House of Bjelbo
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
House of Bjelbo (also known as House of Bjälbo, bjälboätten in Swedish) was an Ostrogothian Swedish family that provided for several medieval Swedish bishops, jarls and kings. The house was later erroneously also referred to as the House of Folkung (folkungaätten).[1]
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[edit] Origins
The dynastic name "Bjelbo" comes from the family's oldest known manor, which was located in Östergötland, outside of Skänninge in the present-day commune of Mjölby.[2] The name "Bjelbo" was given to the family in later times, as family names were not used in the Middle Ages. Family's legendary forefather was Folke Filbyter.
[edit] Jarls and bishops
House of Bjelbo produced most of the jarls in Sweden in the 11th, 12th and 13th centuries until the title was abolished in 1266. Different branches of the family were often rivals for the office of jarl. Most of the kings during that time were also from Östergötland.
Around 1100, Folke the Fat became the first known Bjelbo jarl, and probably the first jarl of all Sweden, under king Inge I of Sweden. He was married to a daughter of king Canute IV of Denmark. According to legends, he was the first of his family so elevated. Nothing is known of any of Folke's collateral relatives, though it is well-established that several of his sons' descendants were important lords.
Other notable jarls from the family were Birger Brosa, Charles the Deaf, Ulf Fase, and Birger jarl. In the early 13th century, some members of the family moved to Norway, and held the office of jarl there. Noteworthy is that regardless of the ruling royal family, Bjelbos continued to hold the position of the jarl in the kingdom.
Several members of the family were also Bishops of Linköping at least in the 13th century. Diocese covered the area of Östergötland. Bishop of Linköping was often involved in the eastern activities.
[edit] Rise to royalty
Valdemar, a son of Birger jarl, was elected as the King of Sweden in 1250. House of Bjelbo had gradually married to all rival royal dynasties in Sweden eventually producing an heir related to them all. When the previous king Eric had died without an heir apparent, his sister's son, and also Birger's son, was the most suitable option to hold the royal office.
The male line reigned in Sweden until 1364. During 1320-1387, the members of the family were also kings in Norway. Almost all subsequent monarchs of Sweden, Norway and Denmark descend from the House of Bjelbo through female lines.
[edit] Unclarities in genealogy
Particularly, several persons conventionally assigned as sons and grandsons to Benedict Snivel, son of Folke the Fat, may actually be related to him in a different way. Conventional assignations stretch two generations to cover a hundred years, which is probably not realistic, and three generations over 150 years.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ See entry Folkungaätten in the Nordisk familjebok.
- ^ Thomas Lindkvist och Maria Sjöberg, Det svenska samhället 800-1250. Lund 2003, page 45.
