Eric was a contender for the Swedish kingship 1066–67. After the death of King Stenkil, he made war on Eric the Pagan for the Swedish throne. Both died in the war. The two rivalling Eriks are only known by their first name and from one source (Adam of Bremen). Thus, the idea that he was the son of King Stenkil and the name Erik Stenkilsson, as well as the opponent's pagan belief, are purely conjectural.
Referring to him as King Eric VII or VIII are later inventions, 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 amount of Swedish monarchs named Eric before Eric XIV (at least seven) is unknown, going back into prehistory, and none of them used numerals. It would be speculative to try to affix a mathematically accurate one to this king.
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Erik Stenkilsson
Died: 1067 |
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| Regnal titles | ||
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| Preceded by Stenkil |
King of Sweden 1066–1067 with Erik the Pagan |
Succeeded by Halsten |