In the year 1155, after the death of Swerker Kelso°, the Otho gothians chose his son Charles for their king, but the Swedes at their general assembly at Upsal elected Erick Jadwardson, a nobleman connected by alliance with both the royal families of Sweden and Denmark. Ha is styled Erick IX. by most chronologists, and he is also called Erick the Pious, or St. Erick. After some demur, the Gothians agreed that he should reign over both kingdoms, but that after his death Charles Swerkerson should succeed him. Erick brought back the Halsingera and the Jkmmtlanders to tho Swedish allegiance. Iu 1157 he proceeded with troops to Finland, iu order to subdue the natives and convert them to the Christian faith, and the Bishop of Upsal accompanied him on this expedition. The Finlanders were defeated, many of them were slain, and the rest were baptised. Christian churches were founded by the bishop, who remained in the country, while Erick returned to Sweden, where he employed himself in compiling a code of laws out of the ancient constitutions of the kingdom. This compilation is known by the name of St. Erick'a law.
Erick is remembered in history as a good king. In 1161, on the 11th of May, as he was in the neighbourhood of Upsal, a party of Danes who had landed on the coast under Prince Magnus, surprised and killed him after a brave defence ou his part. Magnus had his head cut off, and afterwards proclaimed himself king ' • but the Swedes and Gothians, uniting under Charles Swerkerson, fell the Danes and killed them all, together with their prince, and out of the spoil they built a church ou the spot. Charles was then acknowledged as king of the Swedes and the Goal; the title which the kings of Sweden bear to this day.
Charles was killed by Knut, St. Erick's son, about 1168, who succeeded him; but after Knut's death, in 1192, the crown was again disputed between Erick Knutson and Swerker, the son of Charles, who wis supported by the Gothians. After a long war Swerker was killed in battle, 1210, and left Erick Knutson in quiet possession of the throne. St. Erick's convention was then renewed, and John, the son of Swerker, was constituted heir to the throne, which was after wards to return to Erick's descendants. Erick died in 1219, at Wisingsoe, which was the usual place of residence of the Swedish kings in those days.
Erick Erickson, sou of the preceding, succeeded John in 1222, according to the convention, and reigned till 1250. His reign was at first distracted by civil war. The powerful family of Tolekunger, who were allied to the king by marriage, revolted against him ; but they were defeated, and two of the leaders were put to death. Under this king Gulielmus Sabinensis, the pope's legate, first forbade marriage to the Swedish priests. Erick made war upon the Finlandera, who had revolted, and built several fortresses on their frontiers. He died at Wisingsoe without issue, and was succeeded by Waldemar L, his sister'a son.
Erick, aon of King Magnus, and of Blanche, daughter of the Flemish Earl of Namur, was made colleague to his father by a powerful party of the nobility in 1344. A war broke out between father and son in 1357, and at last the kingdom was divided between them, Erick having the whole southern part, including Skane, East Gothia, Smilland, &c. Erick was shortly after poisoned at an interview with his father, and, it was reported, by tho agency of his own mother.