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Eric the Victorious
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Eric the Victorious (VI), Old Norse: Eiríkr inn sigrsæli, Modern Swedish: Erik Segersäll, (945?- c 995), was the first Swedish king (970-995) about whom anything definite is known.[1]
His original territory lay in Uppland and neighbouring provinces. He was victorious over an invasion from the south in the Battle of the Fýrisvellir close to Uppsala. Reports that Eric's brother Olof was the father of Styrbjörn the Strong belong to the realm of myth.[2]
The extent of his kingdom is unknown. In addition to the Swedish heartland round lake Mälaren it may have extended down the Baltic Sea coast as far south as Blekinge.
According to the Flateyjarbok, his success was due to the fact that he allied with the peasants against the nobility, and it is obvious from archeological findings that the influence of the latter diminished during the last part of the tenth century.[citation needed] He was also, probably, the introducer of the famous medieval Scandinavian system of universal conscription known as the ledung in the provinces around Mälaren.
According to Adam of Bremen, Eric allied himself with the Polish prince Boleslav to conquer Denmark and chase away its king Sweyn Forkbeard. He proclaimed himself the king of Sweden and Denmark which he ruled until his death which would have taken place in 994 or 995.[citation needed] Adam says that Eric was baptised in Denmark, but later returned to the Norse gods.[1] Adam of Bremen gives Emund Eriksson as Eric's predecessor.
In all probability he founded the town of Sigtuna, which still exists and where the first Swedish coins were stamped for his son and successor Olof Skötkonung.
The Norse sagas relate that he was the son of Björn Eriksson and that he ruled together with his brother Olof. He married Sigrid the Haughty, the daughter of the legendary Viking Skagul Toste, but would later divorce her and give her Götaland as a fief. According to Eymund's saga he took a new queen, Auð, the daughter of Haakon Sigurdsson, the ruler of Norway.
Before this happened, his brother Olof died, and a new co-ruler had to be appointed, but the Swedes refused to accept his rowdy nephew Styrbjörn the Strong as his co-ruler. Styrbjörn was given 60 longships by Eric and sailed away to live as a Viking. Styrbjörn would become the ruler of Jomsborg and an ally and brother-in-law of the Danish king Harold Bluetooth. Styrbjörn returned to Sweden with a major Danish army, which Eric defeated in the Battle of the Fýrisvellir at Old Uppsala.
- ^ a b Lindkvist, Thomas (2003), "Kings and provinces in Sweden", The Cambridge History of Scandinavia, pp. 223., ISBN 0521472997
- ^ Odelberg, Maj (1995), "Eric Segersäll", Vikingatidens ABC, Swedish Museum of National Antiquities, ISBN 9171929843, <http://histvarld.historiska.se/histvarld/sok/artikel.asp?id=10275>. Retrieved on 2007-08-18
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Erik Segersäll
Born: c. 945 Died: 995 |
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| Regnal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Björn (III) Eriksson as Semi-legendary king of Sweden |
King of Sweden 970-995 with Olof Björnsson (970-975) |
Succeeded by Olof Skötkonung |