but not children.[2] One of them had been hailed as heir to the throne by the grandees of the kingdom when Canute was still alive. Whether this was Eric we do not know, nor do the sources disclose the names of his three brothers. In spite of the precautions of King Canute, his sons were passed over in favour of Sverker Karlsson, the head of the rival dynasty of the Sverkers. Perhaps this was due to the influence of the mighty second-of-the-realm, Jarl Birger Brosa. As far as we know the succession took place without bloodshed.

King Canute's sons continued to live in the Swedish royal court and were raised by King Sverker. Several years later, after the death of Birger Brosa, the brothers and their supporters brought forward claims to the throne. King Sverker did not acquiesce, at which point Eric and his brothers escaped to

Now Eric took the name of King of Sweden. Birger Brosa's son Knut had been appointed jarl at some stage but appears to have died in the Battle of Lena.[7] Eric appointed Folke Jarl, probably another son of Birger Brosa, in his stead. This person was the originator of the Folkung party which played a political role in 13th-century Sweden and is frequently confused with the royal family that reigned after 1250.^[8]

Sverker and the archbishop

The achievement of Eric was remarkable: without support by the Church, he was able to foment a network of followers in short time and defeat troops from Denmark, the major Scandinavian power at the time.

Not much is known about Eric's reign; written documents are few and do not give much insight in affairs during his time. However, in 1216 Innocent III confirmed Eric in the rule, not only over his kingdom, but also over any pagan lands that he may conquer in the future. Thus King Eric entertained plans of military expansion to non-Christian areas across the Baltic Sea. For the rest, his reputation is good in Swedish historiography: the short chronicle incorporated in the Law of Västergötland calls him a good årkonung (harvest king, king of good years).^[14]

Eric died suddenly of natural causes on 10 April 1216 in Näs Castle on the island of Visingsö. He was buried in the Varnhem Abbey Church. He did not leave a son at his demise, though Queen Richeza gave birth to a boy shortly afterwards (later Eric XI of Sweden). His successor was John I, a son of his rival Sverker II.

Issue

• Sophia Eriksdotter (died 1241), married Henry III of Rostock
• (allegedly) Martha Eriksdotter, who married the Marshal Nils Sixtensson (Sparre)
• Ingeborg Eriksdotter (died 1254), married to Birger Jarl, regent of Sweden
• (possibly) Marianna, who married Barnim I, Duke of Pomerania^[15]
• Eric XI of Sweden (1216–1250)

Other

Skáldatal mentions that Grani Hallbjarnarson was one of Eric's court skalds.^{[citation needed]}

References