Eric XII of Sweden

Eric "XII"[1] (Swedish: Erik Magnusson; 1339 – 21 June 1359) was a rival king of Sweden, competing against his father, Magnus IV, from 1356 to his death in 1359. He was married to Beatrix of Bavaria, daughter of Emperor Louis IV.

Eric XII
The seal of King Erik Magnusson.
Born1339
Died21 June 1359 (aged 1920)
SpouseBeatrix of Bavaria
HouseBjelbo
FatherMagnus IV of Sweden
MotherBlanche of Namur

In 1343 Eric and his brother, Haakon, were elected heirs of Sweden and Norway, respectively. That Haakon got the Norwegian throne in 1355 (causing the union between Norway and Sweden to split) while Eric didn't get any position in the Swedish council might have affected his choice to lead a rebellion against his father in 1355. In 1357 the rebellion had forced Magnus to share Sweden with his son Eric who got to rule most of Southern Sweden and Finland. Sweden was reunited again in 1359 when father and son became reconciled, and co-ruled Sweden until Eric's death a few months later. Quite soon after his death his wife, Beatrix, died too. It is generally believed that they died of the Black Death.

References

  1. Referring to Erik Magnusson as King Eric XII is a later invention, counting backwards from Eric XIV (1560–68). He and his brother Charles IX (1604–1611) adopted numerals according to a fictitious history of Sweden. The number of Swedish monarchs named Eric before Eric XIV (at least seven) is unknown, going back into prehistory, and none of them used numerals. It would be speculative to try to affix a mathematically accurate one to this king.
Erik Magnusson
Born: 1339 Died: 1359
Regnal titles
Preceded by
Magnus IV
as sole king
King of Sweden
1356–1359
with Magnus IV
Succeeded by
Magnus IV
as sole king
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