Ulf Fase
Encyclopedia
Ulf Fase was the jarl
of Sweden
c 1221-47. His nickname "Fase" (sometimes written Fasi) has not been convincingly explained but may indict "The Dreadful". Ulf belonged to the House of Bjelbo
.
After jarl Charles the Deaf
had been killed during a Swedish attack against Estonians
in 1220, Ulf as his closest relative was soon selected as the new jarl. An ephemeral jarl may have served briefly before Ulf's appointment. Before the death of king John I of Sweden
in 1222, Ulf certainly held the office. He is presumed to have been a son of the late jarl Charles.
In 1222, the rival dynasty's young heir, Eric XI of Sweden
, ascended the throne at the age of 6. His minority meant that jarl Ulf gained more importance along with Knut the Tall. However, the nominal regent was Bengt Birgersson, Ulf's cousin.
In 1229, Canute
usurped the throne and exiled the young Eric. However, Ulf continued to hold the position of jarl. Upon Canute's death in 1234, king Eric, now 18, was restored to the throne. His supporters did not appreciate Ulf's "treachery" in accepting an usurper over Eric five years earlier. Ulf however was too powerful to be deposed from his office.
There are clear records to show that Ulf Fase had the right to mint money, an otherwise exclusively royal prerogative. Several pieces of such coins, bearing his signs, are preserved.
In 1247, there was an attempted coup against king Eric. The rebels were crushed at the Battle of Sparrsätra
. Sources do not reveal whether Ulf was already dead at that time, or if alive, what was his role in the revolt. It has been speculated that he participated in the revolt and was therefore executed. Nevertheless, several rebel leaders were beheaded in 1247-48, including Canute's son Holmger Knutsson
. After Ulf's death, the office of jarl was held by his relative Birger Magnusson, better known as Birger jarl
.
Ulf Fase left one well-attested son, Karl Ulfsson, also known as "junker Karl". Young Karl had bad relations with Birger jarl. Karl went later to voluntary exile by joining Teutonic Knights
in Livonia. Karl was killed in 1260 at a battle near Riga
in Courland
, unmarried.
Jarl in Sweden
In Sweden, members of medieval royal families, such as the House of Stenkil and House of Bjelbo, held the title of jarl before their accession to the throne. Since the early 12th century, there usually was only one holder of the title at a time, second only to the King of Sweden.For special...
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....
c 1221-47. His nickname "Fase" (sometimes written Fasi) has not been convincingly explained but may indict "The Dreadful". Ulf belonged to the House of Bjelbo
House of Bjelbo
The House of Bjelbo , also known as the House of Folkung , was an Ostrogothian Swedish family that provided for several medieval Swedish bishops, jarls and kings.- Name and origin :...
.
After jarl Charles the Deaf
Charles the Deaf
Charles the Deaf from the House of Bjelbo was the jarl of Sweden during 1216–1220. His father was magnate Bengt Snivil. He was the brother of Magnus Minnesköld and jarl Birger Brosa and father of jarl Ulf Fase...
had been killed during a Swedish attack against Estonians
Estonians
Estonians are a Finnic people closely related to the Finns and inhabiting, primarily, the country of Estonia. They speak a Finnic language known as Estonian...
in 1220, Ulf as his closest relative was soon selected as the new jarl. An ephemeral jarl may have served briefly before Ulf's appointment. Before the death of king John I of Sweden
John I of Sweden
John I of Sweden was a Swedish king elected in 1216. -Background:John was the son of King Sverker II of Sweden of the House of Sverker and Queen Ingegerd of the Bjälbo dynasty. King Sverker had been beaten in the Battle of Lena and later killed in the Battle of Gestilren in 1210...
in 1222, Ulf certainly held the office. He is presumed to have been a son of the late jarl Charles.
In 1222, the rival dynasty's young heir, Eric XI of Sweden
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:...
, ascended the throne at the age of 6. His minority meant that jarl Ulf gained more importance along with Knut the Tall. However, the nominal regent was Bengt Birgersson, Ulf's cousin.
In 1229, Canute
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...
usurped the throne and exiled the young Eric. However, Ulf continued to hold the position of jarl. Upon Canute's death in 1234, king Eric, now 18, was restored to the throne. His supporters did not appreciate Ulf's "treachery" in accepting an usurper over Eric five years earlier. Ulf however was too powerful to be deposed from his office.
There are clear records to show that Ulf Fase had the right to mint money, an otherwise exclusively royal prerogative. Several pieces of such coins, bearing his signs, are preserved.
In 1247, there was an attempted coup against king Eric. The rebels were crushed at 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...
. Sources do not reveal whether Ulf was already dead at that time, or if alive, what was his role in the revolt. It has been speculated that he participated in the revolt and was therefore executed. Nevertheless, several rebel leaders were beheaded in 1247-48, including Canute's son Holmger Knutsson
Holmger Knutsson
Holmger Knutsson was a Swedish nobleman and a claimant to the Swedish throne during the reign of King Eric XI of Sweden.Holmger Knutsson was the eldest son of King Canute II of Sweden and Helena Pedersdatter Strange...
. After Ulf's death, the office of jarl was held by his relative Birger Magnusson, better known as 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...
.
Ulf Fase left one well-attested son, Karl Ulfsson, also known as "junker Karl". Young Karl had bad relations with Birger jarl. Karl went later to voluntary exile by joining Teutonic Knights
Teutonic Knights
The Order of Brothers of the German House of Saint Mary in Jerusalem , commonly the Teutonic Order , is a German medieval military order, in modern times a purely religious Catholic order...
in Livonia. Karl was killed in 1260 at a battle near Riga
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
in Courland
Courland
Courland is one of the historical and cultural regions of Latvia. The regions of Semigallia and Selonia are sometimes considered as part of Courland.- Geography and climate :...
, unmarried.