Eric XII of Sweden

Co-Ruler of Sweden from 1356 until 1359
Eric XII
The seal of King Erik Magnusson.
Born1339
Died20 June 1359 (aged 19–20)
SpouseBeatrix of Bavaria
HouseBjelbo
FatherMagnus IV of Sweden
MotherBlanche of Namur

Eric XII (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 IV, from 1356 until his death in 1359.[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.

Biography

Erik was the son of King Magnus Eriksson (1316–1374) and the grandson of Eric, Duke of Södermanland (c. 1282–1318). In 1343 Eric and his brother, Haakon, were elected heirs to the thrones of Sweden and Norway, respectively. He was married in 1356 to Beatrix of Bavaria (1344-1359), daughter of Louis IV, Holy Roman Emperor.[2][3]

Håkon received the Norwegian throne in 1355 and this led to the prior union between those countries being dissolved. 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.

References

  1. ^ "Erik Magnusson". Svenskt biografiskt lexikon. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  2. ^ "Magnus Eriksson". Svenskt biografiskt lexikon. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  3. ^ "Erik Magnusson". Svenskt biografiskt lexikon. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
Erik Magnusson
House of Bjelbo
Born: 1339 Died: 1359
Regnal titles
Preceded byas sole king King of Sweden
1356–1359
with Magnus IV
Succeeded byas sole king
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Munsö
c. 970 – c. 1060
Stenkil
c. 1060 – c. 1130
1160–1161
Sverker · Eric
c. 1130 – 1250
Bjelbo
1250–1364
Mecklenburg
1364–1389
Kalmar Union
Italics indicate
regents
1389–1523
Vasa
1523–1654
Palatinate-
Zweibrücken (Wittelsbach)
Hesse-Kassel
1654–1751
Holstein-Gottorp (Oldenburg)
1751–1818
Bernadotte
since 1818