Eric of Good Harvests

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Eric of Good Harvests or Eirik Arsale (Swedish: Erik Årsäll, Old Norse: Eiríkr hinn ársæli) was a semi-historical king of Sweden. His historiocity has been called into question.[1] He is dated by some to the end of the 11th century, by others to the 1120's, while more critical historians believe that he is a legendary name belonging to the 10th century.[1] According to some, he was the son of the pagan Swedish king Blot-Sweyn.[2] Like his father before him, Eric administered the blóts at the temple at Uppsala.[2] However, Eric does not appear in any Swedish or Danish primary sources.[3]

The 13th century historian Snorri Sturluson wrote in the Heimskringla that Blót-Sweyn and Eric had renounced Christianity and still ruled a largely pagan Sweden:

“ At that time there were many people all around in the Swedish dominions who were heathens, and many were bad Christians; for there were some of the kings who renounced Christianity, and continued heathen sacrifices, as Blotsvein, and afterwards Eirik Arsale, had done.[4] ”

Eric was the contemporary of Inge the Elder,[2] and this suggests that Eric was the last high priest (goði) of the Temple at Uppsala, and that he was killed or deposed by Inge the Elder.

Eric is mentioned by a plausible source as the father of Sverker the Elder,[2][3] which suggests that either Kol[2][3][5] or Cornube[6] might have been his true name. Eric Årsäll would then be a description of him as a "king during whose reign there were good harvests".[7]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b Lagerquist, Lars O. (1997). Sveriges Regenter, från forntid till nutid. Norstedts, p. 45. ISBN 91-1-963882-5. 
  2. ^ a b c d e Erik, an article in Nordisk familjebok
  3. ^ a b c Svenska kyrkans historia (1838)
  4. ^ Saga of Sigurd the Crusader and His Brothers Eystein and Olaf (c. 1225).
  5. ^ The name of Sverker the Elder's father according to Skáldatal (c. 1300).
  6. ^ The name of Sverker the Elder's father according to the Westrogothic law (c. 1250).
  7. ^ Steinsland, Gro, Den hellige kongen, Oslo 2000. side 54 ISBN 82-530-2227-1
Erik Årsäll
Died: 1088
Regnal titles
Preceded by
Blot-Sweyn		 King of Sweden
1087-1088		 Succeeded by
Inge the Elder
v • d • e
Monarchs of Sweden
House of Munsö
House of Stenkil
Houses of Eric (E)
and Sverker (S)
House of Bjelbo
House of
Mecklenburg
Monarchs (M) and
Regents (R) during
the Kalmar Union
Margaret I of Denmark (M)†‡ & Eric of Pomerania (M)†‡ · Engelbrekt Engelbrektsson (R) · Eric of Pomerania (M)†‡ · Charles Canutesson (R) · Eric of Pomerania (M)†‡ · Charles Canutesson (R) · Christopher of Bavaria (M)†‡ · Bengt Jönsson (Oxenstierna) (R) & Nils Jönsson (Oxenstierna) (R) · Charles Canutesson (M)‡ · Jöns Bengtsson Oxenstierna (R) & Erik Axelsson Tott (R) · Christian I (M)†‡ · Kettil Karlsson (Vasa) (R) · Charles Canutesson (M) · Kettil Karlsson (Vasa) (R) · Jöns Bengtsson Oxenstierna (R) · Erik Axelsson Tott (R) · Charles Canutesson (M) · Sten Sture the Elder (R) · John II (M)†‡ · Sten Sture the Elder (R) · Svante Nilsson (R) · Eric Trolle (R) · Sten Sture the Younger (R) · Christian II (M)†‡ · Gustav Eriksson (Vasa) (R)
House of Vasa
House of
Palatinate-
Zweibrücken
House of
Hesse-Kassel
House of
Holstein-Gottorp
House of Bernadotte
† also Monarch of Denmark · ‡ also Monarch of Norway · * also Monarch of Poland

[edit] Notes