Eric XII of Sweden

Co-Ruler of Sweden from 1356 until 1359

Eric XII

The seal of King Erik Magnusson.

Born| Early 1339
Died| 20 June 1359 (aged 20)
Spouse| Beatrix of Bavaria
House| Bjälbo
Father| Magnus Eriksson
Mother| Blanche of Namur

Eric XII[a] (Swedish: Erik Magnusson; 1339 – 20 June 1359) was King of Sweden and lord of Scania in 1344–1359. He was a co-ruler with his father, King Magnus Eriksson, from 1356 until his death in 1359.[1]

## Early life

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Erik was born in early 1339 as the eldest son of King Magnus Eriksson (1316–1374) who ruled both Sweden and Norway.[1] When Magnus' second son, Haakon, was born the following year, Magnus decided to divide the kingdoms between his sons. Erik was designated to succeed his father as King of Sweden, while Haakon would become King of Norway during his father's lifetime.[1] Although, by Norwegian law, Erik was the rightful heir to the Norwegian throne, the Norwegian Council of the Realm agreed to this arrangement in 1343. In 6 December 1344, Erik was formally elected King of Sweden at the Stones of Mora.[1]

## Marriage

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In 1342, Magnus' brother-in-law, Duke Albrecht of Mecklenburg, approached Holy Roman Emperor Louis IV to propose a union between Erik and Beatrix, the daughter of Louis IV's eldest son, Louis V of Brandenburg, and his first wife, Margrete, daughter of King Christopher II of Denmark. The marriage aligned with Magnus' strategic interests, as Beatrix's dynastic claims could strengthen his position in the ongoing conflicts with King Valdemar Atterdag of Denmark. Additionally, the union could also advance Magnus' ambitions in Estonia, which Valdemar had nominally ceded to Louis as compensation for Margrete's unpaid dowry. However, both Emperor Louis IV and Louis V of Brandenburg had been excommunicated by the Catholic Church, and Magnus had to petition Pope Clement VI regarding the marriage arrangement, as noted in a letter from the pope to the king in 1347.[1]

The exact date of the wedding is unknown. Beatrix is believed to have been around the same age as Erik, and one of Saint Birgitta's revelations indicates that the marriage took place while she was still a minor. Some sources suggest that the wedding occurred as early as 1346, but the only certainty is that it took place before 25 October 1356.[1]

## Rebellion and death

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In 1355, Haakon was declared of age, and after that, he was the sovereign ruler of Norway, although his father's influence remained significant.[2] In contrast, Erik held no power while his father continued to reign as King of Sweden.

In 1357, a Swedish rebellion forced King Magnus to share the rule of Sweden with his son Erik, who was allowed domain over most of Scania and Finland. Joint rule of Sweden was established again in 1359 when father and son became reconciled and co-ruled Sweden until Eric's death a few months later. Quite soon after his death his wife, Beatrix, died as well. It is generally believed that they both died of the Black Death.

## Notes

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1. ^ Referring to Erik Magnusson as King Eric XII is a later invention, counting backwards from Eric XIV (1560–68). He and his brother Charles IX (1604–1611) adopted numerals according to a fictitious history of Sweden. The number of Swedish monarchs named Eric before Eric XIV (at least seven) is unknown, going back into prehistory. It would be speculative to try to affix a mathematically accurate one to this king.

## References

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1. ^ a b c d e f "Erik Magnusson". Svenskt biografiskt lexikon. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
2. ^ Suvanto, Seppo (2000). "Håkan Maununpoika". Kansallisbiografia. Retrieved 2024-09-22.

Erik Magnusson

House of Bjälbo

Born: 1339 Died: 1359

Regnal titles
Preceded by

Magnus Eriksson

as sole king  |  King of Sweden
1356–1359
with Magnus Eriksson | Succeeded by

Magnus Eriksson

as sole king

* v
* t
* e

Monarchs of Sweden

Munsö|

| c. 970 – c. 1060|

* Eric "VII"
* Olof Skötkonung
* Anund Jacob
* Emund the Old

|

Stenkil|

| c. 1060 – c. 1130
1160–1161|

* Stenkil
* Eric and Eric
* Halsten
* Anund Gårdske
* Håkan the Red
* Halsten / Inge the Elder
* Blot-Sweyn
* Inge the Elder
* Philip / Inge the Younger
* Ragnvald Knaphövde
* Magnus I (House of Estridsen, descendant of Inge the Elder)

|

Sverker * Eric|

| c. 1130 – 1250|

* Sverker the Elder
* Eric "IX" the Holy
* Magnus II (House of Estridsen, descendant of Inge the Elder)
* Charles VII
* Kol / Boleslaw
* Knut Eriksson
* Sverker the Younger
* Eric "X"
* John I
* Eric "XI"
* Knut Långe 1
* Eric "XI"

|

Bjälbo|

| 1250–1364|

* Valdemar
* Magnus III
* Birger
* Magnus IV2
* Eric "XII"
* Magnus IV / Haakon2

|

Mecklenburg|

| 1364–1389|

* Albert

|

Kalmar Union

Italics indicate
regents

| 1389–1523|

* Margaret3 (House of Estridsen) / Eric XIII3 (House of Griffins)
* Eric XIII3 (House of Griffins)
* Charles (VIII)
* Eric XIII3 (House of Griffins)
* Charles (VIII)
* Christopher of Bavaria3 (House of Wittelsbach)
* Bengt Jönsson (Oxenstierna) / Nils Jönsson (Oxenstierna)
* Charles VIII2 (House of Bonde)
* Jöns Bengtsson Oxenstierna / Erik Axelsson Tott
* Christian I3 (House of Oldenburg)
* Kettil Karlsson (Vasa)
* Charles VIII (House of Bonde)
* Kettil Karlsson (Vasa)
* Jöns Bengtsson Oxenstierna
* Erik Axelsson Tott
* Charles VIII (House of Bonde)
* Sten Sture the Elder
* John II3 (House of Oldenburg)
* Sten Sture the Elder
* Svante Nilsson
* Erik Trolle
* Sten Sture the Younger
* Christian II3 (House of Oldenburg)
* Gustav (I)

|

Vasa|

| 1523–1654|

* Gustav I
* Eric XIV
* John III
* Sigismund4
* Charles IX
* Gustav II Adolf
* Christina

|

Palatinate-
Zweibrücken (Wittelsbach)
Hesse-Kassel|

| 1654–1751|

* Charles X Gustav
* Charles XI
* Charles XII
* Ulrika Eleonora
* Frederick I

|

Holstein-Gottorp (Oldenburg)|

| 1751–1818|

* Adolf Frederick
* Gustav III
* Gustav IV Adolf
* Charles XIII2

|

Bernadotte|

| since 1818|

* Charles XIV John2
* Oscar I2
* Charles XV2
* Oscar II2
* Gustaf V
* Gustaf VI Adolf
* Carl XVI Gustaf

|

* 1 Lineage uncertain
* 2 Also Norwegian monarch
* 3 Also Norwegian and Danish monarch
* 4 Also king of Poland

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*[c.]: circa