(c. 1200^[1] 21 October 1266^[2]), 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.^[3] Birger also led the Second Swedish Crusade, which established Swedish rule in Finland. Additionally, he is traditionally attributed to have founded the Swedish capital, Stockholm around 1250. Birger used the Latin title of Dux Sweorum which in English equals Duke of Sweden, and the design of his coronet combined those used by continental European and English dukes.^[4]

Biography

Early life

It is known that Birger grew up and spent his adolescence in Bj lbo, sterg tland but the exact date of his birth remains uncertain and available historical sources are contradictory. Examinations of his mortal remains indicate that he was probably about 50 upon his death in 1266 which would indicate a birth around 1216. However, his father Magnus Minnesk ld is assumed to have died no later than 1210, which would lead to an assumed birth a few years earlier. Under any circumstance, he was the son of Ingrid Ylva, who according to Olaus Petri was a daughter of Sune Sik and granddaughter to Sverker the Elder, which would make Birger a matrilineal member of the House of Sverker. His brothers or half-brothers Eskil, Karl, and Bengt were all born long before 1200, and it can therefore be assumed that they had another mother. He was also a nephew of the jarl Birger Brosa from the House of Bjelbo. The combination of this background proved to be of vital importance.^[5][6]

Birger, thus most likely born at the time for the Battle of Gestilren in 1210 and named after Birger Brosa, one of the most potent men of the era who died in 1202, started his career in the mid 1230s by marrying Ingeborg Eriksdotter, the sister of King Eric XI of Sweden according to the Eric's Chronicle (Erikskr nikan) in fierce rivalry with other suitors.^[6]

During the 15 years to follow, Birger then consolidated his position and was probably one of the most influential men years before being formally given the title jarl in 1248 by King Eric XI. Birger was later claimed to have been responsible for a military campaign against the Novgorod Republic that Russians claim ended in a defeat by Alexander Nevsky during a battle the Russians refer to as Neva Battle in 1240. While Swedish, German, Finnish, Baltic and other sources have no information on the battle at all, a 16th century Russian legend tells that the Swedish "king" was wounded in the face while dueling against Prince Alexander Nevsky himself.

Although Birger Jarl saw many battles, some have speculated that traces of a sword blow in Birger's cranium might have originated from this battle (or any of the many others).^[7] However, the original 14th century Russian version of the battle had no information on this at all.^[8]

Career

Coat of arms of Birger jarl

Fantasy statue of Birger jarl in Stockholm

In 1247, royal troops led by Birger at the Battle of Sparrs tra (Slaget vid Sparrs tra) fought with Folkung forces led by pretender Holmger Knutsson, son of King Canute II. Folkungs lost the battle thus crushing resistance to the central government and taxes. Holmger Knutsson fled to G strikland and was captured there by Birger in the following year. Quickly brought to trial, he was beheaded.

In 1249, Birger succeeded in ending a decades-long period of hostilities with Norway. As a part of the Treaty of L d se, he also managed to marry off his daughter Rikissa, then only 11-years old, to Haakon Haakonsson the Young, the eldest son of King Haakon IV of Norway. Presumably later that year, Birger led an expedition to Finland, later dubbed as the Second Swedish Crusade, which permanently established the Swedish rule in Finland. On King Eric's death in 1250, Birger's son Valdemar was elected as the new king while Birger acted as regent, holding the true power in Sweden until his death.^[10]

In 1252, a year after another victory over the folkungs at the Battle of Herrevadsbro (Slaget vid Herrevadsbro), Birger wrote two carefully dated letters, the first mention of Stockholm interpreted as the foundation of the city or at least some sort of special interest in the location. Neither of the letters give a description of the location, however, and while archaeological traces of older defensive structures have been found there, what did exist on the premises before the mid 13th century remains debated. It has been suggested Birger chose the location for several reasons: Partly to curb domestic magnates by isolating them with a "lock of Lake M laren", offering a defense to the lands around M laren from invading enemies in the process; and to create a commercial bridgehead to attract German merchants. While Birger's direct involvement in the foundation of the city remains speculative, it probably was no accident it was founded on the location at this time, as there were alternative passages into M laren during the preceding Viking Era; as Crusades, a kind of Viking raids in a Christian disguise, had proven increasingly unsuccessful; and as taking control over the location, traditionally where men supposedly gathered before the ledung, meant old offensive military traditions could be replaced by more "modern" commercial efforts directed towards L beck. Birger thus combined financial support from Germany with papal political support to consolidate his own position.^[11]

Grave of Birger jarl, his wife Matilda and Birger's son Duke Eric.

Late life

Ingeborg died in 1254 and in 1261 Birger married the widow of King Abel of Denmark, the Danish queen dowager, Matilda of Holstein. Birger died on 21 October 1266, at J lbolung in V sterg tland. His grave in Varnhem Abbey was opened in May 2002.

There is a statue of the great duke in his own square Birger Jarls Torg next to Riddarholm Church in Stockholm, erected by Bengt Erland Fogelberg at the expense of the Over-Governor of Stockholm in 1854. There is a cenotaph for him at the base of the tower of Stockholm City Hall. It was originally intended that his remains be removed there, but this was never done. Several other historical structures there are also named for him including the street Birger Jarlsgatan on Norrmalm and the tower Birger Jarls Torn on Riddarholmen. The Hotel Birger Jarl is located in Stockholm's Norrmalm neighborhood. He is also the central figure of Br llopet p Ulv sa by Frans Hedberg (1865).

Children^[12]

Mother unknown

1. Gregers Birgersson

From marriage with Ingeborg Eriksdotter of Sweden

The marriage was contracted relatively near the time when Ingeborg's brother the once-deposed Eric XI returned from exile in Denmark in 1234.

1. Rikissa Birgersdotter, born 1238, married firstly 1251 Haakon Haakonson, co-king of Norway, and secondly, Henry I, Prince of Werle
2. Valdemar Birgersson, born c 1238, king of Sweden 1250 1275, lord of parts of Gothenland until 1278
3. Christina Birgersdotter, married presumably several times, one of her husbands was lord Sigge Guttormsson
4. Magnus Birgersson, born 1240, Duke (of S dermanland), then king of Sweden 1275-90
5. probably: Catherine of Sweden, born 1245, married Siegfried, Count of Anhalt
6. Eric Birgersson, born 1250, Duke (of Sm land)
7. probably: Ingeborg of Sweden, born ca. 1254, died 30 June 1302, married John I of Saxony, Duke of Lauenburg in 1270
8. Benedict, Duke of Finland, born 1254, bishop of Link ping

With Matilda of Holstein (doubtful)

1. Christine Birgersdotter

Also see

• Duchess of Sweden

Ancestry

References

Bibliography

External links

• Birger Magnusson Genealogy

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