Swedish jarls

Last updated May 27, 2024

Swedish jarls were powerful noblemen in Sweden. There usually was only one holder of the title at a time, second only to the King of Sweden.

History

According to Procopius, the Heruli, after having raided the European continent for several generations, returned to Scandinavia in 512 as a result of military defeats. As their old territory was now occupied by the Danes, they settled next to the Geats in present-day Sweden. No elaborate theory exists to explain how the word came to be used as a title. Arguably, their knowledge in interpreting runes also meant they were gifted in martial arts and, as they gradually integrated, eril or jarl instead came to signify the rank of a leader.^[1] As described in the Icelandic sagas, such as Rígsthula,^[2] a jarl was a sort of chieftain next in rank to the king in the function of Marshal or Duke of the King's Army. Under any circumstance, when jarls are finally mentioned in medieval documents, it clearly was a title signifying a leader ranked directly under the king.^[1]

In Swedish history, Jarls are described as either local rulers or viceroys appointed by a king, ruling one of the historical Swedish provinces, such as Västergötland, Östergötland, or Svitjod. In Norway, the jarls apparently kept this role and the kings attempted to introduce one in each county (fylke) before the title was used exclusively on the Orkney Islands in the 14th century. In Sweden, however, the title was replaced by "duke" (Swedish 'hertig') in the 13th century. Before the title was discontinued, Swedish jarls were powerful men, such as Birger Brosa, Ulf Fase, and Birger Jarl (original patronym Magnusson), often the true rulers of the Swedish kingdom.^[1]

Jarls of Sweden

Birger Brosa, 1174-1202^[3]
Johan Sverkersson, 1202-120?^[3]
Jon Jarl, ?-1206?^[3]
Knut Birgersson, 120?-1208,^[3] killed in 1208 at the Battle of Lena
Folke Birgersson [ sv ], 1208–1210,^[3] killed in 1210 at the Battle of Gestilren
Karl the Deaf (Karl Döve), 1210?-1220,^[3] killed at the Battle of Lihula
Ulf Fase, 1220?-? and 1231–1240, died 1248^[3]
Birger Magnusson, 1248–1266,^[3] last jarl (Dux Sweciae)

Regional jarls

Jarls of Västergötland

Ulf Tostesson
Ragnvald Ulfsson (c. 1010–20), later jarl of Staraja Ladoga and Ingria. Father of king Stenkil of Sweden.

Other

Jon Jarl (possibly several ones)
Roger I of Sicily (Jarl Rogeirr)

In popular culture

In the History Channel's historical drama television series Vikings , actor Thorbjørn Harr plays the character of Jarl Borg, a Jarl of Götaland.
In the video game The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim , the rulers of the various cities and their respective regions, called within the game as the nine holds, are known as Jarls.
In the NRK television series Norsemen, there are two jarls: Jarl Varg, the primary antagonist of the show, and Jarl Bjorn, a character in Season 3.

Notes

1 2 3 Lindström, p 113-115
↑ Wikisource - Rigstula, verse 34 (in Swedish)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Lindström, p 267, "Jarls from the late 12th century to 1266"

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References

Lindström, Fredrik; Lindström, Henrik (2006). Svitjods undergång och Sveriges födelse (in Swedish). Albert Bonniers förlag. ISBN 978-91-0-010789-5.

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[Lindström-113-1] 1 2 3 Lindström, p 113-115

[2] Wikisource - Rigstula, verse 34 (in Swedish)

[Lindström-267-3] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Lindström, p 267, "Jarls from the late 12th century to 1266"

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