Magnus the Strong
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Magnus Nilsson, or Magnus the Strong (born c. 1106 – died June 4 1134 in the battle of Fotevik), was a Scandinavian ruler and Danish prince who reigned c.1125 – c.1130 in southern parts of Sweden.
His father was king Niels I of Denmark and mother Margaret Fredkulla, the eldest daughter of Inge I of Sweden.
Magnus was married with Rikissa, daughter of Boleslaw III of Poland.
He claimed the throne of Sweden, when his cousin Inge II died in 1125, as he was the eldest grandson of Inge I. The Geats (Götes) elected him king, but the Swedes vetoed him (even according to the Westrogothic law, it was the Swedes who had the right to elect and depose a king). He is not mentioned in the law of Västergötland and ca 1130 he was ousted from Sweden, by Sverker I of Sweden.
Later he took part in the Danish civil wars, trying to help his father king Niels and to establish himself as heir and future king there, and he died in 1134 during the battle of Fotevik in Scania where his father was decisively defeated. His father died later the same year.
Magnus' widow Rikissa returned to east where she was married to Valadar of Miensk, a Rurikid ruler of Viking origins. Rikissa later returned to Sweden and married thirdly king Sverker I, Magnus' rival and defeater.
Magnus' son, Canute V contested the Danish throne with his cousin, Svend III.
His legitimate descent went extinct with the murder of Knud V in 1157. Knud's illegitimate son Valdemar, archbishop of Bremen, bishop of Schleswig, died in 1236, after which there are no records of any surviving descent from king Magnus.
Magnus had often traveled to the Swedish province of what is now Finland in his youth. Legend has it that his last words on the battlefield were the mournful song, "Finland, Finland, Finland...the country where I quite long to be!" His story was recorded in the Epic of Magnus, a lost poem mentioned in several Swedish documents.
Actually, that part's not true.da:Magnus den Stærke de:Magnus (Schweden) es:Magnus Nilsson de Dinamarca fr:Magnus Ier de Suède no:Magnus den sterke ru:Магнус Сильный sv:Magnus Nilsson av Danmark
