The House of Sverker were a powerful political force in medieval Sweden, contesting for royal power. Their origins were in Östergötland. After the extinction of the House of Stenkil and the ascension of Sverker I of Sweden in 1130, a civil war commenced. In the beginning, there were several pretenders, of whom Sverker I emerged as victorious, for a time. The antagonists in the long run were finally the House of Sverker in Östergötland and the House of Eric in Västergötland and Uppland (Saint Eric was killed and buried in the latter province, others in the dynasty were buried in Varnhem Abbey in the former province as later also Birger Jarl was, a relative to the dynasty), which alternated on the throne for several generations, until in the 1220s the Eric dynasty got the upper hand, and the Sverker dynasty became extinct (at least in the male line).
As usual in medieval succession rivalries, the outcome combined the blood of rival lines, as in 1250 Valdemar of the House of Bjälbo (then a minor, his father Birger Jarl acting as regent) ascended the throne, having inherited the Eric dynasty claim from Valdemar's mother (who was sister of Eric XI of Sweden, the last Eric-dynast) and some of the Sverker dynasty claim from Birger's mother (who was daughter of a younger son of Sverker I).
Kings of the house of Sverker +PortraitNameReignSuccessionMarriage(s)Life detailsSverker I"the Elder"Sverker den äldrec. 1130 – 25 December 1156(c. 26 years)Either no previous royal connection or grandson of Blot-Sweyn. Elected in opposition to Magnus I.Ulvhild Håkansdotter(at least 4 children)Richeza of Poland(1 child?)Died 25 December 1156Assassinated, allegedly by the pretender Magnus II.Charles (VII)Karl Sverkerssonc. 1157 – 12 April 1167(c. 10 years; ruled all of Sweden from 1161 onwards)Son of Sverker I. Initially ruled in Västergötland in opposition to Eric IX; later overthrew Magnus II.Christina Hvide(at least 1 child)1130 – 12 April 1167(aged 37)Murdered by Canute I, who succeeded him as king.Kol(status disputed)1170s(several years)Sons (?) of Sverker I. Ruled together in Östergötland, in opposition to Canute I.Nothing recordedFew life details knownBoleslawBurislev(status disputed)1170s(several years)Nothing recordedFew life details knownSverker II"the Younger"Sverker (den yngre) Karlsson1196 – 1208(12 years)Son of Charles VIIBenedicta Hvide(at least 1 child)c. 1164 – 17 July 1210(aged c. 46)Deposed after the Battle of Lena. Killed at the Battle of Gestilren while trying to retake the throne.Ingegerd Birgersdotter(at least 1 child)John IJohan Sverkersson10 April 1216 – 10 March 1222()Son of Sverker IIUnmarried and childless1201 – 10 March 1222(aged c. 21)Died of illness as the last male-line member of Sverker's dynasty.
See also List of Swedish monarchs Norse clans
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