Knut Birgersson, Riksjarl of Sweden
Encyclopedia
Knut Birgersson was Riksjarl of Sweden. He was the eldest surviving son of Riksjarl Birger Brosa
and a member of the powerful House of Bjälbo.
Knut Birgersson was apparently elevated to the office of Riksjarl during the last years of the reign of King Sverker II of Sweden
. This was despite the fact that Sverker had named his infant son Johan Sverkersson as riksjarl following the death of Jarl Birger Brosa
, in an attempt to confirm Johan as his royal successor and to diminish the power of highest nobility by effectively abolishing the position of riksjarl, so no adult noble could occupy it. Johan Sverkersson was the nephew of Knut Birgersson, being born of his sister Ingegärd Birgersdotter.
Sources are silent how and why Knut became jarl in Johan's lifetime, but either he got it as acompromise out of King Sverker, or Sverker actually needed an effective Riksjarl to his side.
According to one source, Jarl Knut was married to daughter of King Canute I of Sweden
, named Sigrid Knutsdotter. The same source states that Knut's son lord Magnus Broka was born of Sigrid. Jarl Knut was killed in 1208 at the Battle of Lena
, where King Sverker lost his throne to Canute's surviving son, the new king Eric X of Sweden
.
Birger Brosa
Birger Brosa , jarl of Sweden 1174-1202, d. 9 January 1202 on Visingsö, was a son of Bengt Snivil and a member of the powerful House of Bjälbo...
and a member of the powerful House of Bjälbo.
Knut Birgersson was apparently elevated to the office of Riksjarl during the last years of the reign of King Sverker II of Sweden
Sverker II of Sweden
Sverker II was King of Sweden from 1196 to 1208.-Biography:...
. This was despite the fact that Sverker had named his infant son Johan Sverkersson as riksjarl following the death of Jarl Birger Brosa
Birger Brosa
Birger Brosa , jarl of Sweden 1174-1202, d. 9 January 1202 on Visingsö, was a son of Bengt Snivil and a member of the powerful House of Bjälbo...
, in an attempt to confirm Johan as his royal successor and to diminish the power of highest nobility by effectively abolishing the position of riksjarl, so no adult noble could occupy it. Johan Sverkersson was the nephew of Knut Birgersson, being born of his sister Ingegärd Birgersdotter.
Sources are silent how and why Knut became jarl in Johan's lifetime, but either he got it as acompromise out of King Sverker, or Sverker actually needed an effective Riksjarl to his side.
According to one source, Jarl Knut was married to daughter of King Canute I of Sweden
Canute I of Sweden
Canute I, Swedish: Knut Eriksson , was king over all of Sweden from 1173 to 1195...
, named Sigrid Knutsdotter. The same source states that Knut's son lord Magnus Broka was born of Sigrid. Jarl Knut was killed in 1208 at the Battle of Lena
Battle of Lena
The Battle of Lena occurred on January 31, 1208, and probably took place near Kungslena , which is located in the Tidaholm Municipality in Västergötland, Sweden....
, where King Sverker lost his throne to Canute's surviving son, the new king Eric X of Sweden
Eric X of Sweden
Eric "X" of Sweden, Swedish: Erik Knutsson; Old Norse: Eiríkr Knútsson was the King of Sweden between 1208 and 1216. Also known as Eric the Survivor when he became King, he was the only remaining son of King Canute I of Sweden and his queen of an undetermined name, who probably was Cecilia...
.
Other Sources
- Harrison, Dick (2002) Jarlens sekel (Ordfront förlag, Stockholm) ISBN 91-7324-999-8