Eric the Victorious

Erik Segersäll (from Old Norse Eiríkr sigrsæli), German Erik VIII, der Siegesfrohe or also Erik the Victorious, Latinized Hericus Victor (* no later than 945; † c. 995 from disease), was king of the Svear and Danish king between about 992 and 993. The census goes back to Johannes Magnus.

His father is said to have been the legendary saga king Björn the Old, but his historically graspable parents cannot be determined with certainty. The Swedish historian Sture Bolin considers Adam von Bremen's version most likely, that the father was Edmund Eriksson, whom Adam names as his predecessor.

Some old chroniclers count him as the king of Sweden who was the first to unite the territories of Svealand, Östergötland and Västergötland, i.e. the whole of medieval Sweden. In modern times this merit is often attributed to his son Olof Skötkonung. He is said to have been married to Sigrid the Proud. However, it is also doubted that this woman existed. The oldest sources only report that he was married to a Slavic prince's daughter and that Sven Gabelbart's wife was also a Slavic woman named Gunhild. Since it was the widow of Erik, she must have been called Gunnhild and must have been the daughter of Prince Miezko. Sigrid would then have been a free invention of the early historians, whose name was taken from the Danish crown estate in Sweden at that time, called Sigridslev in the 13th century. This name, however, suggests that there was indeed a Sigrid. It could be that Erik was married twice. This is supported by the fact that Olof Skötkonung was an adult when he became king, but his "mother" was still very young.

According to the available sources, Icelandic Sagas, which were however written rather late, and the chronicle of Adam of Bremen, Erik ruled together with his brother Olof when he came to power around 970. In this decennium Sigtuna ("Segertuna", the 'Settlement of the Victorious') was founded. This makes Erik the first king identified with certainty to have founded a town in Sweden.

When Olof, who may have been only a southern Swedish chieftain, died in 975, Erik became sole ruler. According to the Icelandic sagas, Olof's son, "Styrbjörn the Strong", wanted to take over his father's throne and did not recognize his uncle Erik as the rightful Swedish king. He therefore turned out of the country beyond the Baltic to Pomerania, and there became one of the leading chieftains of the Jom Vikings, who were stationed, among other places, on Wollin in the Gau Jom. With these reinforcements and a Danish relief contingent, Styrbjörn proceeded by sea to Uppland to depose Erik. About 983 or 986 the two armies met on the plain of Fyrisvallarna by the river Fyris south of Old Uppsala. Styrbjörn and numerous Jomswikings fell in the battle. Erik's retinue warriors were victorious, whereupon he is said to have received the nickname "the Victorious".

Erik, according to Adam of Bremen, is also said to have made a conquering campaign into Denmark, in revenge for Danish support of Styrbjörn. Some sources mention the year 992 and others a year earlier. Erik is said to have driven out King Sven Forkbeard in the process and ruled for a year, but then illness forced him back to Old Uppsala. He probably died in his royal court in 995, and it is believed that he was buried in the southwestern burial ground of Old Uppsala. He was succeeded as king by his minor son Olof Skötkonung. Erik also had a daughter - Holmfrid Eriksdotter.