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{{Short description|King of Sweden from 1195 to 1208}}
{{House of Sverker}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}}
⚫
'''Sverker II''' or '''Sverker the Younger''' (Swedish: ''Sverker den yngre'' or ''Sverker Karlsson'', born before 1167 – died 17 July 1210) was King of [[Sweden]] from 1195 or 1196 to 1208.<ref>[http://www.notisa.com/kungahuset2.html''Sverker d.y. Karlsson. Sverker the younger Karlsson'' (Svenska regenter.Soverings of Sweden)]</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.royalcourt.se/royalcourt/themonarchytheroyalcourt/theswedishmonarchy/themonarchyinsweden/themonarchsofsweden.4.396160511584257f2180005932.html |publisher=[[Royal Court of Sweden]] |title=Kings and Queens of Sweden — A thousand year succession |access-date=28 November 2017}}</ref>
{{Infobox royalty|
| name = Sverker the Younger
| image =
| reign = 1195–1208
| coronation =
| full name =
| succession = [[King of Sweden]]
| predecessor = [[Knut Eriksson]]
| successor = [[Erik Knutsson]]
| house = [[House of Sverker|Sverker]]
| father = [[Karl Sverkersson]]
| mother = [[Christina Hvide]]
| spouses = [[Benedicta Ebbesdatter]]<br />[[Ingegerd Birgersdotter]]
| issue = [[Helen of Sweden (13th century)|Helena Sverkersdotter]]<br />[[Johan Sverkersson]]
| birth_date = before 1167
| birth_place =
| death_date = 17 July 1210
| death_place = [[Battle of Gestilren]]
}}

⚫
'''Sverker the Younger'''{{Efn|{{langx|sv|Sverker den yngre}}}} (before 1167 – 17 July 1210), also known as '''Sverker II''' or '''Sverker Karlsson''', was [[King of Sweden]] from 1195 or 1196 to 1208 when he was defeated in the [[Battle of Lena]] by [[Erik Knutsson]].<ref>{{Citation|last=Lindkvist|first=Thomas|title=The Emergence of Sweden|date=2008|url=https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9780203412770-61/emergence-sweden-thomas-lindkvist|work=The Viking World|pages=692–698|publisher=Routledge|doi=10.4324/9780203412770-61|isbn=978-0-203-41277-0}}</ref><ref>[http://www.notisa.com/kungahuset2.html''Sverker d.y. Karlsson. Sverker the younger Karlsson'' (Svenska regenter.Soverings of Sweden)]</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.royalcourt.se/royalcourt/themonarchytheroyalcourt/theswedishmonarchy/themonarchyinsweden/themonarchsofsweden.4.396160511584257f2180005932.html |publisher=[[Royal Court of Sweden]] |title=Kings and Queens of Sweden – A thousand year succession |access-date=28 November 2017}}</ref> Sverker died in the 1210 [[Battle of Gestilren]] where his forces battled those of King Erik Knutsson.


==Early life==
==Early life==
Sverker was a son of King [[Karl Sverkersson]] of Sweden and Queen [[Christine Stigsdatter of Hvide]],{{cn|date=October 2020}} a Danish noblewoman. Through his mother, he was a cousin's son of the Danish kings [[Canute VI of Denmark|Canute VI]] and [[Valdemar Sejr]]. His parents' marriage has been dated to 1162 or more probably 1163.<ref>Gillingstam, "Karl Sverkersson".</ref>
Sverker was a son of King [[Karl Sverkersson]] of Sweden and Queen [[Christina Hvide]],<ref>{{cite book | last=Demitz | first=Jacob Truedson | title=Centuries of Selfies: Portraits commissioned by Swedish kings and queens| publisher=Vulkan Förlag | publication-place=Stockholm; New York | date=2020 | isbn=978-91-89179-63-9 | others=Preface by [[Ulf Sundberg]]|title-link=Centuries of Selfies|pages=102}}</ref> a Danish noblewoman. Through his mother, he was a cousin's son of the Danish kings [[Canute VI of Denmark|Canute VI]] and [[Valdemar Sejr]]. His parents' marriage has been dated to 1162 or more probably 1163.<ref>Gillingstam, "Karl Sverkersson".</ref>


When his father Karl had been murdered in [[Visingsö]] in 1167, apparently by minions of the next king [[Canute I of Sweden]], Sverker was taken to [[Denmark]] while a boy and grew up with his mother's clan of [[Hvide]], leaders of [[Zealand (Denmark)|Zealand]]. Sverker also allied himself with the Galen clan leaders in [[Skåne]] who were close to the Hvide, by marriage through lady [[Benedikte Ebbesdotter of Hvide]]. The Danish king supported him as claimant to Sweden, thus helping to destabilize the neighboring country. The troubled Danish-Swedish relations at this time can be seen from attempts by Canute I and his jarl [[Birger Brosa]] to support rebels against [[Valdemar I of Denmark|Valdemar I]] and [[Canute VI of Denmark|Canute VI]].<ref>Gillingstam, "Knut Eriksson".</ref>
When his father Karl had been murdered in [[Visingsö]] in 1167, apparently by minions of the next king [[Knut Eriksson]], Sverker was taken to [[Denmark]] while a boy and grew up with his mother's clan of [[Hvide]], leaders of [[Zealand (Denmark)|Zealand]]. Sverker also allied himself with the Galen clan leaders in [[Skåne]] who were close to the Hvide, by marriage through lady [[Benedicta Ebbesdatter]]. The Danish king supported him as claimant to Sweden, thus helping to destabilize the neighboring country. The troubled Danish-Swedish relations at this time can be seen from attempts by Knut Eriksson and his jarl [[Birger Brosa]] to support rebels against [[Valdemar I of Denmark|Valdemar I]] and [[Canute VI of Denmark|Canute VI]].<ref>Gillingstam, "Knut Eriksson".</ref>


When King [[Canute I of Sweden]] died in 1195 or 1196, his sons were young but not children.<ref>Gillingstam, "Knut Eriksson", referring to a papal letter from 1208 which indicates that the four sons were not considered under-age at the time of their father's demise.</ref> One of them had been appointed heir to the throne, but was passed over. Sverker was chosen as the next king of Sweden, surprisingly without quarrel. At some point he had returned to his native country, however being regarded quite Danish. His uncontested election probably owed much to Jarl [[Birger Brosa]] whose daughter, [[Ingegerd Birgersdotter of Bjelbo]], Sverker married soon after his first wife had died.<ref>Harrison, ''Sveriges historia; medeltiden'', p. 106.</ref> In his own letters he emphasized his birth-right to kingship: "son of King Charles, King of the Swedes, possessor of the throne of the same kingdom according to hereditary right by the grace of God".<ref>Lönnroth, ''Från svensk medeltid'', p. 19.</ref>
When King [[Knut Eriksson]] died in 1195 or 1196, his sons were young but not children.<ref>Gillingstam, "Knut Eriksson", referring to a papal letter from 1208 which indicates that the four sons were not considered under-age at the time of their father's demise.</ref> One of them had been appointed heir to the throne, but was passed over. Sverker was chosen as the next king of Sweden, surprisingly without quarrel. At some point he had returned to his native country, however being regarded quite Danish. His uncontested election probably owed much to Jarl [[Birger Brosa]] whose daughter, [[Ingegerd Birgersdotter|Ingegerd]], Sverker married soon after his first wife had died.<ref>Harrison, ''Sveriges historia; medeltiden'', p. 106.</ref> In his own letters he emphasized his birth-right to kingship: "son of King Karl, King of the Swedes, possessor of the throne of the same kingdom according to hereditary right by the grace of God".<ref>Lönnroth, ''Från svensk medeltid'', p. 19.</ref>


==Reign==
==Reign==
[[File:Coin of Sweartgar II of Sweden c. 1200.jpg|thumb|Coin of King Sverker II]]
[[File:Coin of Sweartgar II of Sweden c. 1200.jpg|thumb|Coin of King Sverker II]]
King Sverker confirmed and enlarged privileges for the Swedish church and [[Valerius (Archbishop of Uppsala)|Valerius]], the [[Archbishop of Uppsala]]. The privilege document of 1200 is the oldest known [[ecclesiastical privilege]] in Sweden. ''[[Skáldatal]]'' names two of Sverker's court [[skald]]s: [[Sumarliði skáld]] and [[Þorgeirr Danaskáld]]. In 1202 Earl Birger died and the late jarl's grandson, Sverker's one-year-old son John received the title of [[Swedish jarls|Jarl]] from his father. This was intended to strengthen him as heir of the crown, but led to much ridicule.
King Sverker confirmed and enlarged privileges for the Swedish church and [[Valerius (archbishop of Uppsala)|Valerius]], the [[Archbishop of Uppsala]]. The privilege document of 1200 is the oldest known [[ecclesiastical privilege]] in Sweden. ''[[Skáldatal]]'' names two of Sverker's court [[skald]]s: [[Sumarliði skáld]] and [[Þorgeirr Danaskáld]]. In 1202 Earl Birger died and the late jarl's grandson, Sverker's one-year-old son John received the title of [[Swedish jarls|Jarl]] from his father. This was intended to strengthen him as heir of the crown, but led to much ridicule.


Desultory warfare with the peoples east of the [[Baltic Sea]] continued during Sverker's reign. Birger Brosa undertook a sea-borne expedition that ended up in Wierland in eastern [[Estonia]], either before or after Sverker's accession. A late and unreliable source indicates that troops from the [[Novgorod Republic]] attacked [[Finland]] in 1198 and ravaged [[Åbo]] where the Swedes already supposedly possessed an outpost. This may be an elaboration of another Russian attack in 1191, and Åbo did not yet exist as a settlement.<ref>Sundberg, ''Medeltidens svenska krig'', p. 45-6.</ref> A certain ''Dux'' John (Johannes) flourished in the early 13th century; according his grave inscription, he was the "terror of the pagans". He may be identified with a John Jarl who, according to later tradition, fought the [[Russian people|Russians]] and [[Ingrian Finns|Ingrians]] for nine years, but was killed at Askanäs by Lake [[Mälaren]] by [[Karelia]]n pirates, immediately after his return. His widow supposedly gathered levies which killed the marauders at Estaskär. It has been suggested that this took place in 1206. In general, [[Estonian people|Estonian]] and [[Curonians|Curonian]] raiders constituted a problem for the coasts of Sweden and Denmark in this era.<ref>Gillingstam, "Jon jarl"; Sundberg, ''Medeltidens svenska krig'', p. 46..</ref>
Desultory warfare with the peoples east of the [[Baltic Sea]] continued during Sverker's reign. Birger Brosa undertook a sea-borne expedition that ended up in [[Virumaa|Wierland]] in eastern [[Estonia]], either before or after Sverker's accession. A certain ''Dux'' John (Johannes) flourished in the early 13th century; according his grave inscription, he was the "terror of the pagans". He may be identified with a Jon Jarl who, according to later tradition, fought the [[Russian people|Russians]] and [[Ingrian Finns|Ingrians]] for nine years, but was killed at Askanäs by Lake [[Mälaren]] by [[Karelia]]n pirates, immediately after his return. His widow supposedly gathered levies which killed the marauders at Estaskär. It has been suggested that this took place in 1206. In general, [[Estonian people|Estonian]] and [[Curonians|Curonian]] raiders constituted a problem for the coasts of Sweden and Denmark in this era.<ref>Gillingstam, "Jon jarl"; Sundberg, ''Medeltidens svenska krig'', p. 46.</ref>


==Civil war==
==Civil war==
Around 1203, Canute's four sons, who had lived in Swedish royal court, began to claim the throne and Sverker exiled them to [[Norway]]. His position as king became insecure from this point forward. The sons of Canute returned with troops in 1205, supported by the Norwegian party of [[Birkebeiner]]. Sverker, however, attacked and defeated them in the [[Battle of Älgarås]] in [[Tiveden]], where three of the sons fell. The only survivor, Eric, returned with Norwegian support in 1208. Sverker sought assistance from his Danish kinsmen, and such was provided. Popular tradition speaks of 12,000 Danish auxiliary troops, which is likely a gross exaggeration.<ref>Sandblom, ''Gestilren 1210'', p. 9.</ref> The forces were commanded by Ebbe Sunesen, the father of his late first wife and brother of [[Andreas Sunesen]], [[Archbishop of Lund]]. Apart from the forces of the Sunesen brothers, King Valdemar Sejr contributed with troops, even including [[Bohemia]]n soldiers.<ref>Munch, ''Det norske Folks Historie'', III, p. 529.</ref> The opponents met in the [[Battle of Lena]] in [[Västergötland]], where Sverker was heavily defeated. Ebbe and his brother Lars were slain by the enemy together with a considerable part of their army. Sverker's jarl Knut seems to have been killed as well.<ref>Gillingstam, "Folkungaätten".</ref> King [[Eric X of Sweden]] drove Sverker to exile to Denmark.
Around 1203, Knut's four sons, who had lived in Swedish royal court, began to claim the throne and Sverker exiled them to [[Norway]]. His position as king became insecure from this point forward. The sons of Knut returned with troops in 1205, supported by the Norwegian party of [[Birkebeiner]]. Sverker, however, attacked and defeated them in the [[Battle of Älgarås]] in [[Tiveden]], where three of the sons fell. The only survivor, Erik, returned with Norwegian support in 1208. Sverker sought assistance from his Danish kinsmen, and such was provided. Popular tradition speaks of 12,000 Danish auxiliary troops, which is likely a gross exaggeration.<ref>Sandblom, ''Gestilren 1210'', p. 9.</ref> The forces were commanded by Ebbe Sunesen, the father of his late first wife and brother of [[Andreas Sunesen]], [[Archbishop of Lund]]. Apart from the forces of the Sunesen brothers, King Valdemar Sejr contributed with troops, even including [[Bohemia]]n soldiers.<ref>Munch, ''Det norske Folks Historie'', III, p. 529.</ref> The opponents met in the [[Battle of Lena]] in [[Västergötland]], where Sverker was heavily defeated. Ebbe and his brother Lars were slain by the enemy together with a considerable part of their army. Sverker's jarl Knut seems to have been killed as well.<ref>Gillingstam, "Folkungaätten".</ref> King [[Erik Knutsson]] drove Sverker to exile to Denmark.


==Death==
==Death==
[[Pope Innocent III|Pope Innocentius III's]] attempt to have the crown returned to Sverker did not succeed. Sverker made a new military expedition, with Danish support, to Sweden, but was defeated and killed in the [[Battle of Gestilren]] in July 1210.<ref>Harrison, ''Sveriges historia; medeltiden'', p. 106.</ref> The ancient sources state that "the [[Folkung]] [party] took his life". Responsible for the killing was his brother-in-law Folke Jarl, head of the Folkungs, who also succumbed in the battle.<ref>Larsson, ''Götarnas rike'', p. 185; ''Folke jarl'', https://sok.riksarkivet.se/Sbl/Presentation.aspx?id=14298.</ref> The site of the battle has engendered some discussion; while it is usually taken to have taken place in the parish of Varv in [[Västergötland]], Gästre in [[Uppland]] has also been suggested.<ref>Sandblom, ''Gestilren 1210''.</ref>
[[Pope Innocent III|Pope Innocentius III's]] attempt to have the crown returned to Sverker did not succeed. Sverker made a new military expedition, with Danish support, to Sweden, but was defeated and killed in the [[Battle of Gestilren]] in July 1210.<ref>Harrison, ''Sveriges historia; medeltiden'', p. 106.</ref> The ancient sources state that "the [[Folkung]] [party] took his life". Responsible for the killing was his brother-in-law Folke Jarl, head of the Folkungs, who also succumbed in the battle.<ref>Larsson, ''Götarnas rike'', p. 185; ''Folke jarl'', https://sok.riksarkivet.se/Sbl/Presentation.aspx?id=14298.</ref> The site of the battle has engendered some discussion; while it is usually taken to have taken place in the parish of Varv in [[Västergötland]], Gästre in [[Uppland]] has also been suggested.<ref>Sandblom, ''Gestilren 1210''.</ref>


In spite of his hapless fate, Sverker II receives several kind words in the short chronicle included in the [[Västgötalagen|''Law of Västergötland'']]: "The sixteenth [ruler] was King Sverker, a wise and good fellow; the kingdom fared well from him. But the Folkungs took his life; his own brother-in-law did that to him at Gestilren. He rests in [[Alvastra]], and the best things are always spoken about him".<ref>Larsson, ''Götarnas riken'', p. 185.</ref>
In spite of his hapless fate, Sverker II receives several kind words in the short chronicle included in the [[Västgötalagen|Västgöta Law]]: "The sixteenth [ruler] was King Sverker, a wise and good fellow; the kingdom fared well from him. But the Folkungs took his life; his own brother-in-law did that to him at Gestilren. He rests in [[Alvastra]], and the best things are always spoken about him".<ref>Larsson, ''Götarnas riken'', p. 185.</ref>


==Family==
==Family==
With his first wife, the Danish noble [[Benedikte Ebbesdotter of Hvide|Benedicta]] Ebbesdatter (Galen branch of the Hvide family), b. c. 1165/70, d. 1200), whom he married before 1190 when yet living in Denmark, Sverker had at least one well-attested daughter, [[Helena Sverkersdotter]]. There were possibly further children, such as Karl Sverkersson who according to Norwegian sources married a daughter of king [[Sverre of Norway]] and lost his life in 1198;<ref>Munch, ''Det norske Folks Historie'', III, p. 326.</ref> his position is however doubtful, and if he was King Sverker's son he died in adolescence at the latest. There were possibly even two other daughters, Margaret and Christina, married to Witzlav of [[Rügen]] and [[Henry Borwin II, Lord of Mecklenburg|Henry II, Lord of Mecklenburg]] ("Henry Borwin" in some later texts), respectively.<ref>''Kristina Sverkersdotter'', http://historiska-personer.nu/min-s/p00084c08.html</ref> The genealogical reconstruction is based on vague contemporary statements<ref>Gillingstam, "Utomnordiskt och nordiskt i de äldsta svenska dynastiska förbindelserna", p. 21.</ref> – however, Margaret and Christina may just have been Sverker's first wife's kinswomen.
With his first wife, the Danish noble [[Benedicta Ebbesdatter]] (Galen branch of the Hvide family), b. {{circa|1165/70}}, d. 1200), whom he married before 1190 when yet living in Denmark, Sverker had at least one well-attested daughter, [[Helena Sverkersdotter|Helena]]. There were possibly further children, such as Karl Sverkersson who according to Norwegian sources married a daughter of king [[Sverre of Norway]] and lost his life in 1198;<ref>Munch, ''Det norske Folks Historie'', III, p. 326.</ref> his position is however doubtful, and if he was King Sverker's son he died in adolescence at the latest. There were possibly even two other daughters, Margaret and Christina, married to Witzlav of [[Rügen]] and [[Henry Borwin II, Lord of Mecklenburg|Henry II, Lord of Mecklenburg]] ("Henry Borwin" in some later texts), respectively. The genealogical reconstruction is based on vague contemporary statements<ref>Gillingstam, "Utomnordiskt och nordiskt i de äldsta svenska dynastiska förbindelserna", p. 21.</ref> – however, Margaret and Christina may just have been Sverker's first wife's kinswomen.


The second marriage in 1200 with [[Ingegerd Birgersdotter of Bjelbo]], daughter of the [[Folkunge]] Jarl [[Birger Brosa]], produced a son and heir, Jon (1201–1222), who was chosen king of Sweden 1216 as [[John I of Sweden]].<ref>Harrison, ''Sveriges historia; medeltiden'', pp. 106–7.</ref>
The second marriage in 1200 with [[Ingegerd Birgersdotter|Ingegerd]], daughter of the [[Folkunge]] Jarl [[Birger Brosa]], produced a son and heir, [[Johan Sverkersson|Johan]] (1201–1222), who was chosen king of Sweden 1216.<ref>Harrison, ''Sveriges historia; medeltiden'', pp. 106–107.</ref>


It has also been argued however that it is possible Ingegerd Birgersdotter was in fact Sverker's first wife, and Benedicta Ebeesdatter his second, and that more of the evidence may point to this conclusion instead.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Line|first=Philip|title=Kingship and State Formation in Sweden 1130-1290|publisher=BRILL|year=2007|isbn=978-90-04-15578-7|location=Leiden|pages=104}}</ref>
It has also been argued however that it is possible Ingegerd was in fact Sverker's first wife, and Benedicta his second, and that possibly more of the evidence may point to this conclusion instead.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Line|first=Philip|title=Kingship and State Formation in Sweden 1130–1290|publisher=Brill|year=2007|isbn=978-90-04-15578-7|location=Leiden|pages=104}}</ref>


His attested daughter [[Helena Sverkersdotter]] married (earl) Sune Folkason of the family of Bjelbo, justiciar of [[Västergötland]]. Their daughters [[Catherine of Ymseborg]] and [[Benedicta of Bjelbo]] became pawns in marriages to gain Swedish succession after 1222, when the [[Sverker dynasty]] became extinct in male line.<ref>''Helena Sverkersdotter'', http://historiska-personer.nu/min-s/p0d5c2878.html</ref> Catherine was married to the rival dynasty's heir [[Eric XI of Sweden]] but they remained apparently childless. Benedikte married [[Svantepolk of Viby]] and had several daughters, who married Swedish noblemen. Several Swedish noble families claim descent from Benedikte.
His attested daughter [[Helena Sverkersdotter]] married (earl) Sune Folkesson of the family of Bjälbo, justiciar of [[Västergötland]]. Their daughters [[Catherine Sunesdotter|Catherine]] and [[Benedicta Sunesdotter|Benedicta]] became pawns in marriages to gain Swedish succession after 1222, when the [[Sverker dynasty]] became extinct in male line.<ref>''Helena Sverkersdotter'', http://historiska-personer.nu/min-s/p0d5c2878.html</ref> Catherine was married to the rival dynasty's heir King [[Eric XI of Sweden|Erik Eriksson]] but they remained apparently childless. Benedicta married [[Svantepolk of Viby]] and had several daughters, who married Swedish noblemen. Several Swedish noble families claim descent from Benedicta.

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}


==References==
==References==
Line 36: Line 60:


==Literature==
==Literature==
* {{cite encyclopedia |url=https://sok.riksarkivet.se/Sbl/Presentation.aspx?id=14301 |publisher=[[National Archives of Sweden]] |encyclopedia=[[Svenskt biografiskt lexikon]] |title=Folkungaätten |first=Hans |last=Gillingstam |year=1964-1966 |volume=16 |page=260 |access-date=2017-11-28 |language=Swedish}}
* {{cite encyclopedia |url=https://sok.riksarkivet.se/Sbl/Presentation.aspx?id=14301 |publisher=[[National Archives of Sweden]] |encyclopedia=[[Svenskt biografiskt lexikon]] |title=Folkungaätten |first=Hans |last=Gillingstam |year=1964–1966 |volume=16 |page=260 |access-date=28 November 2017 |language=Swedish}}
* {{cite encyclopedia |url=https://sok.riksarkivet.se/sbl/Presentation.aspx?id=12185 |publisher=[[National Archives of Sweden]] |encyclopedia=[[Svenskt biografiskt lexikon]] |title=Jon jarl |first=Hans |last=Gillingstam |year=1973-1975 |volume=20 |page=360 |access-date=2017-11-28 |language=Swedish}}
* {{cite encyclopedia |url=https://sok.riksarkivet.se/sbl/Presentation.aspx?id=12185 |publisher=[[National Archives of Sweden]] |encyclopedia=[[Svenskt biografiskt lexikon]] |title=Jon jarl |first=Hans |last=Gillingstam |year=1973–1975 |volume=20 |page=360 |access-date=28 November 2017 |language=Swedish}}
* {{cite encyclopedia |url=https://sok.riksarkivet.se/Sbl/Presentation.aspx?id=12369 |publisher=[[National Archives of Sweden]] |encyclopedia=[[Svenskt biografiskt lexikon]] |title=Karl Sverkersson |first=Hans |last=Gillingstam |year=1973-1975 |volume=20 |page=621 |access-date=2017-11-28 |language=Swedish}}
* {{cite encyclopedia |url=https://sok.riksarkivet.se/Sbl/Presentation.aspx?id=12369 |publisher=[[National Archives of Sweden]] |encyclopedia=[[Svenskt biografiskt lexikon]] |title=Karl Sverkersson |first=Hans |last=Gillingstam |year=1973–1975 |volume=20 |page=621 |access-date=28 November 2017 |language=Swedish}}
* {{cite encyclopedia |url=https://sok.riksarkivet.se/Sbl/Presentation.aspx?id=11661 |publisher=[[National Archives of Sweden]] |encyclopedia=[[Svenskt biografiskt lexikon]] |title=Knut Eriksson |first=Hans |last=Gillingstam |year=1975-1977 |volume=21 |page=383 |access-date=2017-11-28 |language=Swedish}}
* {{cite encyclopedia |url=https://sok.riksarkivet.se/Sbl/Presentation.aspx?id=11661 |publisher=[[National Archives of Sweden]] |encyclopedia=[[Svenskt biografiskt lexikon]] |title=Knut Eriksson |first=Hans |last=Gillingstam |year=1975–1977 |volume=21 |page=383 |access-date=28 November 2017 |language=Swedish}}
* {{cite journal |url=http://personhistoriskasamfundet.org/1971-1998/ |last=Gillingstam |first=Hans |title=Utomnordiskt och nordiskt i de äldsta svenska dynastiska förbindelserna |year=1982 |journal=Personhistorisk tidskrift |volume=1981 |issue=77 |publisher=Krylbo : Personhistoriska samfundet, 1900- |pages=17–28 |issn=0031-5699 |id={{LIBRIS|2373654}}}}, häfte 1, 1981
* {{cite journal |url=http://personhistoriskasamfundet.org/1971-1998/ |last=Gillingstam |first=Hans |title=Utomnordiskt och nordiskt i de äldsta svenska dynastiska förbindelserna |year=1982 |journal=Personhistorisk Tidskrift |volume=1981 |issue=77 |publisher=Krylbo : Personhistoriska samfundet, 1900- |pages=17–28 |issn=0031-5699 |id={{LIBRIS|2373654}}}}, häfte 1, 1981
* Harrison, Dick, ''Sveriges historia; medeltiden''. Stockholm: Liber, 2002.
* Harrison, Dick, ''Sveriges historia; medeltiden''. Stockholm: Liber, 2002.
* Lönnroth, Erik, ''Från svensk medeltid''. Stockholm: Aldus, 1959.
* Lönnroth, Erik, ''Från svensk medeltid''. Stockholm: Aldus, 1959.
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*Lindström, Fredrik; Lindström, Henrik ''Svitjods undergång och Sveriges födelse'' (Albert Bonniers Förlag AB. 2006)
*Lindström, Fredrik; Lindström, Henrik ''Svitjods undergång och Sveriges födelse'' (Albert Bonniers Förlag AB. 2006)
*Lagerqvist, Lars O. ''Sverige och dess regenter under 1.000 år'' (Albert Bonniers Förlag AB. 1982)
*Lagerqvist, Lars O. ''Sverige och dess regenter under 1.000 år'' (Albert Bonniers Förlag AB. 1982)

==External links==
*{{Commons category-inline||Sverker II}}
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{{s-hou|[[House of Sverker]]||c. 1164|17 July|1210}}
{{s-hou|[[House of Sverker]]||c. 1164|17 July|1210}}
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{{s-bef
{{s-bef|before=[[Canute I of Sweden|Canute I]]}}
| before = [[Knut Eriksson]]
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Latest revision as of 00:53, 30 October 2024

Sverker the Younger
King of Sweden
Reign1195–1208
PredecessorKnut Eriksson
SuccessorErik Knutsson
Bornbefore 1167
Died17 July 1210
Battle of Gestilren
SpousesBenedicta Ebbesdatter
Ingegerd Birgersdotter
IssueHelena Sverkersdotter
Johan Sverkersson
HouseSverker
FatherKarl Sverkersson
MotherChristina Hvide

Sverker the Younger[a] (before 1167 – 17 July 1210), also known as Sverker II or Sverker Karlsson, was King of Sweden from 1195 or 1196 to 1208 when he was defeated in the Battle of Lena by Erik Knutsson.[1][2][3] Sverker died in the 1210 Battle of Gestilren where his forces battled those of King Erik Knutsson.

Early life

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Sverker was a son of King Karl Sverkersson of Sweden and Queen Christina Hvide,[4] a Danish noblewoman. Through his mother, he was a cousin's son of the Danish kings Canute VI and Valdemar Sejr. His parents' marriage has been dated to 1162 or more probably 1163.[5]

When his father Karl had been murdered in Visingsö in 1167, apparently by minions of the next king Knut Eriksson, Sverker was taken to Denmark while a boy and grew up with his mother's clan of Hvide, leaders of Zealand. Sverker also allied himself with the Galen clan leaders in Skåne who were close to the Hvide, by marriage through lady Benedicta Ebbesdatter. The Danish king supported him as claimant to Sweden, thus helping to destabilize the neighboring country. The troubled Danish-Swedish relations at this time can be seen from attempts by Knut Eriksson and his jarl Birger Brosa to support rebels against Valdemar I and Canute VI.[6]

When King Knut Eriksson died in 1195 or 1196, his sons were young but not children.[7] One of them had been appointed heir to the throne, but was passed over. Sverker was chosen as the next king of Sweden, surprisingly without quarrel. At some point he had returned to his native country, however being regarded quite Danish. His uncontested election probably owed much to Jarl Birger Brosa whose daughter, Ingegerd, Sverker married soon after his first wife had died.[8] In his own letters he emphasized his birth-right to kingship: "son of King Karl, King of the Swedes, possessor of the throne of the same kingdom according to hereditary right by the grace of God".[9]

Reign

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Coin of King Sverker II

King Sverker confirmed and enlarged privileges for the Swedish church and Valerius, the Archbishop of Uppsala. The privilege document of 1200 is the oldest known ecclesiastical privilege in Sweden. Skáldatal names two of Sverker's court skalds: Sumarliði skáld and Þorgeirr Danaskáld. In 1202 Earl Birger died and the late jarl's grandson, Sverker's one-year-old son John received the title of Jarl from his father. This was intended to strengthen him as heir of the crown, but led to much ridicule.

Desultory warfare with the peoples east of the Baltic Sea continued during Sverker's reign. Birger Brosa undertook a sea-borne expedition that ended up in Wierland in eastern Estonia, either before or after Sverker's accession. A certain Dux John (Johannes) flourished in the early 13th century; according his grave inscription, he was the "terror of the pagans". He may be identified with a Jon Jarl who, according to later tradition, fought the Russians and Ingrians for nine years, but was killed at Askanäs by Lake Mälaren by Karelian pirates, immediately after his return. His widow supposedly gathered levies which killed the marauders at Estaskär. It has been suggested that this took place in 1206. In general, Estonian and Curonian raiders constituted a problem for the coasts of Sweden and Denmark in this era.[10]

Civil war

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Around 1203, Knut's four sons, who had lived in Swedish royal court, began to claim the throne and Sverker exiled them to Norway. His position as king became insecure from this point forward. The sons of Knut returned with troops in 1205, supported by the Norwegian party of Birkebeiner. Sverker, however, attacked and defeated them in the Battle of Älgarås in Tiveden, where three of the sons fell. The only survivor, Erik, returned with Norwegian support in 1208. Sverker sought assistance from his Danish kinsmen, and such was provided. Popular tradition speaks of 12,000 Danish auxiliary troops, which is likely a gross exaggeration.[11] The forces were commanded by Ebbe Sunesen, the father of his late first wife and brother of Andreas Sunesen, Archbishop of Lund. Apart from the forces of the Sunesen brothers, King Valdemar Sejr contributed with troops, even including Bohemian soldiers.[12] The opponents met in the Battle of Lena in Västergötland, where Sverker was heavily defeated. Ebbe and his brother Lars were slain by the enemy together with a considerable part of their army. Sverker's jarl Knut seems to have been killed as well.[13] King Erik Knutsson drove Sverker to exile to Denmark.

Death

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Pope Innocentius III's attempt to have the crown returned to Sverker did not succeed. Sverker made a new military expedition, with Danish support, to Sweden, but was defeated and killed in the Battle of Gestilren in July 1210.[14] The ancient sources state that "the Folkung [party] took his life". Responsible for the killing was his brother-in-law Folke Jarl, head of the Folkungs, who also succumbed in the battle.[15] The site of the battle has engendered some discussion; while it is usually taken to have taken place in the parish of Varv in Västergötland, Gästre in Uppland has also been suggested.[16]

In spite of his hapless fate, Sverker II receives several kind words in the short chronicle included in the Västgöta Law: "The sixteenth [ruler] was King Sverker, a wise and good fellow; the kingdom fared well from him. But the Folkungs took his life; his own brother-in-law did that to him at Gestilren. He rests in Alvastra, and the best things are always spoken about him".[17]

Family

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With his first wife, the Danish noble Benedicta Ebbesdatter (Galen branch of the Hvide family), b. c. 1165/70, d. 1200), whom he married before 1190 when yet living in Denmark, Sverker had at least one well-attested daughter, Helena. There were possibly further children, such as Karl Sverkersson who according to Norwegian sources married a daughter of king Sverre of Norway and lost his life in 1198;[18] his position is however doubtful, and if he was King Sverker's son he died in adolescence at the latest. There were possibly even two other daughters, Margaret and Christina, married to Witzlav of Rügen and Henry II, Lord of Mecklenburg ("Henry Borwin" in some later texts), respectively. The genealogical reconstruction is based on vague contemporary statements[19] – however, Margaret and Christina may just have been Sverker's first wife's kinswomen.

The second marriage in 1200 with Ingegerd, daughter of the Folkunge Jarl Birger Brosa, produced a son and heir, Johan (1201–1222), who was chosen king of Sweden 1216.[20]

It has also been argued however that it is possible Ingegerd was in fact Sverker's first wife, and Benedicta his second, and that possibly more of the evidence may point to this conclusion instead.[21]

His attested daughter Helena Sverkersdotter married (earl) Sune Folkesson of the family of Bjälbo, justiciar of Västergötland. Their daughters Catherine and Benedicta became pawns in marriages to gain Swedish succession after 1222, when the Sverker dynasty became extinct in male line.[22] Catherine was married to the rival dynasty's heir King Erik Eriksson but they remained apparently childless. Benedicta married Svantepolk of Viby and had several daughters, who married Swedish noblemen. Several Swedish noble families claim descent from Benedicta.

Notes

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  1. ^ Swedish: Sverker den yngre

References

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  1. ^ Lindkvist, Thomas (2008), "The Emergence of Sweden", The Viking World, Routledge, pp. 692–698, doi:10.4324/9780203412770-61, ISBN 978-0-203-41277-0
  2. ^ Sverker d.y. Karlsson. Sverker the younger Karlsson (Svenska regenter.Soverings of Sweden)
  3. ^ "Kings and Queens of Sweden – A thousand year succession". Royal Court of Sweden. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
  4. ^ Demitz, Jacob Truedson (2020). Centuries of Selfies: Portraits commissioned by Swedish kings and queens. Preface by Ulf Sundberg. Stockholm; New York: Vulkan Förlag. p. 102. ISBN 978-91-89179-63-9.
  5. ^ Gillingstam, "Karl Sverkersson".
  6. ^ Gillingstam, "Knut Eriksson".
  7. ^ Gillingstam, "Knut Eriksson", referring to a papal letter from 1208 which indicates that the four sons were not considered under-age at the time of their father's demise.
  8. ^ Harrison, Sveriges historia; medeltiden, p. 106.
  9. ^ Lönnroth, Från svensk medeltid, p. 19.
  10. ^ Gillingstam, "Jon jarl"; Sundberg, Medeltidens svenska krig, p. 46.
  11. ^ Sandblom, Gestilren 1210, p. 9.
  12. ^ Munch, Det norske Folks Historie, III, p. 529.
  13. ^ Gillingstam, "Folkungaätten".
  14. ^ Harrison, Sveriges historia; medeltiden, p. 106.
  15. ^ Larsson, Götarnas rike, p. 185; Folke jarl, https://sok.riksarkivet.se/Sbl/Presentation.aspx?id=14298.
  16. ^ Sandblom, Gestilren 1210.
  17. ^ Larsson, Götarnas riken, p. 185.
  18. ^ Munch, Det norske Folks Historie, III, p. 326.
  19. ^ Gillingstam, "Utomnordiskt och nordiskt i de äldsta svenska dynastiska förbindelserna", p. 21.
  20. ^ Harrison, Sveriges historia; medeltiden, pp. 106–107.
  21. ^ Line, Philip (2007). Kingship and State Formation in Sweden 1130–1290. Leiden: Brill. p. 104. ISBN 978-90-04-15578-7.
  22. ^ Helena Sverkersdotter, http://historiska-personer.nu/min-s/p0d5c2878.html

Literature

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Further reading

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  • Lindström, Fredrik; Lindström, Henrik Svitjods undergång och Sveriges födelse (Albert Bonniers Förlag AB. 2006)
  • Lagerqvist, Lars O. Sverige och dess regenter under 1.000 år (Albert Bonniers Förlag AB. 1982)
[edit]
Sverker the Younger
Born: c. 1164 Died: 17 July 1210
Regnal titles
Preceded by King of Sweden
1195/1196–1208 		Succeeded by
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