Sverker I of Sweden
Encyclopedia
Sverker I or Sverker the Elder (murdered December 25, 1156) was King of Sweden
Monarch of Sweden
The monarchy of Sweden is the constitutional monarchy of the Kingdom of Sweden. The present monarch, Carl XVI Gustaf, has reigned since 15 September 1973. He and his immediate family undertake various official, ceremonial and representational duties...

 from about 1130 till his death.

Biography

Sverker was a mighty landowner from Östergötland
Östergötland
Östergötland, English exonym: East Gothland, is one of the traditional provinces of Sweden in the south of Sweden. It borders Småland, Västergötland, Närke, Södermanland, and the Baltic Sea. In older English literature, one might also encounter the Latinized version, Ostrogothia...

. According to the Westrogothic law (1240), his father's name was Cornube, but according to Skáldatal
Skáldatal
Skáldatal is a short prose work in Old Norse. It is preserved in two manuscripts: DG 11, or Codex Uppsaliensis, which is one of the four main manuscripts of the Prose Edda , and AM 761 a 4to , which also contains Skaldic poems...

, his father's name was Kol. He was acknowledged as king at the beginning of 1130s, and conquered Västergötland
Västergötland
', English exonym: West Gothland, is one of the 25 traditional non-administrative provinces of Sweden , situated in the southwest of Sweden. In older English literature one may also encounter the Latinized version Westrogothia....

 from its ruler Magnus the Strong
Magnus the Strong
Magnus I of Sweden, son of Nicholas , later called Magnus the Strong , was a Danish duke who ruled Gothenland in southern Sweden from 1125 to 1130...

. Sverker ruled for about 26 years, but in spite of the long reign not much is known about him. The convents and monasteries of Alvastra
Alvastra Abbey
Alvastra Abbey was a Cistercian monastery located at Alvastra in Östergötland, Sweden. It was founded in the first half of the 12th century by a donation of land from King Sverker I of Sweden to the Cistercian Order. It was dissolved and appropriated by the Crown at the time of the Protestant...

, Nydala and Varnhem
Varnhem Abbey
Varnhem Abbey in Varnhem, Västergötland, Sweden was founded around 1150 by monks of the Cistercian Order from Alvastra Abbey in Östergötland.The Cistercian Order used the same floor plan for all its abbeys, which makes it possible to easily locate the different rooms and halls regardless of the...

 were founded.

According to a Russian chronicle, the newly founded Republic of Novgorod had its first confrontation with Sweden
Swedish-Novgorodian Wars
Swedish–Novgorodian Wars were a series of conflicts in the 12th and 13th centuries between the Republic of Novgorod and medieval Sweden over control of the Gulf of Finland, an area vital to the Hanseatic League and part of the Varangian-Byzantine trade route...

 during Sverker's reign in 1142, thus breaking a century-long peace that had been guaranteed by marriages between the earlier ruling families.

Sverker was murdered by his own coach at the Alebäck bridge near Alvastra priory, going to the early service on Christmas Day, in 1156. This was considered a shocking crime, even by medieval standards. The pretender Magnus Henriksson was suspected of the crime.

Skáldatal
Skáldatal
Skáldatal is a short prose work in Old Norse. It is preserved in two manuscripts: DG 11, or Codex Uppsaliensis, which is one of the four main manuscripts of the Prose Edda , and AM 761 a 4to , which also contains Skaldic poems...

reports the names of two of Sverker's skald
Skald
The skald was a member of a group of poets, whose courtly poetry is associated with the courts of Scandinavian and Icelandic leaders during the Viking Age, who composed and performed renditions of aspects of what we now characterise as Old Norse poetry .The most prevalent metre of skaldic poetry is...

s: Einarr Skúlason
Einarr Skúlason
Einarr Skúlason was an Icelandic priest and skald. He was the most prominent Norse poet of the 12th century.He was descended from the family of Egill Skallagrímsson, the so called Mýramenn. For most of his life he lived in Norway, with the kings Sigurðr Jórsalafari, Haraldr gilli and the sons of...

 and Halldórr skvaldri
Halldórr skvaldri
Halldórr skvaldri was an Icelandic skald who lived in the first half of the 12th century.He sang the Útfarardrápa about the feats of Sigurd I of Norway during his voyage to the Holy Land. After Sigurd's death, he probably served Magnus Barefoot.He made poems for nine powerful men, including the...

.

Family

Married to
  • 1) Queen Ulvhild
    Ulvhild
    Ulvhild Haakonardottir, , , was a medieval Scandinavian queen, queen consort of Sweden twice and queen consort of Denmark once , married to King Inge II of Sweden, King Niels of Denmark and King Sverker I of Sweden...

     Håkansdotter, widow of Inge the Younger
    Inge II of Sweden
    Inge the Younger was King of Sweden in 1110–1125 and the son of king Halsten and he was probably Halsten's youngest son. According to unreliable traditions Inge would have ruled together with his brother Philip Halstensson after the death of their uncle Inge the Elder:Hallstein's sons were Philip...

    , who escaped from her second husband, King Niels of Denmark
    Niels of Denmark
    Niels of Denmark was King of Denmark from 1104 to 1134, following his brother Eric Evergood, and is presumed to have been the youngest son of king Sweyn II Estridson. Niels actively supported the canonization of Canute IV the Holy, and his secular rule was supported by the clergy...

    . Children:
  1. Johan (Jon jarl), slain by enraged peasants during a meeting of the Thing in the early 1150s, possibly father of Cecilia
    Cecilia Johansdotter of Sweden
    Cecilia Johansdotter of Sweden, , is the traditional name of the Queen Consort of King Canute I of Sweden and mother of King Eric X of Sweden.- Biography :...

  2. Charles Sverkerson
    Charles VII of Sweden
    Charles "VII" also Carl , or Karl Sverkersson in Swedish , was ruler of Gothenland, and then King of Sweden from circa 1161 to 1167, when he was assassinated....

    , Sverker's successor as head of dynasty and ruler of parts of Gothenland
  3. Ingegerd (died in 1204), prioress of Vreta convent
  4. Helena of Sweden
    Helena of Sweden
    Helena Sverkersdotter of Sweden, , was a medieval Swedish princess and Danish queen, Queen consort of King Canute V of Denmark.-Biography:Helena, or Elin as she was also called, was born daughter of King Sverker I of Sweden...

    , married to Canute V of Denmark
    Canute V of Denmark
    Canute V of Denmark was a Swedish prince and King of Denmark from 1146 to 1157, as co-regent in shifting alliances with his Sweyn III and Valdemar I. Canute was killed at the so-called Bloodfeast of Roskilde in 1157. Nothing certain is known about his person and character.-Biography:Canute was...

    , son of Magnus Nilsson
    Magnus the Strong
    Magnus I of Sweden, son of Nicholas , later called Magnus the Strong , was a Danish duke who ruled Gothenland in southern Sweden from 1125 to 1130...

     ("Magnus I of Sweden")

  • 2) Richeza of Poland (after Ulvhild's death), previously married to Magnus Nilsson
    Magnus the Strong
    Magnus I of Sweden, son of Nicholas , later called Magnus the Strong , was a Danish duke who ruled Gothenland in southern Sweden from 1125 to 1130...

     and Volodar of Minsk. Attested son of this marriage was:

  1. Burislev Sverkersson, rival king of Sweden between 1167 and 1173
  2. Sune Sik Sverkersson
    Sune Sik Sverkersson
    Sune Sik, , was allegedly a Swedish prince. According to Olaus Petri, he would have been a younger son of King Sverker I of Sweden and father of Ingrid Ylva....

    , by Rycheza, is thought to have been born about 1154.
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