ER'IC. The name of many kings of Sweden and Denmark, before and after the union of the two kingdoms in 1397.—Em• 1. of Sweden, who died about 854, protected the Christia 11A during the latter part of his reign, yielding to the per suasion of Saint Ansgarius.—Emc 11. is said to have continued this policy, and many institu tions, which evidently belong to a later period. are ascribed to him. history has become so overlaid with fable that it is difficult to aster taro the truth.—SAINT ERIC (i i 50-0 ) Chris tianized upper Sweden and built a number of ehurehes and monasteries. Ile undertook a cru sade against the Finns, which resulted in the long and intimate connection between the two countries. Erie also compiled an excellent voile of laws known as Saint Erie's Lag, which granted to women the right of inheritance of one third and certain privileges \ Vit i n their house holds.—Ertic X. (1210-16), grandson of Saint Eric, is the first king mentioned as being crowned. For a time lie had been an exile in Denmark.— The most important events in the reign of ERIC XI. (1222-50) were the successes achieved against the Finns; the imposition of celibacy on the clergy at the synod of Skenninge in 1248, and the invasion of Russia, which was checked by Alex ander Nevski. Under this King Birger Jar], of the family of Folkungar, rose to be the virtual ruler in the State, and after the death of Erie the royal crown was placed upon 13irger's son Walde mar.
In Denmark in the twelfth century ERIC EMUS (1134-37) exhausted the strength of the nation by his continual wars against his pirati cal neighbors, whom lie sought to Christianize. ERIC TilE LAMB, a king of mild and gentle char acter, crippled the power and resources of the Crown by his easy-going policy. He abdicated and retired to a cloister, where he died in 1147.— The three Erics (Erne VI., VI I., and VIII) who occupied the throne with only the inter mission of a few years, from 1241 to 1319, are associated with one of the most disastrous pe riods of Danish history. Long minorities, the practice of dismembering the crown lands in favor of younger branches of the royal house, and a futile struggle between the ecclesiastical power and the State, weakened the Crown to the last degree. ERIC VI., Plogpennig (1241-50), and ERIC VII., Clipping (1259-SO), were both assassinated, the former at the instigation of a brother, and the latter in revenge for a private injury. ERIC \'III. (1286.1319), the last of the
name before the union of Calmar, died childless. and was succeeded by his ambitious brother Christopher, who lost his powers and preroga tives one by one, and was finally forced to flee from Denmark. Margaret, daughter of Walde mar IV. of Denmark, by marriage with Hako, King of Norway, united the countries, and through her wise rule in those countries was enabled to secure the crown of Sweden also. By the union of Kalmar, in 1397, her nephew, Emc of Pomerania,was recognized as her successor. On the death of Margaret. in 1412. Eric therefore became King of the triple kingdom of Scandina via. his reckless disregard of treaties and oaths, his neglect of his duties, and his misdirected ambition. led to dissensions and maladministra tion. In consequence, in 1438, the Danes re nounced their allegiance. and in the next year Sweden did the Sallie. Denmark chose Christo pher of Bavaria in his stead; but Scandinavia, for many years afterwards, was a scene of in testine wars and dissensions, as a result of Eric's misrule. Erie fled to Gothland, and for ten years led the life of a pirate. Tie had married Philippa, daughter of llenry 1V. of England, a noble-spirited woman, whom it is said lie treated cruelly. lle died in 1459.
ER lc XIV., the last, of the name who ruled in Sweden, was one of the weakest and most un fortunate of the Eries. Ile succeeded his father, Gustavus Vasa, in 1500. The kingdom was in an excellent condition as the result of the wise rule of his father. Eric was well educated, and a number of useful reforms were introduced in his reign. lle made the first attempt to establish a supreme court. and invited the oppressed Protestants to his land, many Hupenots accept ing his offer. On the other hand, his fickleness find constant suspicion of others not only alien ated the affections of his subjects, but prevented the growth of a strong government. Elizabeth of England and Mary of Scotland were more than once the objects of his matrimonial schemes. Finally he married his mistress, a Swedish peas ant girl, who exercised great influence over him, especially during his attacks of insanity. The nobility at last rebelled, and the estates in 1563 deposed Eric and chose his brother John as King. Eric suffered the most rigorous confinement, and the frequent conspiracies to free him only made his lot the harder. To remove all danger, John caused his brother to he poisoned in 1577.