Eric VI the Victorious Bjornsson 1 2 3 4
- Marriage (1): Sigrid Toftesdatter Storråde
- Marriage (2): Gunhild Mieczyslavsdatter of Poland circa 980-985
- Died: 995
Another name for Eric was Erik VII Segersäll of Sweden.
General Notes:
Eric the Victorious (VI), or Erik Segersäll, (985?- 995), was king of the Swedes during the last two decades of the 10th century.
The extent of his kingdom is disputed. In addition to the Svealand heartland round lake Mälaren it may have extended down the Baltic Sea coast as far south as Blekinge. Details on Eric's reign are sparse. It is claimed that he defeated a major Danish army under the command of his nephew Styrbjörn Starke at the Fyris Wolds at Old Uppsala, from which his accolade "the victorious" stems. 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.
Eric is claimed to have married Sigrid the Haughty, daughter of Mieszko I of Poland, in the 980s.
According to the Sagas, Eric the Victorious ruled together with his brother Olof (II) Björnsson. After Olof Björnsson's death, Eric proclaimed his still unborn child co-ruler instead of his nephew Styrbjörn Starke. The disinherited Styrbjörn was to attack Eric with a large Danish force. The victory rendered Eric the cognomen "Victorious".
However, Adam of Bremen, who is considered to be more reliable than the sagas, only gives Emund Eriksson as predecessor to Eric the Victorious. He does, however, not claim that Emund was the father of Erik, and nothing contradicts the possibility that Emund and Björn were co-rulers, like Erik and Olof and their semi-legendary ancestors Björn at Hauge and Anund Uppsale.
Munsöslekten etterfulgte Lodbrokslekten som konger av Sverige fra 785 til 1056. Erik regnes som den første historiske kongen av et samlet Sverige. Slekten ble etterfulgt av Stenkilslekten.
Det foreligger ingen vitnesikre opplysninger om Eriks byrd. I islandsk litteratur berettes at han skulle være sønn til en kong Bjørn. Dette er imidlertid historiskt umulig, og man har i stedet antatt at han skulle være sønn til den Emund Eriksson, som Adam av Bremen i sin krønika oppfører som svensk konge umiddelbart før Erik. Unektelig finnes det ikke noe som hindrer at Eriks far het Emund, en sønnesønn til Erik bar dette navn, eller at han som Erik hadde vært svensk konge. At navneskikken bland Eriks arvtagere er den samme som hos hans foretredere på tronen gjør det imidlertid sannsynlig at hans tronebestigelse ikke innebar et nytt dynasti.
Erik hadde seiersrike strider med sine fiender. Mest kjent er slaget ved Fyrisvallene, hvor han seiret over anfallende skånske vikinger. I allianse med slavere har han i henhold til en kilde bekjempet Danmark, at han også erobret landet og der mottok dåpen er omstridt. I de nordiske sagaene er Erik ofte omtalt, og hans historie overdrives kraftig. Det ovennevnte slaget ved Fyrisvallene skal han ifølge sagaene ha utkjempet mot sin brorsønn Styrbjørn og for seieren fått vie seg selv til Odin. Slaget skal ha funnet sted i 982.
Brorsønnen skulle tidligere ha flyktet til Danmark og blitt høvding i Jomsborg. Med hjelp av Harald Blåtann kunne han sette seg i spissen for en mektig hær og dra mot sin farbror. Styrbjørn falt i slaget ved Fyrisvallene. Etter seieren fikk Erik tilnavnet "Segersäll".
I henhold til sagaene skal Erik ha vært gift med Sigrid Storråde, men i virkeligheten var han gift med en slavisk prinsesse.
From Snorre Sturlasson: Harald Hårfagre's Saga:
"28. KING EIRIK EYMUNDSON'S DEATH.
Duke Guthorm dwelt principally at Tunsberg, and governed the whole of Viken when the king was not there. He defended the land, which, at that time, was much plundered by the vikings. There were disturbances also up in Gautland as long as King Eirik Eymundson lived; but he died when King Harald Harfager had been ten years king of all Norway."
"29.GUTHORM'S DEATH IN TUNSBERG.
After Eirik, his son Bjorn was king of Svithjod for fifty years. He was father of Eirik the Victorious, and of Olaf the father of Styrbjorn. Guthorm died on a bed of sickness at Tunsberg, and King Harald gave his son Guthorm the government of that part of his dominions and made him chief of it."
Noted events in his life were:
• Acceded: King of Sweden, Cir 965.
• Acceded: King of Sweden, 980.
Eric married Sigrid Toftesdatter Storråde, daughter of Skoglar-Toste and Unknown. (Sigrid Toftesdatter Storråde was born in 967 and died in 1014.)
Eric next married Gunhild Mieczyslavsdatter of Poland, daughter of Mieszko I of Poland and Dobrawka of Bohemia, circa 980-985. (Gunhild Mieczyslavsdatter of Poland was born in 967 and died in 1014 5.)
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