Sverker II of Sweden facts for kids

Sverker II, also known as Sverker the Younger, was a king of Sweden. He ruled from around 1195 or 1196 until 1208. His time as king ended when he was defeated in a battle by Prince Eric. Sverker II later died in another battle in 1210, fighting against King Eric X's forces.

Who was Sverker II?

Sverker was the son of King Karl Sverkersson and Queen Christine Stigsdatter of Hvide. His mother was a noblewoman from Denmark. This meant he was related to Danish kings like Canute VI and Valdemar Sejr.

Sverker's Early Years

In 1167, when Sverker was a young boy, his father King Karl was killed. After this, Sverker was taken to Denmark. He grew up there with his mother's family, the Hvide clan. This family was very powerful in a part of Denmark called Zealand.

Sverker also made friends with another important Danish family, the Galen clan. He married a lady from this family, Benedicta Ebbesdotter of Hvide. The Danish king supported Sverker's claim to the Swedish throne. This helped to cause problems in Sweden.

Becoming King of Sweden

When King Canute I of Sweden died in 1195 or 1196, his sons were still young. Even though one of them was supposed to become king, Sverker was chosen instead. It was a surprise that he became king without any fighting.

Sverker had returned to Sweden by this time. However, many people still saw him as quite Danish. His easy election was probably thanks to a powerful leader named Jarl Birger Brosa. Sverker soon married Birger Brosa's daughter, Ingegerd Birgersdotter of Bjelbo, after his first wife passed away. Sverker often said that he had a right to be king because he was "son of King Charles."

What did King Sverker do?

A coin from King Sverker II's time, around 1200.

King Sverker gave more rights and special rules to the Swedish church. He also gave more power to Valerius, the Archbishop of Uppsala. A document from 1200 about these rights is the oldest church privilege known in Sweden.

In 1202, Jarl Birger Brosa died. Sverker then gave the title of Jarl to his own one-year-old son, John. This was meant to make John a stronger heir to the throne. But many people found it quite funny that a baby was given such an important title.

Battles and Conflicts

During Sverker's rule, there were ongoing fights with people living east of the Baltic Sea. Jarl Birger Brosa led a sea trip to Virumaa in eastern Estonia.

There were also reports of attacks on Finland by troops from the Novgorod Republic in 1198. They supposedly attacked a place called Åbo. However, Åbo was not a settlement at that time. It's possible this story is based on an earlier Russian attack in 1191.

A leader named John (Johannes) was known as the "terror of the pagans." Some think he was a Jarl John who fought against the Russians and Ingrians for nine years. He was said to have been killed by pirates from Karelia in 1206. In general, raiders from Estonia and Curonia caused problems for the coasts of Sweden and Denmark during this period.

Civil War and Downfall

Around 1203, the four sons of the previous king, Canute, started to claim the throne. They had been living at Sverker's royal court. Sverker sent them away to Norway. From this point on, his position as king became less secure.

The Battle of Älgarås

In 1205, Canute's sons returned to Sweden with soldiers. They had help from a Norwegian group called the Birkebeiner. Sverker attacked them and won the Battle of Älgarås. Three of Canute's sons were killed in this battle.

The Battle of Lena

The only surviving son, Eric, came back in 1208 with more help from Norway. Sverker asked his Danish relatives for help. He received support, though the number of Danish soldiers was likely much smaller than some stories say. These forces were led by Ebbe Sunesen, who was the father of Sverker's first wife. King Valdemar Sejr of Denmark also sent troops.

The two sides met in the Battle of Lena in Västergötland. Sverker suffered a major defeat. Ebbe and his brother Lars were killed, along with many of their soldiers. Sverker's Jarl Knut also seems to have died. King Eric X of Sweden then forced Sverker to leave Sweden and go back to Denmark.

Sverker's Death

Pope Innocentius III tried to help Sverker get his crown back, but it did not work. Sverker launched another military attack on Sweden with Danish support. However, he was defeated and killed in the Battle of Gestilren in July 1210.

Old writings say that the "Folkung [party] took his life." His brother-in-law, Folke Jarl, who was the leader of the Folkungs, was responsible for killing him. Folke Jarl also died in the same battle. The exact place of the battle is still discussed by historians.

Despite his sad end, Sverker II is remembered with kind words in an old Swedish law book called the Law of Västergötland. It says he was "a wise and good fellow" and that "the kingdom fared well from him." He is buried in Alvastra.

Sverker's Family

Sverker had children from his two marriages.

First Marriage

With his first wife, Benedicta Ebbesdatter, Sverker had at least one daughter named Helena Sverkersdotter. Benedicta was a Danish noblewoman. Some sources suggest there might have been other children, but this is not certain.

Second Marriage

In 1200, Sverker married Ingegerd Birgersdotter of Bjelbo. She was the daughter of Jarl Birger Brosa. They had a son named Jon (born 1201, died 1222). This son later became King John I of Sweden in 1216.

Some historians have suggested that Ingegerd Birgersdotter might have been Sverker's first wife, and Benedicta his second.

Sverker's Descendants

Sverker's daughter, Helena Sverkersdotter, married Sune Folkason. Their daughters, Catherine of Ymseborg and Benedicta of Bjelbo, became important for the Swedish throne after 1222. This was when Sverker's family line ended in male heirs.

Catherine married Eric XI of Sweden, who was from a rival family, but they did not have children. Benedicta married Svantepolk of Viby and had several daughters. These daughters married into important Swedish noble families. Many noble families in Sweden today can trace their family history back to Benedicta.

See also

In Spanish: Sverker II Karlsson para niños