Valdemar, King of Sweden

Valdemar, English also Waldemar; Swedish: Valdemar Birgersson (1239–1302), was King of Sweden 1250–1275.

Contents 1 Biography 2 Family 3 Ancestry 4 Sources 5 Succession

Biography

Valdemar was the son of princess Ingeborg Eriksdotter of Sweden and Birger jarl, from the House of Bjelbo. During the first sixteen years of his reign, it was Birger Jarl who was the real ruler. Birger Jarl had in fact been the de facto ruler of Sweden from 1248, before the reign of Valdemar, under King Eric XI of Sweden. Valdemar's mother was a daughter of King Eric X of Sweden and Princess Richeza of Denmark.

When King Eric XI died in 1250, Valdemar was elected king. Even after the coming of age of Valdemar in 1257, Birger jarl held a grip over the country. After Birger's death in 1266 Valdemar came into conflict with his younger brother Magnus Birgersson, Duke of Södermanland, who wanted the throne for himself.

In 1260, Valdemar married Sofia of Denmark the eldest daughter of King Eric IV of Denmark and Jutta of Saxony. Valdemar also had a relationship with his sister-in-law Jutta of Denmark. In 1272, Jutta visited Sweden and became Valdemar's mistress. The affair resulted in a child born in 1273. The following year, Jutta was placed in a convent and Valdemar was forced to make a pilgrimage to Rome to ask for the absolution of the Pope.

Valdemar was deposed by his younger brother, Magnus after the Battle of Hova in Tiveden June 14, 1275. Magnus was supported by his brother, Eric Birgersson, Duke of Småland and King Eric V of Denmark who provided Danish soldiers. Magnus was elected King Magnus III of Sweden at the Stones of Mora.

In 1277, Sophia separated from her spouse and returned to Denmark. In 1277, Valdemar managed to regain provinces in Gothenland in the southern part of the kingdom and was called the Duke of Götaland. However, Magnus regained them about 1278. In 1288 Valdemar was imprisoned by King Magnus in Nyköping Castle (Nyköpingshus) and lived openly with mistresses in his comfortable prison.

Family

Valdemar married Sofia of Denmark (d. 1286) in 1260 and separated in 1277. He had six children:

1. Ingeborg Valdemarsdotter of Sweden (1263–1292), countess of Holstein, spouse of Gerhard II of Holstein.
2. Erik Valdemarsson of Sweden (1272–1330), riksråd
3. Marina Valdemarsdotter of Sweden, spouse of Count Rudolf of Diepholz
4. Rikissa Valdemarsdotter of Sweden (d. c. 1292), Queen of Poland, spouse of Przemysł II of Poland
5. Katarina Valdemarsdotter of Sweden (d. 1283)
6. Margareta Valdemarsdotter of Sweden, a nun.

Ancestry

Ancestors of Valdemar, King of Sweden

16. Folke the fat               8. Bengt Snivil                       17. Ingegerd Knudsdotter of Denmark               4. Magnus Minniskiöld                             2. Birger jarl                                   20. Sverker I of Sweden               10. Sune Sik                       21. Richeza of Poland               5. Ingrid Ylva                             1. Valdemar of Sweden                                         24. Eric IX of Sweden               12. Canute I of Sweden                       25. Christina Björnsdotter               6. Eric X of Sweden                             13. Cecilia Johansdotter of Sweden                       3. Ingeborg Eriksdotter of Sweden                                   28. Canute Lavard               14. Valdemar I of Denmark                       29. Ingeborg of Kiev               7. Richeza of Denmark                             30. Volodar, Prince of Minsk and Hrodno               15. Sofia of Minsk                       31. Richeza of Poland (= 21)

Sources

• Adolfsson, Mats När borgarna brann - svenska uppror (Stockholm: Natur och kultur, 2007)
• Larsson, Mats G. Götarnas Riken : Upptäcktsfärder Till Sveriges Enande (Bokförlaget Atlantis AB. 2002) ISBN 978-91-7486-641-4
• Kyhlberg, Ola Gånget ut min hand (Riddarholmskyrkans stiftargravar Kungl. Vitterhets Historie och Antikvitets Akademien, Stockholm: 1997)
• Schück, Herman Kyrka och rike - från folkungatid till vasatid (Stockholm: 2005)

Succession

Valdemar Birgersson House of Bjelbo Born: 1239 Died: December 26 1302
Regnal titles
Preceded by Erik Eriksson	King of Sweden 1250–1275	Succeeded by Magnus Ladulås

Monarchs of Sweden Munsö c.970–c.1060 Eric the Victorious · Olof Skötkonung · Anund Jacob · Emund the Old Stenkil c.1060–c.1130 1160–1161 Stenkil (Stænkil) · Eric Stenkilsson / Eric the Pagan · Halsten · Anund Gårdske · Håkan the Red · Halsten / Inge the Elder · Blot-Sweyn · Inge the Elder · Philip Halstensson / Inge the Younger · Ragnvald Knaphövde · Magnus the Strong · Houses of Sverker and Eric · Magnus Henriksen Sverker · Eric c.1130–1250 Sverker the Elder · Eric the Saint · Magnus Henriksen · Charles Sverkersson · Kol / Boleslas · Canute I · Sverker the Younger · Eric Canutesson · John Sverkersson · Eric Ericsson · Canute II 1 · Eric Ericsson Bjelbo 1250–1364 Valdemar Birgersson · Magnus Ladulås · Birger Magnusson · Mats Kettilmundsson 2 · Magnus Ericsson3 · Eric Magnusson · Magnus Ericsson / Haakon Magnusson3 Mecklenburg 1364–1389 Albert Kalmar Union Italics indicate regents 1389–1523 Margaret I of Denmark4 / Eric of Pomerania4 · Engelbrekt Engelbrektsson · Eric of Pomerania4 · Charles Canutesson · Eric of Pomerania4 · Charles Canutesson · Christopher of Bavaria4 · Bengt Jönsson (Oxenstierna) / Nils Jönsson (Oxenstierna) · Charles Canutesson3 · Jöns Bengtsson Oxenstierna / Erik Axelsson Tott · Christian I4 · Kettil Karlsson (Vasa) · Charles Canutesson · Kettil Karlsson (Vasa) · Jöns Bengtsson Oxenstierna · Erik Axelsson Tott · Charles Canutesson · Sten Sture the Elder · John II4 · Sten Sture the Elder · Svante Nilsson · Eric Trolle · Sten Sture the Younger · Christian II4 · Gustaf Eriksson (Vasa) Vasa 1523–1654 Gustav I · Eric XIV · John III · Sigismund5 · Charles IX · Gustav II Adolf · Christina Palatinate- Zweibrücken Hesse-Kassel 1654–1751 Charles X Gustav · Charles XI · Charles XII · Ulrika Eleonora · Frederick I Holstein-Gottorp 1751–1818 Adolf Frederick · Gustav III · Gustav IV Adolf · Charles XIII3 Bernadotte since 1818 Charles XIV John3 · Oscar I3 · Charles XV3 · Oscar II3 · Gustaf V · Gustaf VI Adolf · Carl XVI Gustaf 1 Lineage uncertain.  2 Regent.  3 Also Norwegian monarch.  4 Also Norwegian and Danish monarch.  5 Also king of Poland.