Biography

He was the son of Magnus Minniskiöld

Magnus Minniskiöld

Magnus Minnisköld was a medieval Swedish Lawspeaker from the House of Bjelbo.He lived at the family estate Bjälbo, in the current Mjölby municipality, Östergötland, Sweden. He was the son of Bengt Snivil, and nephew of the Riksjarl Birger Brosa. He married the noblewoman Ingrid Ylva, and fathered...

, and the elder brother of 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...

, one of the most powerful men of his time in Scandinavia

Scandinavia

Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...

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Due to the location of his jurisdiction and his marriage to Kristina, the widow of the Norwegian earl Hakon the Mad (d. 1214), Eskil had good contacts in Norway and often functioned as a negotiator between the Swedish and the Norwegian government. In 1218, he was visited by his Icelandic colleague Snorri Sturluson

Snorri Sturluson

Snorri Sturluson was an Icelandic historian, poet, and politician. He was twice elected lawspeaker at the Icelandic parliament, the Althing...

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An old list of the lawspeakers of Västergötland tells that he collected and edited the province's laws, and administered justice with great consideration. He had good judgment, the learning of a cleric and he was superior to all the chiefains of the kingdom. He also distinguished himself in bravery and the list claims that it would take a long time until another man of that kind was born.