Svantepolk of Viby
Encyclopedia
Svantepolk Knutsson Lord of Viby in Östergötland
, was a Scandinavian magnate
.
Svantepolk's father was Canute, Duke of Revalia, a bastard son of king Valdemar II of Denmark
with a high-born Swedish lady Helena, daughter of Earl Guttorm. His mother had been a Pomeranian lady whose first name and precise origin is not known to us, but who is indicated to have come from the ducal family of Pomerelia.
Svantepolk's brother was Eric, Duke of Halland who died in 1304.
Svantepolk settled in Sweden in the mid-13th century. His wife was Benedikte of Ymseborg, daughter of (Earl) Sune Folkesson, a grandson of earl Birger Brosa
. Benedikte's mother was Helena Sverkersdotter, the daughter of king Sverker II of Sweden
and his first wife Benedikte Ebbesdatter of the Galen family of Denmark. Benedikte's elder sister Catherine of Ymseborg
was wife of king Eric XI of Sweden
(1216–50), so Svantepolk was the late king's brother-in-law.
Svantepolk became the justiciar
of Östergötland
and a wealthy and remarkable feudal lord in Sweden. His son Knut presumably died childless.
Svantepolk and Benedikte's daughters married lords of Swedish high nobility and became ancestresses of several Swedish noble families, substantial dowries following. Lord Svantepolk, with royal ancestry and rights to ducal dignity of Halland and Revalia, was a valued ancestor, well-remembered in his noble Swedish descendants' pedigrees and family lore. The name Svante
, a shortened version of Svantepolk, was given to many Swedish descendants.
Östergötland
Östergötland, English exonym: East Gothland, is one of the traditional provinces of Sweden in the south of Sweden. It borders Småland, Västergötland, Närke, Södermanland, and the Baltic Sea. In older English literature, one might also encounter the Latinized version, Ostrogothia...
, was a Scandinavian magnate
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...
.
Svantepolk's father was Canute, Duke of Revalia, a bastard son of king Valdemar II of Denmark
Valdemar II of Denmark
Valdemar II , called Valdemar the Victorious or Valdemar the Conqueror , was the King of Denmark from 1202 until his death in 1241. The nickname Sejr is a later invention and was not used during the King's own lifetime...
with a high-born Swedish lady Helena, daughter of Earl Guttorm. His mother had been a Pomeranian lady whose first name and precise origin is not known to us, but who is indicated to have come from the ducal family of Pomerelia.
Svantepolk's brother was Eric, Duke of Halland who died in 1304.
Svantepolk settled in Sweden in the mid-13th century. His wife was Benedikte of Ymseborg, daughter of (Earl) Sune Folkesson, a grandson of earl 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...
. Benedikte's mother was Helena Sverkersdotter, the daughter of king Sverker II of Sweden
Sverker II of Sweden
Sverker II was King of Sweden from 1196 to 1208.-Biography:...
and his first wife Benedikte Ebbesdatter of the Galen family of Denmark. Benedikte's elder sister Catherine of Ymseborg
Catherine of Ymseborg
-Succession:...
was wife of king Eric XI of Sweden
Eric XI of Sweden
Eric "XI" of Sweden, or Eric the Lisp and Lame Swedish: Erik Eriksson läspe och halte; Old Norse: Eiríkr Eiríksson was king of Sweden in 1222–1229 and 1234–1250.-Background:...
(1216–50), so Svantepolk was the late king's brother-in-law.
Svantepolk became the justiciar
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 Östergötland
Östergötland
Östergötland, English exonym: East Gothland, is one of the traditional provinces of Sweden in the south of Sweden. It borders Småland, Västergötland, Närke, Södermanland, and the Baltic Sea. In older English literature, one might also encounter the Latinized version, Ostrogothia...
and a wealthy and remarkable feudal lord in Sweden. His son Knut presumably died childless.
Svantepolk and Benedikte's daughters married lords of Swedish high nobility and became ancestresses of several Swedish noble families, substantial dowries following. Lord Svantepolk, with royal ancestry and rights to ducal dignity of Halland and Revalia, was a valued ancestor, well-remembered in his noble Swedish descendants' pedigrees and family lore. The name Svante
Svante
Svante is a Swedish first name for males.It originates from Slavic ancestors of first prominent Svantes in Sweden. The Slavic languages have the name which is rendered as Sviatopolk in Russian, Świętopełk in Polish and Svätopluk in Czech and Slovakian...
, a shortened version of Svantepolk, was given to many Swedish descendants.