ERIC THE VICTORIOUS

'Eric the Victorious' (VI), Old Norse: ''Eiríkr inn sigrsæli'', Modern Swedish: ''Erik Segersäll'', (970?- c 995), was the first Swedish king about whom anything definite is known.^[1] He was victorious over an invasion from the south in the Battle of the Fýrisvellir close to Uppsala. Reports that Eric's brother Olof was the father of Styrbjörn the Strong belong to the realm of myth.^[2]
The extent of his kingdom is unknown. In addition to the Swedish heartland round lake Mälaren it may have extended down the Baltic Sea coast as far south as Blekinge.
According to Adam of Bremen, Eric allied himself with the Polish prince Boleslav to conquer Denmark and chase away its king Sweyn Forkbeard. He proclaimed himself the king of Sweden and Denmark which he ruled until his death which would have taken place in 994 or 995. Adam says that Eric was baptised in Denmark, but later returned to the Norse gods.
Adam of Bremen gives Emund Eriksson as Eric's predecessor.
In all probability he founded the town of Sigtuna, which still exists and where the first Swedish coins were stamped for his son and successor Olof Skötkonung.

Contents

Sagas

Footnotes

See also

Sagas

The Norse sagas relate that he was the son of Björn Eriksson and that he ruled together with his brother Olof. He married Sigrid the Haughty, the daughter of the legendary Viking Skagul Toste, but would later divorce her and give her Götaland as a fief. According to ''Eymund's saga'' he took a new queen, Auð, the daughter of Haakon Sigurdsson, the ruler of Norway.
Before this happened, his brother Olof died, and a new co-ruler had to be appointed, but the Swedes refused to accept his rowdy nephew Styrbjörn the Strong as his co-ruler. Styrbjörn was given 60 longships by Eric and sailed away to live as a Viking. Styrbjörn would become the ruler of Jomsborg and an ally and brother-in-law of the Danish king Harold Bluetooth. Styrbjörn returned to Sweden with a major Danish army, which Eric defeated in the Battle of the Fýrisvellir at Old Uppsala.
According to the sagas, Eric was the son of Björn Ericsson.

Footnotes

1.
2.

See also

★ List of Swedish monarchs''