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Knut Eriksson

2025-09-23T16:39:05Z

2405:9800:B661:5A66:BD1F:35A3:A6BE:C5C:

{{Short description|King of Sweden from 1173 to 1195}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name = Knut Eriksson
| image = Canute I of Sweden c 1290.jpg
| caption = Knut Eriksson (Canute I) depicted at Old Dädesjö Church, {{circa|1290}}
| succession = [[King of Sweden]]
| reign = 1173–1195/96
| coronation =
| predecessor = [[Karl Sverkersson]]
| successor = [[Sverker Karlsson]]
| full name = {{langx|sv|Knut Eriksson}} <br/> {{langx|non|Knútr Eiríksson}}
| birth_date = Before 1150
| death_date = 1195/96
| house = [[House of Erik|Erik]]
| father = [[Saint Erik]]
| mother = [[Christina Bjørnsdatter]]
| spouse = [[Cecilia Johansdotter]] ''(traditionally)''
| issue = [[Erik Knutsson]]
| issue-link = #Family
| issue-pipe = more...
}}
[[File:Coin of Canute I of Sweden c. 1180.jpg|thumb|Coin of King Knut Eriksson]]
'''Knut Eriksson''' ({{langx|non|Knútr Eiríksson}}; born before 1150 – died 1195/96), also known as '''Canute I''', was [[King of Sweden]] from 1173 until his death (rival king since 1167).{{sfn|Line|2007|pp=94–95}} He was a son of King [[Erik the Saint]] and Queen [[Christina Bjørnsdatter|Christina]], who was a granddaughter of the Swedish king [[Inge the Elder]].

==Youth and ascension==

Knut was born no later than the 1140s, thus before his father had yet gained power over parts of Sweden. As a young man he was betrothed to a lady, sister of another Knut. Her name is not revealed, but her equal could supposedly not be found in the land. When Erik the Saint was killed in [[Uppsala]] in 1160, Knut was defeated and forced to flee, while his fiancée hid in a monastery for reasons of safety. According to late medieval sources he lived in exile in [[Norway]] for three years, a piece of information that is highly unreliable. He later returned to reclaim the throne. The killer of his father, [[Magnus Henriksen]], was slain in 1161 by another pretender, [[Karl Sverkersson]], who took the throne and resided in [[Näs Castle]] at the southern point of [[Visingsö]], an island in Lake [[Vättern]]. Knut came over and slew Karl on 12 April 1167. The sources do not allow us to tell if it was a regicide or if Karl was killed in battle. The deed did not immediately secure the throne for Knut, who started fighting for power against [[Sverker I of Sweden|Sverker the Elder]]'s sons or grandsons [[Kol Sverkerson|Kol]] and [[Burislev]]. As the chronicle states, "he fought many battles against Sweden and had the victory in them all, and had great effort before he gained Sweden with peace."<ref>Larsson, ''Götarnas riken'', p. 185.</ref> According to later sources Kol fell in fighting at [[Bjälbo]] in 1169, while Burislev underwent the same fate in about 1172–73. Only from this time could Knut call himself king of the whole country. According to the short chronicle included in the [[Västgötalagen|''Västgöta Law'']], he ruled as a good king for 23 years after his victories.<ref>Gillingstam, "Knut Eriksson".</ref>

==Rule==

After 1174, Knut was ably supported in his rule by the [[Jarl in Sweden|jarl]] (earl) [[Birger Brosa]] who died in 1202. In many ways, the long reign of Knut brought Sweden closer to a Catholic-European state model. The power of the king was consolidated, concomitantly with an emerging central bureaucracy where the written word was increasingly important.<ref>Larsson, ''Svenska medeltidsbrev'', p. 26.</ref> The issuing of royal written documents began at this time; nine such are preserved, mostly dealing with the affairs of the monastery of Viby at [[Sigtuna]]. There had not been any coinage in Sweden from about 1030 to 1150, when minting once again started in [[Lödöse]]. King Knut supported the initiative and issued royal coins after c. 1180 with the inscription KANVTVS REX or KANVTVS.<ref>Harrison, ''Sveriges historia 600-1350'', p. 212, 274-6.</ref> The coins are of German type, and minting may be connected to Knut's relationship with North Germany. Some time before 1180 he concluded a commercial treaty with [[Henry the Lion]] of [[Saxony]]. It is the first such treaty in Swedish history and may indicate the emergence of towns. He also sent three envoys to [[Henry II of England]] in c. 1185 and received pieces of armour in return.

==Relations with Scandinavian and Baltic neighbours==

Within [[Scandinavia]], Knut and his jarl Birger Brosa entertained good relations with the [[Norwegian people|Norwegian]] king [[Sverre of Norway|Sverre]], who married the sister of the king, [[Margaret of Sweden, Queen of Norway|Margareta]]. The pretender [[Erling Steinvegg]], who was the enemy of Sverre, was arrested by Knut on behalf of his brother-in-law and imprisoned on Visingsö. On the other hand, relations with [[Denmark]] were rocky. Danish rebels found refuge in Sweden in 1176 and 1191, and in 1182 Knut and Birger Brosa supported the pretender Harald Skraeng who fomented a rising in [[Skåne]] but was defeated by the Danish royal troops.

During his reign Knut was reportedly occupied fighting pagans for the sake of dissemination of the Christian faith. A fleet of pagan [[Karelians]] entered Lake [[Mälaren]] in 1187 and ravaged the coasts. The [[Pillage of Sigtuna|marauders burned Sigtuna]] and killed Archbishop [[Johan (archbishop of Uppsala, died 1187)|Johannes]] at [[Almarestäket]]. It seems that Knut built a defensive tower on the island of [[Stockholm]] after this event, one of many such fortifications made necessary by heathen incursions from the [[Baltic lands]]. Other such towers were constructed in Skå, [[Stegeborg Castle|Stegeborg]], Stenså, [[Kalmar]], Strömsrum and [[Borgholm]]. Immediately after the attack, a sea-borne expedition to the east was organized. The chronicles of [[Novgorod]] report that [[Varangians|Varyags]] and "Germans" from [[Gotland]] attacked its territory in 1188. The Nordic attackers won victories at Khoruzhka and Novotorzhek and stayed over winter. In the next spring they were defeated by the Novgorodians, however.<ref>Sundberg, ''Medeltidens svenska krig'', p. 45.</ref> Birger Brosa seems to have led another fleet of [[German people|Germans]] and men from [[Gotland]] across the [[Baltic Sea]] in the 1190s - either before or after Knut's death. The expedition was aimed for [[Curland]] but was driven to the coast of eastern [[Estonia]] whose inhabitants were defeated and forced to pay tribute.<ref>Gillingstam, "Knut Eriksson".</ref>

''[[Skáldatal]]'' names two of King Knut's [[skald]]s: [[Hallbjörn hali]] and [[Þorsteinn Þorbjarnarson]].

==Death and succession==
[[File:Canute I of Sweden grave 2009.jpg|thumb|The tomb of Knut Eriksson in Varnhem Abbey]]
Knut Eriksson died in [[Eriksberg, Gothenburg|Eriksberg]] in [[Västergötland]], either in the autumn of 1195 or on 8 April 1196.<ref>Larsson, ''Götarnas riken'', p. 185.</ref> On balance he was the first successful ruler of Sweden for a long time, being the first king since [[Philip of Sweden|Philip]] (d. 1118) to die a natural death. He was buried in [[Varnhem Abbey]]. His sons were reportedly grown up at his demise, but he was nevertheless succeeded by [[Sverker II of Sweden|Sverker Karlsson]], son of his former rival Karl Sverkersson. The [[House of Sverker]] had sufficient support among the church and grandees to regain power, apparently without shedding blood.<ref>Harrison, ''Sveriges historia 600-1350'', p, 213.</ref>

== Family ==

Knut married his cloistered fiancée after his ascension to power. The name of his wife is unknown but sometimes taken to be [[Cecilia Johansdotter]]. She gave birth to several children of which one was appointed heir to the throne with the consent of the grandees of the kingdom. At a later time she became seriously ill. In her agony she promised before God to observe celibacy if she recovered. Knut agreed in order to console her. In fact she survived and entered a monastery. However, Knut wrote a letter to [[Pope Celestine III]] in 1193, asking to be allowed to take up married life. The reason was that he must cooperate with his wife's relative to fight the pagans, and evade the libel of his enemies.<ref>Gillingstam, "Knut Eriksson".</ref> The outcome of his request is not clear.

With his wife, Knut had four sons. Three were slain in November 1205 at [[Battle of Älgarås]].<ref>Lagerqvist & Åberg p. 19</ref> The fourth was [[Erik Knutsson]], who would defeat [[Sverker Karlsson]] and become [[List of Swedish monarchs|King of Sweden]] in 1208.

They are said to have had a daughter, whose name was possibly Sigrid or Karin, and who is said to have married either jarl Knut Birgersson (and become mother of Magnus Broka), or married Magnus Broka himself (and with Magnus had a son Knut Magnusson, or, Knut Katarinason, claimant of Swedish throne and killed in 1251). Existence of this daughter is based on unclear mentions in old saga and chronicle material, especially the Norwegian [[Hákonar saga Hákonarsonar]]. It is to an extent accepted in research literature, to explicate Knut Magnusson's hereditary claim to the throne. This daughter was by necessity born in the 1170s or 1180s. She is also proposed by old romantical-looking genealogies as mother of a Duke's daughter Cecilia Knutsdotter (by necessity born near 1208 at earliest), whose parentage however is fully shrouded in mists of history.{{Cn|date=January 2025}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Literature ==
* Gillingstam, Hans. "Knut Eriksson", ''Svenskt biografiskt lexikon'', https://sok.riksarkivet.se/Sbl/Presentation.aspx?id=11661
* Harrison, Dick, ''Sveriges historia 600-1350''. Stockholm: Norstedts, 2009.
* Lagerqvist Lars O., Åberg Nils. ''Kings and Rulers of Sweden''. Vincent Publications, 2002 ({{ISBN|91-87064-35-9}}).
* Larsson, Inger. ''Svenska medeltidsbrev; framväxten av ett offentligt skriftspråk''. Stockholm: Norstedts ({{ISBN|91-1-301125-1}}).
* Larsson, Mats G., ''Götarnas riken; Upptäcktsfärder till Sveriges enande''. Stockholm: Atlantis, 2002.
* Liljegren, Bengt. ''Rulers of Sweden''. Historiska Media, 2004 ({{ISBN|91-85057-63-0}}).
* {{cite book |last1=Line |first1=Philip |title=Kingship and State Formation in Sweden: 1130 - 1290 |date=2007 |publisher=BRILL |isbn=978-90-04-15578-7 |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Kingship_and_State_Formation_in_Sweden/du4gbrqq-xQC?hl=en&gbpv=0 |language=en}}
* Sundberg, Ulf, ''Medeltidens svenska krig''. Stockholm: Hjalmarson & Högberg, 1999 ({{ISBN|91-89080-26-2}}).

==External links==
*{{Commons category-inline}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-hou|[[House of Erik]]||||1196|name=Knut Eriksson}}
{{s-reg}}
{{s-bef
| before = [[Karl Sverkersson]]
}}
{{s-ttl
| title = [[List of Swedish monarchs|King of Sweden]]
| years = 1167–1196
}}
{{s-aft
| after = [[Sverker Karlsson]]
}}
{{s-end}}
{{Monarchs of Sweden}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:12th-century Swedish monarchs]]
[[Category:House of Erik]]
[[Category:1190s deaths]]
[[Category:Year of birth uncertain]]
[[Category:Year of death uncertain]]
[[Category:12th-century births]]
[[Category:Burials at Varnhem Abbey]]
[[Category:Sons of kings]]

Sverker the Younger

2025-09-23T16:28:55Z

2405:9800:B661:5A66:BD1F:35A3:A6BE:C5C: the coin is better for lead image

{{Short description|King of Sweden from 1195 to 1208}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox royalty|
| name = Sverker the Younger
| image = Coin of Sweartgar II of Sweden c. 1200.jpg
| caption = Coin of King Sverker, {{circa|1200}}
| reign = 1195–1208
| coronation =
| full name =
| succession = [[King of Sweden]]
| predecessor = [[Knut Eriksson]]
| successor = [[Erik Knutsson]]
| house = [[House of Sverker|Sverker]]
| father = [[Karl Sverkersson]]
| mother = [[Christina Hvide]]
| spouses = [[Benedicta Ebbesdatter]]<br />[[Ingegerd Birgersdotter]]
| issue = [[Helen of Sweden (13th century)|Helena Sverkersdotter]]<br />[[Johan Sverkersson]]
| birth_date = before 1167
| birth_place =
| death_date = 17 July 1210
| death_place = [[Battle of Gestilren]]
}}

'''Sverker the Younger'''{{Efn|{{langx|sv|Sverker den yngre}}}} (before 1167 – 17 July 1210), also known as '''Sverker II''' or '''Sverker Karlsson''', was [[King of Sweden]] from 1195 or 1196 to 1208 when he was defeated in the [[Battle of Lena]] by [[Erik Knutsson]].<ref>{{Citation|last=Lindkvist|first=Thomas|title=The Emergence of Sweden|date=2008|url=https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9780203412770-61/emergence-sweden-thomas-lindkvist|work=The Viking World|pages=692–698|publisher=Routledge|doi=10.4324/9780203412770-61|isbn=978-0-203-41277-0|url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>[http://www.notisa.com/kungahuset2.html''Sverker d.y. Karlsson. Sverker the younger Karlsson'' (Svenska regenter.Soverings of Sweden)]</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.royalcourt.se/royalcourt/themonarchytheroyalcourt/theswedishmonarchy/themonarchyinsweden/themonarchsofsweden.4.396160511584257f2180005932.html |publisher=[[Royal Court of Sweden]] |title=Kings and Queens of Sweden – A thousand year succession |access-date=28 November 2017}}</ref> Sverker died in the 1210 [[Battle of Gestilren]] where his forces battled those of King Erik Knutsson.

==Early life==
Sverker was a son of King [[Karl Sverkersson]] of Sweden and Queen [[Christina Hvide]],<ref>{{cite book | last=Demitz | first=Jacob Truedson | title=Centuries of Selfies: Portraits commissioned by Swedish kings and queens| publisher=Vulkan Förlag | publication-place=Stockholm; New York | date=2020 | isbn=978-91-89179-63-9 | others=Preface by [[Ulf Sundberg]]|title-link=Centuries of Selfies|pages=102}}</ref> a Danish noblewoman. Through his mother, he was a first cousin once removed of the Danish kings [[Canute VI]] and [[Valdemar Sejr]]. His parents' marriage has been dated to 1162 or more probably 1163.<ref>Gillingstam, "Karl Sverkersson".</ref>

When his father Karl had been murdered in [[Visingsö]] in 1167, apparently by minions of the next king [[Knut Eriksson]], Sverker was taken to [[Denmark]] while a boy and grew up with his mother's clan of [[Hvide]], leaders of [[Zealand (Denmark)|Zealand]]. Sverker also allied himself with the Galen clan leaders in [[Skåne]] who were close to the Hvide, by marriage through lady [[Benedicta Ebbesdatter]]. The Danish king supported him as claimant to Sweden, thus helping to destabilize the neighboring country. The troubled Danish-Swedish relations at this time can be seen from attempts by Knut Eriksson and his jarl [[Birger Brosa]] to support rebels against [[Valdemar I of Denmark|Valdemar I]] and [[Canute VI of Denmark|Canute VI]].<ref>Gillingstam, "Knut Eriksson".</ref>

When King [[Knut Eriksson]] died in 1195 or 1196, his sons were young but not children.<ref>Gillingstam, "Knut Eriksson", referring to a papal letter from 1208 which indicates that the four sons were not considered under-age at the time of their father's demise.</ref> One of them had been appointed heir to the throne, but was passed over. Sverker was chosen as the next king of Sweden, surprisingly without quarrel. At some point he had returned to his native country, however being regarded quite Danish. His uncontested election probably owed much to Jarl [[Birger Brosa]] whose daughter, [[Ingegerd Birgersdotter|Ingegerd]], Sverker married soon after his first wife had died.<ref>Harrison, ''Sveriges historia; medeltiden'', p. 106.</ref> In his own letters he emphasized his birth-right to kingship: "son of King Karl, King of the Swedes, possessor of the throne of the same kingdom according to hereditary right by the grace of God".<ref>Lönnroth, ''Från svensk medeltid'', p. 19.</ref>

==Reign==
King Sverker confirmed and enlarged privileges for the Swedish church and [[Valerius (archbishop of Uppsala)|Valerius]], the [[Archbishop of Uppsala]]. The privilege document of 1200 is the oldest known [[ecclesiastical privilege]] in Sweden. ''[[Skáldatal]]'' names two of Sverker's court [[skald]]s: [[Sumarliði skáld]] and [[Þorgeirr Danaskáld]]. In 1202 Earl Birger died and the late jarl's grandson, Sverker's one-year-old son John received the title of [[Swedish jarls|Jarl]] from his father. This was intended to strengthen him as heir of the crown, but led to much ridicule.

Desultory warfare with the peoples east of the [[Baltic Sea]] continued during Sverker's reign. Birger Brosa undertook a sea-borne expedition that ended up in [[Virumaa|Wierland]] in eastern [[Estonia]], either before or after Sverker's accession. A certain ''Dux'' John (Johannes) flourished in the early 13th century; according his grave inscription, he was the "terror of the pagans". He may be identified with a Jon Jarl who, according to later tradition, fought the [[Russian people|Russians]] and [[Ingrian Finns|Ingrians]] for nine years, but was killed at Askanäs by Lake [[Mälaren]] by [[Karelia]]n pirates, immediately after his return. His widow supposedly gathered levies which killed the marauders at Estaskär. It has been suggested that this took place in 1206. In general, [[Estonian people|Estonian]] and [[Curonians|Curonian]] raiders constituted a problem for the coasts of Sweden and Denmark in this era.<ref>Gillingstam, "Jon jarl"; Sundberg, ''Medeltidens svenska krig'', p. 46.</ref>

==Civil war==
Around 1203, Knut's four sons, who had lived in Swedish royal court, began to claim the throne and Sverker exiled them to [[Norway]]. His position as king became insecure from this point forward. The sons of Knut returned with troops in 1205, supported by the Norwegian party of [[Birkebeiner]]. Sverker, however, attacked and defeated them in the [[Battle of Älgarås]] in [[Tiveden]], where three of the sons fell. The only survivor, Erik, returned with Norwegian support in 1208. Sverker sought assistance from his Danish kinsmen, and such was provided. Popular tradition speaks of 12,000 Danish auxiliary troops, which is likely a gross exaggeration.<ref>Sandblom, ''Gestilren 1210'', p. 9.</ref> The forces were commanded by Ebbe Sunesen, the father of his late first wife and brother of [[Andreas Sunesen]], [[Archbishop of Lund]]. Apart from the forces of the Sunesen brothers, King Valdemar Sejr contributed with troops, even including [[Bohemia]]n soldiers.<ref>Munch, ''Det norske Folks Historie'', III, p. 529.</ref> The opponents met in the [[Battle of Lena]] in [[Västergötland]], where Sverker was heavily defeated. Ebbe and his brother Lars were slain by the enemy together with a considerable part of their army. Sverker's jarl Knut seems to have been killed as well.<ref>Gillingstam, "Folkungaätten".</ref> King [[Erik Knutsson]] drove Sverker to exile to Denmark.

==Death==
[[Pope Innocent III|Pope Innocentius III's]] attempt to have the crown returned to Sverker did not succeed. Sverker made a new military expedition, with Danish support, to Sweden, but was defeated and killed in the [[Battle of Gestilren]] in July 1210.<ref>Harrison, ''Sveriges historia; medeltiden'', p. 106.</ref> The ancient sources state that "the [[Folkung]] [party] took his life". Responsible for the killing was his brother-in-law Folke Jarl, head of the Folkungs, who also succumbed in the battle.<ref>Larsson, ''Götarnas rike'', p. 185; ''Folke jarl'', https://sok.riksarkivet.se/Sbl/Presentation.aspx?id=14298.</ref> The site of the battle has engendered some discussion; while it is usually taken to have taken place in the parish of Varv in [[Västergötland]], Gästre in [[Uppland]] has also been suggested.<ref>Sandblom, ''Gestilren 1210''.</ref>

In spite of his hapless fate, Sverker II receives several kind words in the short chronicle included in the [[Västgötalagen|Västgöta Law]]: "The sixteenth [ruler] was King Sverker, a wise and good fellow; the kingdom fared well from him. But the Folkungs took his life; his own brother-in-law did that to him at Gestilren. He rests in [[Alvastra]], and the best things are always spoken about him".<ref>Larsson, ''Götarnas riken'', p. 185.</ref>

==Family==
With his first wife, the Danish noble [[Benedicta Ebbesdatter]] (Galen branch of the Hvide family), b. {{circa|1165/70}}, d. 1200), whom he married before 1190 when yet living in Denmark, Sverker had at least one well-attested daughter, [[Helena Sverkersdotter|Helena]]. There were possibly further children, such as Karl Sverkersson who according to Norwegian sources married a daughter of king [[Sverre of Norway]] and lost his life in 1198;<ref>Munch, ''Det norske Folks Historie'', III, p. 326.</ref> his position is however doubtful, and if he was King Sverker's son he died in adolescence at the latest. There were possibly even two other daughters, Margaret and Christina, married to Witzlav of [[Rügen]] and [[Henry Borwin II, Lord of Mecklenburg|Henry II, Lord of Mecklenburg]] ("Henry Borwin" in some later texts), respectively. The genealogical reconstruction is based on vague contemporary statements<ref>Gillingstam, "Utomnordiskt och nordiskt i de äldsta svenska dynastiska förbindelserna", p. 21.</ref> – however, Margaret and Christina may just have been Sverker's first wife's kinswomen.

The second marriage in 1200 with [[Ingegerd Birgersdotter|Ingegerd]], daughter of the [[Folkunge]] Jarl [[Birger Brosa]], produced a son and heir, [[Johan Sverkersson|Johan]] (1201–1222), who was chosen king of Sweden 1216.<ref>Harrison, ''Sveriges historia; medeltiden'', pp. 106–107.</ref>

It has also been argued however that it is possible Ingegerd was in fact Sverker's first wife, and Benedicta his second, and that possibly more of the evidence may point to this conclusion instead.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Line|first=Philip|title=Kingship and State Formation in Sweden 1130–1290|publisher=Brill|year=2007|isbn=978-90-04-15578-7|location=Leiden|pages=104}}</ref>

His attested daughter [[Helena Sverkersdotter]] married (earl) Sune Folkesson of the family of Bjälbo, justiciar of [[Västergötland]]. Their daughters [[Catherine Sunesdotter|Catherine]] and [[Benedicta Sunesdotter|Benedicta]] became pawns in marriages to gain Swedish succession after 1222, when the [[Sverker dynasty]] became extinct in male line.<ref>''Helena Sverkersdotter'', http://historiska-personer.nu/min-s/p0d5c2878.html</ref> Catherine was married to the rival dynasty's heir King [[Eric XI of Sweden|Erik Eriksson]] but they remained apparently childless. Benedicta married [[Svantepolk of Viby]] and had several daughters, who married Swedish noblemen. Several Swedish noble families claim descent from Benedicta.

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Literature==
* {{cite encyclopedia |url=https://sok.riksarkivet.se/Sbl/Presentation.aspx?id=14301 |publisher=[[National Archives of Sweden]] |encyclopedia=[[Svenskt biografiskt lexikon]] |title=Folkungaätten |first=Hans |last=Gillingstam |year=1964–1966 |volume=16 |page=260 |access-date=28 November 2017 |language=Swedish}}
* {{cite encyclopedia |url=https://sok.riksarkivet.se/sbl/Presentation.aspx?id=12185 |publisher=[[National Archives of Sweden]] |encyclopedia=[[Svenskt biografiskt lexikon]] |title=Jon jarl |first=Hans |last=Gillingstam |year=1973–1975 |volume=20 |page=360 |access-date=28 November 2017 |language=Swedish}}
* {{cite encyclopedia |url=https://sok.riksarkivet.se/Sbl/Presentation.aspx?id=12369 |publisher=[[National Archives of Sweden]] |encyclopedia=[[Svenskt biografiskt lexikon]] |title=Karl Sverkersson |first=Hans |last=Gillingstam |year=1973–1975 |volume=20 |page=621 |access-date=28 November 2017 |language=Swedish}}
* {{cite encyclopedia |url=https://sok.riksarkivet.se/Sbl/Presentation.aspx?id=11661 |publisher=[[National Archives of Sweden]] |encyclopedia=[[Svenskt biografiskt lexikon]] |title=Knut Eriksson |first=Hans |last=Gillingstam |year=1975–1977 |volume=21 |page=383 |access-date=28 November 2017 |language=Swedish}}
* {{cite journal |url=http://personhistoriskasamfundet.org/1971-1998/ |last=Gillingstam |first=Hans |title=Utomnordiskt och nordiskt i de äldsta svenska dynastiska förbindelserna |year=1982 |journal=Personhistorisk Tidskrift |volume=1981 |issue=77 |publisher=Krylbo : Personhistoriska samfundet, 1900- |pages=17–28 |issn=0031-5699 |id={{LIBRIS|2373654}}}}, häfte 1, 1981
* Harrison, Dick, ''Sveriges historia; medeltiden''. Stockholm: Liber, 2002.
* Lönnroth, Erik, ''Från svensk medeltid''. Stockholm: Aldus, 1959.
* Munch, P.A., ''Det norske Folks Historie'', Vol. III. Christiania: Chr. Tönsbergs Forlag, 1857.
* Sandblom, Sven, ''Gestilren 1210. Striden stod i Uppland! I Gästre!''. Enköping: Enköpings kommun, 2004.
* Sundberg, Ulf, ''Medeltidens svenska krig''. Stockholm: Hjalmarson & Högberg, 1999.

==Further reading==
*Lindström, Fredrik; Lindström, Henrik ''Svitjods undergång och Sveriges födelse'' (Albert Bonniers Förlag AB. 2006)
*Lagerqvist, Lars O. ''Sverige och dess regenter under 1.000 år'' (Albert Bonniers Förlag AB. 1982)

==External links==
*{{Commons category-inline||Sverker II}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-hou|[[House of Sverker]]||c. 1164|17 July|1210}}
{{s-reg}}
{{s-bef
| before = [[Knut Eriksson]]
}}
{{s-ttl
| title = [[List of Swedish monarchs|King of Sweden]]
| years = 1195/1196–1208
}}
{{s-aft
| after = [[Erik Knutsson]]
}}
{{s-end}}
{{Monarchs of Sweden}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:1160s births]]
[[Category:1210 deaths]]
[[Category:12th-century Swedish monarchs]]
[[Category:13th-century Swedish monarchs]]
[[Category:Monarchs killed in action]]
[[Category:Sons of kings]]
[[Category:Swedish military personnel killed in action]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic monarchs]]