Valdemar, Duke of Finland

File:Waldemar of Sweden (1280s) seal 1905.jpg

Seal of Duke Valdemar of Finland

Valdemar Magnusson (1280 – 1319) was a Swedish prince, heir to the throne of Sweden, and Duke of Finland.

Background

Valdemar was the third son of King Magnus III of Sweden and Queen Helvig. He became the Duke of Finland in 1302 during the coronation of his older brother, King Birger of Sweden. Valdemar married Kristina, daughter of Torgils Knutsson, who was the constable and virtual ruler of Sweden during King Birger's early reign.

Political career

Valdemar's father-in-law was arrested in December of 1305 and executed the following February. Valdemar subsequently divorced his wife, claiming that they were spiritually related (baptism siblings) because Torgils was his godfather. In the fall of 1312, he married Ingeborg Eriksdottir of Norway in Oslo. She was the daughter of Eirik II of Norway and his second wife, Queen Isabella Bruce, and a niece of Robert the Bruce. It was a double wedding, because at the same time Valdemar's brother Eric, Duke of Södermanland married Ingeborg of Norway, daughter of King Haakon V of Norway. Valdemar and Ingeborg had a son in 1316 who died as a child.

In 1306, in an event known as the Håtuna games (Håtunaleken), King Birger was captured by his brothers on the Håtuna royal estate in Uppland and taken as prisoner to Nyköping Castle (Nyköpingshus). Two years later, King Eric VI of Denmark forced Valdemar and Eric to release King Birger under humiliating conditions. King Birger sought aid in Denmark after his release and the strife resumed.

By 1315, Valdemar and Eric had managed to wrest large parts of the Swedish kingdom from their brother. Valdemar had gained Turku and Häme castles, with a lion's share of Finland, the castle of Stockholm, most of Uppland, Borgholm castle, and the island of Öland. Eric was in possession of Kungahälla (which he had been given during his exile by the Norwegian king) and northern Halland, which he had been given by King Eric VI of Denmark.

Death

On December 10, 1317, Valdemar and Eric were captured and imprisoned by Birger at the Nyköping Banquet (Nyköpings gästabud).

Valdemar and Eric's wives assumed leadership roles after their husbands' imprisonment. On April 16, 1318, the two duchesses entered into a treaty in Kalmar with Esger Juul, Archbishop of Lund and Christopher, brother of Eric VI of Denmark and Duke of Halland-Samsötreaty, to free their husbands.

This treaty was not honored, and their husbands died later that same year. Although their exact cause of death is unknown, the brothers are thought to have been murdered or starved to death.

The dower Ingeborg had included the island of Öland. Ingeborg was styled Duchess of Öland from at least 1340, surviving her late husband long after his death and staying in Sweden until her own death.

Ancestry

Family of Valdemar, Duke of Finland

16. Bengt Snivil               8. Magnus Minniskiöld                       4. Birger Jarl                             18. Sune Sik               9. Ingrid Ylva                       2. Magnus III of Sweden                                   20. Canute I of Sweden               10. Eric X of Sweden                       21. Cecilia Johansdotter of Sweden               5. Ingeborg Eriksdotter of Sweden                             22. Valdemar I of Denmark               11. Richeza of Denmark                       23. Sofia of Minsk               1. Valdemar, Duke of Finland                                         24. Adolf III, Count of Holstein               12. Adolf IV, Count of Holstein                       25. Adelheid of Querfurt               6. Gerhard I, Count of Holstein-Itzehoe                             26. Hermann II, Lord of Lippe               13. Heilwig of Lippe                       27. Oda of Tecklenburg               3. Helvig of Holstein                                   28. Henry Borwin II, Lord of Mecklenburg               14. John I, Lord of Mecklenburg                       29. Christine of Sweden               7. Elisabeth of Mecklenburg                             30. Poppo VII, Count of Henneberg               15. Luitgard of Henneberg

Sources

• Lindqvist, Herman Historien om Sverige. Från islossning till kungarike (Norstedts: 1997)
• Harrison, Dick Jarlens sekel: en berättelse om 1200-talets Sverige (Ordfront. 2002)
• Bergman, Mats Nyköpingshus. En rundvandring i historia och nutid (Almqvist & Wiksell. 1992)
• Mannervik, Cyrus Sagor och sägner – Från Nordens forntid och medeltid (AV Carlsons. 1958)

References

This article contains content from the Owl Edition of Nordisk familjebok, a Swedish encyclopedia published between 1904 and 1926, now in the public domain.

Valdemar, Duke of Finland House of Bjelbo Born: 1280s Died: 1318
Preceded by Benedict, Duke of Finland (Duke of Finland)	Duke of Osterlandia (Duke of Finland) 1300–1318	Succeeded by Benedict, Duke of Halland (Duke of Finland)