Holmger Knutsson
Encyclopedia
Eric XI of Sweden
Eric "XI" of Sweden, or Eric the Lisp and Lame Swedish: Erik Eriksson läspe och halte; Old Norse: Eiríkr Eiríksson was king of Sweden in 1222–1229 and 1234–1250.-Background:...
.
Holmger Knutsson was the eldest son of King Canute II
Canute II of Sweden
Canute II Holmgersson, called the Tall , was King of Sweden from 1229 until his death 1234. He may have been a great grandson of Eric the Saint, for the sagas give Filip Eriksson, Eric's youngest son, as the father of Holmger, Canute's father...
of Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
and Helena Pedersdatter Strange
Helena Pedersdatter Strange
Helena Pedersdotter Strange was a Swedish Queen Consort, spouse of King Canute II of Sweden and of a Danish noble family later called Ulfeldt....
. At his father's death in 1234, Holmger seems to have been on his way to be the new king, but he was side-tracked by Jarl Ulf Fase
Ulf Fase
Ulf Fase was the jarl of Sweden c 1221-47. His nickname "Fase" has not been convincingly explained but may indict "The Dreadful". Ulf belonged to the House of Bjelbo....
and earlier King Eric XI
Eric XI of Sweden
Eric "XI" of Sweden, or Eric the Lisp and Lame Swedish: Erik Eriksson läspe och halte; Old Norse: Eiríkr Eiríksson was king of Sweden in 1222–1229 and 1234–1250.-Background:...
who had been exiled in Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
since 1229. Holmger's whereabouts after that are not known, but it has been speculated that he held Gästrikland
Gästrikland
' is a historical province or landskap on the eastern coast of Sweden. It borders Uppland, Västmanland, Dalarna, Hälsingland and the Gulf of Bothnia. Gästrikland is the southernmost of the Norrland provinces....
north of Uppland
Uppland
Uppland is a historical province or landskap on the eastern coast of Sweden, just north of Stockholm, the capital. It borders Södermanland, Västmanland and Gästrikland. It is also bounded by lake Mälaren and the Baltic sea...
for the next thirteen years.
Together with folkung
Folkung
In modern Swedish, Folkung has two meanings, which appear to be opposites:# The medieval "House of Bjelbo" in Sweden, which produced several Swedish statesmen and kings....
s, Holmger made an unsuccessful attempt for the crown in 1247. The Battle of Sparrsätra
Battle of Sparrsätra
The Battle of Sparrsätra was a battle which took place in 1247 near Enköping in Sweden between king Eric XI of Sweden and rebels led by Holmger Knutsson...
took place in Uppland
Uppland
Uppland is a historical province or landskap on the eastern coast of Sweden, just north of Stockholm, the capital. It borders Södermanland, Västmanland and Gästrikland. It is also bounded by lake Mälaren and the Baltic sea...
north of Enköping
Enköping
Enköping is a locality and the seat of Enköping Municipality, Uppsala County, Sweden with 20,204 inhabitants in 2005.- Geography :Enköping is situated near Lake Mälaren, about 78 km west of Stockholm....
between forces led Birger Jarl
Birger jarl
, or Birger Magnusson, was a Swedish statesman, Jarl of Sweden and a member of the House of Bjelbo, who played a pivotal role in the consolidation of Sweden. Birger also led the Second Swedish Crusade, which established Swedish rule in Finland. Additionally, he is traditionally attributed to have...
and rebels led by Holmger Knutsson. According to Erikskrönikan, after defeat in the battle Holmger fled to Gästrikland but was captured and beheaded in 1248. Quickly brought to trial, he was beheaded.
There seems to have been a widespread attempt to have Holmger established as a saint, but that was eventually suppressed. The later manuscripts show that a special chapel was built to consecrate Holmger Knutsson in Björklinge
Björklinge
Björklinge is a locality situated in Uppsala Municipality, Uppsala County, Sweden with 3,186 inhabitants in 2005. The name, written as Birklinge, was used for the parish as early as 1314, and Viking graves have been found in the area....
, Norunda härad, in Uppland
Uppland
Uppland is a historical province or landskap on the eastern coast of Sweden, just north of Stockholm, the capital. It borders Södermanland, Västmanland and Gästrikland. It is also bounded by lake Mälaren and the Baltic sea...
. He lies buried next to his father in Skokloster (Sko Abbey) Church in Håbo
Habo
Habo is a locality and the seat of Habo Municipality, Jönköping County, Sweden with 6,244 inhabitants in 2005. Habo Church lies around 4km to the south-west.- References :...
, near Uppsala
Uppsala
- Economy :Today Uppsala is well established in medical research and recognized for its leading position in biotechnology.*Abbott Medical Optics *GE Healthcare*Pfizer *Phadia, an offshoot of Pharmacia*Fresenius*Q-Med...
. Holmger was married to Helena Philipsdotter. They had no known children.
Sources
- Harrison, Dick Jarlens sekel - en berättelse om 1200-talets Sverige (Ordfront, Stockholm: 2002) ISBN 91-7324-898-3
- Lagerqvist, Lars O. Sverige och dess regenter under 1000 år (Bonniers, Stockholm: 1982) ISBN 91-0-075007-7
- Adolfsson, Mats När borgarna brann - svenska uppror (Stockholm :Natur och kultur, 2007)
- Larsson, Mats G. Götarnas riken : Upptäcktsfärder till Sveriges enande (Bokförlaget Atlantis AB. 2002) ISBN 9789174866414
External links
- Video with English subtitles: Holmger Knutsson's tomb cover in the Swedish Museum of National Antiquities. Dick Harrison, history professor.