- Eric Anundsson
Eric Anundsson/Eymundsson (d. 882) was a Swedish king who ruled during the 9th century. The Swedish encyclopedia "
Nordisk familjebok " identifies Eric with the legendary Swedish kingErik Weatherhat .He is given as the son of
Anund Uppsale in "Hervarar saga "::"Eiríkr hét sonr önundar konungs, er ríki tók eptir föður sinn at Uppsölum; hann var ríkr konungr. Á hans dögum hófst til ríkis í Noregi Haraldr hárfagri, er fyrstr kom einvaldi í Noreg sinna ættmanna." [http://www.snerpa.is/net/forn/hervar.htm]
:"Eric was the son of king Anund, and he succeeded his father at Uppsala; he was a rich king. During his reign,
Harald Fairhair came to power in Norway, Harald was the first of his kin to reign as a monarch in Norway."However, the Eric who was contemporary with Harald Fairhair is called "Eymundsson" by
Snorri Sturluson . Since the preceding king is confirmed as Anund by other sources (Rimbert andAdam of Bremen ), "Anundsson" is probably the correct form of thepatronym . The names "Eymund" and "Anund" were equivalent enough for the later kingAnund Jacob to be called "Emund" (Eymund), in the "Westrogothic law ". Consequently, Eric's patronym would not be the only instance where the two names were confused.According to "Hervarar saga", he was preceded by his father Anund Uppsale and uncle
Björn at Hauge and he was succeeded by Björn (the father ofEric the Victorious andOlof Björnsson ). "Landnámabók " informs that Eric and his son Björn ruled during the time of thePope Adrian II andPope John VIII , i.e. in the period 867-883, the time of the first settlement of Iceland. "Harald Fairhair's saga" relates that Erik died when Harald Fairhair had been king of all Norway for ten years, i.e. 882.Erik is mentioned in several places in the
Heimskringla . In the "saga of Olaf Haraldsson",Thorgny Lawspeaker relates::"My grandfather Thorgny could well remember the Uppsala king Eirik Eymundson, and used to say of him that when he was in his best years he went out every summer on expeditions to different countries, and conquered for himselfFinland , Kirjalaland,Courland , Esthonia, and the eastern countries all around; and at the present day the earth-bulwarks, ramparts, and other great works which he made are to be seen. And, more over, he was not so proud that he would not listen to people who had anything to say to him."In "Harald Fairhair's saga",
Snorri Sturluson relates that Erik also wanted to extend Sweden westwards and to make a kingdom for himself as large as that of the Swedish kingSigurd Ring and his sonRagnar Lodbrok (i.e.Raumarike ,Vingulmark andWestfold all the way to island of Grenmar). Thus he conqueredVermland ,West Götaland and all the land south ofSvinesund (modernBohuslän ) and claimed the shores ofViken as his own. He placed Hrane Gautske (Hrane theGeat ) asJarl of the land between Svinesund andGöta älv . In these territories the people accepted Erik as their king.When King Harald Fairhair arrived at
Tønsberg (in Viken, and at the time a trading town) fromTrondheim he learnt of this and became very angry. He assembled the ting at Fold and accused the people of treason after which some had to accept his rule, while others were punished. He then spent the summer forcing Viken andRaumarike to accept his rule.When the winter arrived Harald learnt that the Swedish king was in Vermland, after which he crossed the
Ed forest and ordered the people to arrange a feast in his tribute.The most powerful man in the province was a man named Åke, who had formerly been one of
Halfdan the Black 's men, and he invited both the Norwegian king and the Swedish king to hishall s. Åke had built a new hall instead of his old one, which was ornamented in the same splendid manner, but the old hall only had old ornaments and hangings.When the kings arrived, the Swedish king was placed in the old hall, whereas the Norwegian king was placed in the new one. The Norwegian king found himself in a hall with new gilded vessels carved with figures and shining like glass, full of the best liquor.
The next day, the kings prepared to leave. Bidding his farewell Åke gave to Harald's service his own twelve year old son Ubbe. Harald thanked Åke and promised him is friendship.
Then Åke talked to the Swedish king, who was in a bad mood. Åke gave him valuable gifts and followed the king on the road until they came to the woods. Erik asked Åke why he, who was his man, had made such a difference between him and the Norwegian king. Åke answered that there was nothing to blame Erik for but that he had got the old things and the old hall because he was old whereas the Norwegian king was in the bloom of his youth. Åke also answered the he was no less the Swedish king's man than the Swedish king was his man. Hearing the words of treason, Erik had no other choice but to slay the impudent and treacherous Åke.
When Harald learnt of this, he pursued the Swedish king until they saw the Swedish king, but then they had arrived at the border of
Götaland and considered it best to return. Harald then spent the rest of the autumn killing all the Swedish king's men in Vermland.In the winter, Harald plundered and burnt in
Ranrike . Then the Norwegians invaded Götaland and travelled far and wide inGötaland , winning most of the battles. In one of the battles, Hrane Gautske fell. Harald then proclaimed himself the ruler of all land north of Göta älv and north and west of lakeVänern and placedGuttorm Haraldsson to defend the region with a large force.###@@@KEYEND@@@###
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Early Swedish History
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