king
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St Bridgid of Sweden
On 7 October 1391, Birgitta Birgersdotter was canonised by Pope Boniface IX in Rome. She had been dead for 13 years at that time. Internationally, she’s mostly known as St Bridgid of Sweden, as in the headline, but will throughout… Continue reading
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Ingrid Ylva – medieval power woman
Like the vast majority of women during the early Middle Ages, Ingrid Ylva has left few traces behind for posterity to note. This is in contrast to her son, Birger Magnusson, much better known as Birger jarl. However, he becomes… Continue reading
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Feuding brothers and death
In February 1306, Torgils Knutsson was executed by beheading on Pelarbacken, better known as Götgatsbacken in today’s Stockholm. Despite opening with his death, he’s not the main character here. Instead, it’s King Birger Magnusson – ward of Torgils Knutsson –… Continue reading
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Bröt-Anund and Anund’s Mound
No one knows who actually lies in the mound that was already referred to as Anund’s Mound in the Middle Ages, but according to legend, it is precisely Anund who should be distinct from King Anund Jakob. Anund is one… Continue reading
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Erik the Holy
Sweden has a national saint who is not really a saint. This because the Pope did not want to canonize him. Why is a little unclear, but a letter somewhere in the now thousand-year-old records mentioning a king who fought,… Continue reading
Scandinavian History 