Succession in Scandinavia

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I wonder, if there was any specific custom of succession in Scandinavia or some of its parts?

It seems, every son of Sveinn II Ulfsson (1018-29 apr 1076) had been a Danish Konung in the span of 1076-1134, before his grandson, Erík II Unforgetable (1090-1137), son of Erik I Good, has become a Konung himself.

Then again, Olaf II Haraldsson kesju (1106-1143), grandson of Erik I Good, was Konung in 1140-1143, though Erik II had a male heir - Sveinn III (1127-1157), Konung since 1146.

Was there something similar to the Rurickids heir-ladder?
Or there were no Regencies in Danemark?

Thanks,
boreal_s

 

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Originally posted by boreal_s
I wonder, if there was any specific custom of succession in Scandinavia or some of its parts?

It seems, every son of Sveinn II Ulfsson (1018-29 apr 1076) had been a Danish Konung in the span of 1076-1134, before his grandson, Erík II Unforgetable (1090-1137), son of Erik I Good, has become a Konung himself.

Then again, Olaf II Haraldsson kesju (1106-1143), grandson of Erik I Good, was Konung in 1140-1143, though Erik II had a male heir - Sveinn III (1127-1157), Konung since 1146.

Was there something similar to the Rurickids heir-ladder?
Or there were no Regencies in Danemark?

Thanks,
boreal_s

I can answer for Sweden...
The kingship was elective. However the laws said many things about the process. The 'Södermannalagen' (Royal preorgative of 1327) says that the King shall be elected. He must be a man born within the country and it would be prefered if he was one of the fromer King's sons if such where alive.

It is my strongest belief that both Sweden and Denmark was Elective Monarchies, while the crown of Norway was inherited by the eldest son. In Sweden sons of the King seems to have had advantage over Noblemen, but in times when siblings where weak a new line took over.

/Greven

 

[Havard]

I can try to answer for Norway...

The base rules was as follows:
- Any son of a king, born in wedlock or not, had a cleim to the throne.
- To become kings they had to be elected at the various tings.
- One point is that in the period from 1045-1164 there were often more than one king:

- Harald III Hardråde was made co-king with his nephew Magnus in 1045.
- Olav III Kyrre made co-king with his brother Magnus II in 1067. Olav outlived his brother with 24 years.
- Upon the death of Olav III in 1093 his son Magnus III Barelegs shared the throne with Håkon, son of Magnus II. Magnus Barelegs outlived his cousin with eight years.
- When he died the throne was shared between his three sons Olav, Øystein and Sigurd (later known as Sigurd the Crusader!).
- When Sigurd, the longest living of the three died in 1130 the throne was shared between Magnus IV (the Blind), son of Sigurd, and his alledged cousin Harald IV Gille who claimed to be a son of Magnus III and thus the uncle of Magnus IV.
- Harald have Magnus deposed, and upon the death of Harald his two sons, Sigurd II (Mouth) and Inge (the Hunchback) share the throne, later also with their brother Øystein.

After the coronation of Magnus V Erlingsson in 1164 (the first coronation in Norway) a new rule of succession is established backed by the power of the new archbishop in Nidaros (established 1154):
- Norway only can have one legal king.
- The king must son of a king, and born in wedlock.
- The riksmøte (national assembly), composed by the bishops, the hird (nobles) and 12 peasants from each of the 5 bishoprics, should choose the king.

During all this time the claims to the Norwegian crown were always hereditary, while the king had to be elected. The only change made in 1164 was that the pool of claimants was drastically reduced...

 

[Idiotboy]

Originally posted by Havard
I can try to answer for Norway...

The base rules was as follows:
- Any son of a king, born in wedlock or not, had a cleim to the throne.
- To become kings they had to be elected at the various tings.

I don´t think Sweden was much different actually. The eriksgata has to do with the fact that the king traveled around the country to become confirmed at the various tings as king.

 

[Styrbiorn]

That is true, and the situation with many co-kings was not uncommon in Sweden.

 

[Idiotboy]

Originally posted by Styrbiorn
That is true, and the situation with many co-kings was not uncommon in Sweden.

Not surprising really considering that a king was a times nothing more than the noble that held the advantage at the time.

 

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Wow!

In other words, CK should have some "juicy" roleplaying choices for Scandinavia. Looks like a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation for naming heirs.

 

[Havard]

Originally posted by Doc
Wow!

In other words, CK should have some "juicy" roleplaying choices for Scandinavia. Looks like a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation for naming heirs.

And to the above list I can add that the years from 1130 to 1217 in Norway are known as "The Civil Wars period" with rival kings popping up all over the realm

 

[Styrbiorn]

The Union era might provide some interesting tweaks too

 

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Originally posted by Havard


And to the above list I can add that the years from 1130 to 1217 in Norway are known as "The Civil Wars period" with rival kings popping up all over the realm

Well, In Sweden there was two dynasties competing in the same period, Erik´s and Sverker´s..
result: In the end Earl Birger Magnusson´s dynasty became kings..

 

[Aetius]

In Denmark the death of Valdemar II seems to have caused some sort of a killing spree of Danish kings by rivals

 

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Originally posted by Aetius
In Denmark the death of Valdemar II seems to have caused some sort of a killing spree of Danish kings by rivals

Yes, there is a relatively new book on this subject..I wish I remember the guys name but I don´t..

 

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Well in Denmark the King was elected by the 3 "landsting" of Jutland, Seeland and Scania (jylland, sjælland og skåne), even through it was not by law, the king was traditionally found amoung the heirs of the late king or at least somebody who could claim to decend from Gorm the Old.
And from time to time the 3 ting didn't agree on the same king or the sons of the late king agreed to divide the kingdom ect. which lead to more than one civil war.