Magnus I Ladulås Birgersson 1
- Born: Cir 1240
- Marriage: Hedwig von Holstein on 11 Nov 1276
- Died: 18 Dec 1290 aged 50
Another name for Magnus was Magnus Barn-Lock.
General Notes:
Magnus Barn-Lock, king of Sweden who helped introduce a feudal class society into Sweden.
The second eldest son of Birger Jarl, he was helped to the throne by a Danish army. He married a German princess and thereby came into contact with continental feudalism. A statute that he issued at Alsnö in 1279 created a lay upper class, the frälse, who, in exchange for equipping themselves for war-duty, were granted tax-free privileges and social status. Ironically, such measures also won him a reputation for protecting the common man and his property, for which Magnus received the nickname Ladulås (Barn-lock). Magnus also won the support of the church through tax relief, strengthened the privileges of German and Swedish merchants, instituted a royal advisory council, began a codification of laws, and promoted other reforms to strengthen royal authority and general administration. When he died, however, he was succeeded by his 10-year-old son Birger, who would be beset by rival brothers and magnates during a generation of unrest.
Noted events in his life were:
• He was a Duke of Sudermannland.
• Acceded: King of Sweden, 1275.
Magnus married Hedwig von Holstein, daughter of Gerhard I von Holstein and Elizabeth von Mecklenburg, on 11 Nov 1276. (Hedwig von Holstein died circa 1325.)
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