Prince Erik, Duke of Västmanland
Encyclopedia
Prince Erik of Sweden and Norway, Duke of Västmanland (Erik Gustav Ludvig Albert) (Stockholm
, 20 April 1889 – Drottningholm
, 20 September 1918), was a Swedish prince and Duke of Västmanland
. He was the third and youngest son of King Gustav V of Sweden and his queen, Victoria of Baden
. In 1904, Prince Erik was appointed a Knight of the Norwegian Lion
by his paternal grandfather, King Oscar II
.
Prince Erik suffered from epilepsy
and mild mental retardation
. His exact condition has not been published, but he may have suffered an injury at birth. He was described as handsome and physically healthy and interested in sports. His mental disability was not noticeable in brief conversation, but would become apparent if someone tried to talk with him longer than that.
Because of his condition, he was seldom seen in public and led a quiet life away from the public eye, similar to the life of Prince John of the United Kingdom
. Because he was a member of the royal family, he was present in official royal photographs, but he had no official tasks. In 1907-1909, a residence was built for him away from the public eye in Djursholm
, a relatively new garden community north of Stockholm.
Erik was cared for by many members of the same staff that were responsibile for him and his brothers when they were children. However, his family visited him very rarely in Djursholm. Every two weeks, he was allowed a trip to the capital, during which he sometimes could be seen visiting the opera, and these were the only times he was seen in public except for official photographs.
In 1917, he complained about having to live in such isolation, and it was decided that he should have a new residence closer to Stockholm. However, he died the next year of the Spanish flu at Drottningholm Palace. His parents were not present when he died which, according to official memoirs, caused his father great sorrow in later years. His mother, who herself had poor health and spent parts of the year in Italy, was abroad at the time. Reportedly his brothers felt sorry for him but said that his death perhaps was for the best to end such a pointless existence.
His former residence on Germaniavägen in Djursholm has been in private ownership since the 1960s and today (2011) is the private residence of South Africa's ambassador to Sweden.
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
, 20 April 1889 – Drottningholm
Drottningholm
Drottningholm, literally "Queen's Islet", is a locality situated in Ekerö Municipality, Stockholm County, Sweden, with 410 inhabitants in 2005....
, 20 September 1918), was a Swedish prince and Duke of Västmanland
Västmanland
' is a historical Swedish province, or landskap, in middle Sweden. It borders Södermanland, Närke, Värmland, Dalarna and Uppland.The name comes from "West men", referring to the people west of Uppland, the core province of early Sweden.- Administration :...
. He was the third and youngest son of King Gustav V of Sweden and his queen, Victoria of Baden
Victoria of Baden
Victoria of Baden was a Queen consort of Sweden by her marriage to King Gustaf V of Sweden. She was politically active in a conservative fashion during the development of democracy and known as a pro-German during the First World War.-Birth:Princess Viktoria was born on 7 August 1862 at the castle...
. In 1904, Prince Erik was appointed a Knight of the Norwegian Lion
Order of the Norwegian Lion
The Order of the Norwegian Lion was a Norwegian order of knighthood established by King Oscar II of Norway on 21 January 1904, "in memory of the glorious events associated with Norway’s venerable Coat of Arms"....
by his paternal grandfather, King Oscar II
Oscar II of Sweden
Oscar II , baptised Oscar Fredrik was King of Sweden from 1872 until his death and King of Norway from 1872 until 1905. The third son of King Oscar I of Sweden and Josephine of Leuchtenberg, he was a descendant of Gustav I of Sweden through his mother.-Early life:At his birth in Stockholm, Oscar...
.
Biography
Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a common chronic neurological disorder characterized by seizures. These seizures are transient signs and/or symptoms of abnormal, excessive or hypersynchronous neuronal activity in the brain.About 50 million people worldwide have epilepsy, and nearly two out of every three new cases...
and mild mental retardation
Mental retardation
Mental retardation is a generalized disorder appearing before adulthood, characterized by significantly impaired cognitive functioning and deficits in two or more adaptive behaviors...
. His exact condition has not been published, but he may have suffered an injury at birth. He was described as handsome and physically healthy and interested in sports. His mental disability was not noticeable in brief conversation, but would become apparent if someone tried to talk with him longer than that.
Because of his condition, he was seldom seen in public and led a quiet life away from the public eye, similar to the life of Prince John of the United Kingdom
Prince John of the United Kingdom
The Prince John was a member of the British Royal Family, the youngest son of King George V and Queen Mary. The Prince had epilepsy and consequently was largely hidden from the public eye.-Early life:...
. Because he was a member of the royal family, he was present in official royal photographs, but he had no official tasks. In 1907-1909, a residence was built for him away from the public eye in Djursholm
Djursholm
Djursholm is one of four suburban districts in, and the seat of Danderyd Municipality, Stockholm County, Sweden. Djursholm is included in the multi-municipal Stockholm urban area.-History:...
, a relatively new garden community north of Stockholm.
Erik was cared for by many members of the same staff that were responsibile for him and his brothers when they were children. However, his family visited him very rarely in Djursholm. Every two weeks, he was allowed a trip to the capital, during which he sometimes could be seen visiting the opera, and these were the only times he was seen in public except for official photographs.
In 1917, he complained about having to live in such isolation, and it was decided that he should have a new residence closer to Stockholm. However, he died the next year of the Spanish flu at Drottningholm Palace. His parents were not present when he died which, according to official memoirs, caused his father great sorrow in later years. His mother, who herself had poor health and spent parts of the year in Italy, was abroad at the time. Reportedly his brothers felt sorry for him but said that his death perhaps was for the best to end such a pointless existence.
His former residence on Germaniavägen in Djursholm has been in private ownership since the 1960s and today (2011) is the private residence of South Africa's ambassador to Sweden.