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'Magnus Nilsson', 'Mogens Nielsen', or 'Magnus the Strong' (born c.
1106 – died
June 4 1134 in the battle of Fotevik), was a Scandinavian ruler and
Danish duke who reigned c.
1125 – c.
1130 in southern parts of Sweden ("Gothenland").
His father was king
Niels I of Denmark and mother Margaret Fredkulla, the second or eldest daughter of
Inge I of Sweden.
Magnus was married with
Rikissa, daughter of
Boleslaw III of Poland.
He claimed the throne of Sweden, when his mother's first cousin
Inge II died in 1125, as he was the eldest grandson of
Inge I. The
Geats (Götes) accepted him king, but the
Swedes vetoed him (even according to the
Westrogothic law, it was the Swedes who had the right to elect and depose a king). According to
Saxo Grammaticus was the legally elected king
Ragnvald Knaphövde murdered by Magnus' supporters who then won the realm ("imperium"). Magnus is however not mentioned as king in the law of
Västergötland or any other list of regents and he was probably ousted from Sweden, by
Sverker I of Sweden.
Later he took part in the
Danish civil wars, trying to help his father king Niels and to establish himself as heir and future king there, and he died in
1134 during the battle of Fotevik in
Scania where his father was decisively defeated. His father died later the same year.
Magnus' widow Rikissa returned to east where she was married to
Valadar of Miensk, a
Rurikid ruler of Viking origins. Rikissa later returned to Sweden and married thirdly king Sverker I, Magnus' rival and defeater.
Magnus' son,
Canute V contested the Danish throne with his cousin,
Svend III.
His legitimate descent went extinct with the murder of Knud V in 1157. Knud's illegitimate son
Valdemar, archbishop of Bremen, bishop of Schleswig, died in 1236, after which there are no records of any surviving descent from king Magnus.