Erengisle Suneson, Earl of Orkney
Encyclopedia
Erengisle Sunesson of Hultboda, earl of Orkney (died 26 December 1392) was an important Swedish magnate
in 14th century. In his later life, he was known as Jarl Erengisle in Sweden. He was knight, high councillor and titular earl
.
(Old Swedish for boat) originally from Småland
, as son of Sune Jonsson, the lawspeaker
of Tiohärad, and his first wife Cathrine Henriksdatter Glysing.
Erengisle's father Sune and uncle Peter had in 1320 obtained the effectively hereditary position of chatelain
of Viipuri castle in easternmost coast of Finland by purchasing it from the governor set there by the deposed king Birger of Sweden. Peter and Sune recognized the new king, Magnus IV of Sweden
, and received important privileges, which effectively turned their holding of Viipuri as an independent feudal fief, the start of a veritable margraviate (see fief of Viipuri).
became erected. His chief seat was the medieval castle of Hultaboda (now Hultaby) in Näsby outside of Vetlanda. Also Flishult manor in the same district belonged to him.
He was usually a supporter of his king, Magnus VII of Norway and Sweden, although in some instances he was in alliance with king's rivals. The king's Norwegian tasks for him led to his marriage with an unnamed daughter (possibly Agnes) of Maol Íosa, Earl of Orkney
, Caithness and Strathearn. Because Maol Íosa did not have sons, families of his daughters divided or competed over his inheritance. Erengisle became the earl of Orkney
, although there is little evidence that he ever treated it as anything other than a high title, bringing him prestige over the then titleless Scandinavian nobility, or that he ever stayed in the earldom.
In 1357 earl Erengisle was among magnates who proclaimed Eric
, the eldest son of king Magnus, as king in place of the father. He then led negotiations which resulted in reconciliation between father and son and them sharing the kingship.
In 1379, when his Strathearn wife already was (long) deceased, king Haakon VI of Norway
granted the earldom of Orkney
to Maol Iosa's (youngest) grandson, Henry Sinclair, Earl of Orkney. The widowed earl Erengisle however continued to use the title until his death (as evidenced by e.g. his appellation in the text of his last will and testament).
monastery church.
His last wife, Countess Ingeborg had several children from her first marriage with lord Bengt Turesson of the family of Kraakerum.
Erengisle's own nephews and nieces (and sisters) were already dead, without further issue, the last of them, Christina Ulvsdotter of Rickeby, having died in c 1389. His paternal family had only first cousins to continue the line (the Trolle
, the Pipa
, the Hammersta and the Snakenborg of Flishult presumably were lineages descending from such cousins).
His possessions were divided by his last will and testament, the church receiving much.
Marriages:
He belonged to the Haak-Bååt branch of the Bonde clan (the byname Haak was even used of his well-known uncle), mentioned as agnates of the Bonde.
Erengisle's close kinsman was also bishop Charles of Linköping, but we do not know how exactly they were related.
Also knight Erengisle Jonson 'the younger' (flourished 1335), was their kinsman.
His crest depicts, like those of families Bååt
and Bonde
, a boat.
Magnate
Magnate, from the Late Latin magnas, a great man, itself from Latin magnus 'great', designates a noble or other man in a high social position, by birth, wealth or other qualities...
in 14th century. In his later life, he was known as Jarl Erengisle in Sweden. He was knight, high councillor and titular earl
Earl
An earl is a member of the nobility. The title is Anglo-Saxon, akin to the Scandinavian form jarl, and meant "chieftain", particularly a chieftain set to rule a territory in a king's stead. In Scandinavia, it became obsolete in the Middle Ages and was replaced with duke...
.
Family
He was born in a noble family later called BååtBååt
Bååt was an important Swedish noble family, originally from Småland insouth-eastern Sweden.The family is especially known for its long association with Viipuri/Vyborg castle in Finland , the bulwark of the then Swedish realm, at the border against Novgorod/Russia...
(Old Swedish for boat) originally from Småland
Småland
' is a historical province in southern Sweden.Småland borders Blekinge, Scania or Skåne, Halland, Västergötland, Östergötland and the island Öland in the Baltic Sea. The name Småland literally means Small Lands. . The latinized form Smolandia has been used in other languages...
, as son of Sune Jonsson, the lawspeaker
Lawspeaker
A lawspeaker is a unique Scandinavian legal office. It has its basis in a common Germanic oral tradition, where wise men were asked to recite the law, but it was only in Scandinavia that the function evolved into an office...
of Tiohärad, and his first wife Cathrine Henriksdatter Glysing.
Erengisle's father Sune and uncle Peter had in 1320 obtained the effectively hereditary position of chatelain
Châtelain
Châtelain was originally merely the French equivalent of the English castellan, i.e. the commander of a castle....
of Viipuri castle in easternmost coast of Finland by purchasing it from the governor set there by the deposed king Birger of Sweden. Peter and Sune recognized the new king, Magnus IV of Sweden
Magnus IV of Sweden
Magnus Eriksson as Magnus IV was king of Sweden , including Finland, as Magnus VII King of Norway , including Iceland and Greenland, and also ruled Scania . He has also vindictively been called Magnus Smek...
, and received important privileges, which effectively turned their holding of Viipuri as an independent feudal fief, the start of a veritable margraviate (see fief of Viipuri).
Life
Erengisle possessed immense wealth in several provinces of Sweden. In Viipuri province, his patrimony included Kymenkartano manor, on which spot the later town of KotkaKotka
Kotka is a town and municipality of Finland. Its former name is Rochensalm.Kotka is located on the coast of the Gulf of Finland at the mouth of Kymi River and it is part of the Kymenlaakso region in southern Finland. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water....
became erected. His chief seat was the medieval castle of Hultaboda (now Hultaby) in Näsby outside of Vetlanda. Also Flishult manor in the same district belonged to him.
He was usually a supporter of his king, Magnus VII of Norway and Sweden, although in some instances he was in alliance with king's rivals. The king's Norwegian tasks for him led to his marriage with an unnamed daughter (possibly Agnes) of Maol Íosa, Earl of Orkney
Maol Íosa V, Earl of Strathearn
Maol Íosa V of Strathearn was the last of the native Gaelic family of Strathearn mormaers. He ruled Strathearn as mormaer/earl between 1330 and 1334, and was Earl of Orkney between 1331 and 1350....
, Caithness and Strathearn. Because Maol Íosa did not have sons, families of his daughters divided or competed over his inheritance. Erengisle became the earl of Orkney
Earl of Orkney
The Earl of Orkney was originally a Norse jarl ruling Orkney, Shetland and parts of Caithness and Sutherland. The Earls were periodically subject to the kings of Norway for the Northern Isles, and later also to the kings of Alba for those parts of their territory in mainland Scotland . The Earl's...
, although there is little evidence that he ever treated it as anything other than a high title, bringing him prestige over the then titleless Scandinavian nobility, or that he ever stayed in the earldom.
In 1357 earl Erengisle was among magnates who proclaimed Eric
Eric XII of Sweden
Eric "XII" of Sweden was a rival king of Sweden of his father Magnus IV from 1356 to his death in 1359. He was married to Beatrix of Bavaria, daughter of Louis IV of Bavaria....
, the eldest son of king Magnus, as king in place of the father. He then led negotiations which resulted in reconciliation between father and son and them sharing the kingship.
In 1379, when his Strathearn wife already was (long) deceased, king Haakon VI of Norway
Haakon VI of Norway
Haakon VI of Norway was King of Norway from 1343 until his death and King of Sweden from 1362 until 1364, when he was deposed by Albert of Mecklenburg in Sweden.-Background:...
granted the earldom of Orkney
Earldom of Orkney
The Earldom of Orkney was a Norwegian dignity in Scotland which had its origins in the Viking period. The title of Earl of Orkney was passed down the same family line through to the Middle Ages....
to Maol Iosa's (youngest) grandson, Henry Sinclair, Earl of Orkney. The widowed earl Erengisle however continued to use the title until his death (as evidenced by e.g. his appellation in the text of his last will and testament).
Death and will
Erengisle died childless, "at a great age". Buried in VadstenaVadstena
Vadstena is a locality and the seat of Vadstena Municipality, Östergötland County, Sweden, with 5,612 inhabitants in 2005. From 1974 to 1979 Vadstena was administered as part of Motala Municipality....
monastery church.
His last wife, Countess Ingeborg had several children from her first marriage with lord Bengt Turesson of the family of Kraakerum.
Erengisle's own nephews and nieces (and sisters) were already dead, without further issue, the last of them, Christina Ulvsdotter of Rickeby, having died in c 1389. His paternal family had only first cousins to continue the line (the Trolle
Trolle
Trolle is the name of a noble family, originally from Sweden. The family has produced prominent people in the histories of Denmark and in Sweden since the Middle Ages and is associated qwith several estates in Sweden....
, the Pipa
Pipa
The pipa is a four-stringed Chinese musical instrument, belonging to the plucked category of instruments . Sometimes called the Chinese lute, the instrument has a pear-shaped wooden body with a varying number of frets ranging from 12–26...
, the Hammersta and the Snakenborg of Flishult presumably were lineages descending from such cousins).
His possessions were divided by his last will and testament, the church receiving much.
Marriages:
- Margareta
- Agnes (Annot), daughter of Maol Íosa, Earl of Strathearn and Orkney
- before 1377 with Ingeborg Magnusdotter of Loholm, close relative of royals (and niece of St.Bridget of Sweden)
Coat of arms
Erengisle's family's hereditary shield depicted a boat. He thus belonged to the extensive clan of the Bonde. Well-known Bonde magnates, such as High Constable Tord and king Charles VIII, appear to have regarded Erengisle's family as their kinsmen.He belonged to the Haak-Bååt branch of the Bonde clan (the byname Haak was even used of his well-known uncle), mentioned as agnates of the Bonde.
Erengisle's close kinsman was also bishop Charles of Linköping, but we do not know how exactly they were related.
Also knight Erengisle Jonson 'the younger' (flourished 1335), was their kinsman.
His crest depicts, like those of families Bååt
Bååt
Bååt was an important Swedish noble family, originally from Småland insouth-eastern Sweden.The family is especially known for its long association with Viipuri/Vyborg castle in Finland , the bulwark of the then Swedish realm, at the border against Novgorod/Russia...
and Bonde
Bonde
Bonde is a Swedish noble family.Prominent members include:* Karl Knutsson Bonde , King Charles VIII of Sweden* Gustaf Bonde , Swedish statesman...
, a boat.