Duke of Sweden

Birger Magnusson
Birger in Varnhem Church
Jarl of Sweden
In office c. 1248 – 1266
Monarch	Eric XI Valdemar
Preceded by	Ulf Fase
Personal details
Born	c. 1200 Probably in Östergötland
Died	21 October 1266 Jälbolung, Västergötland
Resting place	Varnhem Abbey, Västergötland
Spouse(s)	Ingeborg Eriksdotter of Sweden Matilda of Holstein
Relations	unnamed woman
Children	Gregers Birgersson (illegitimate) Rikissa Birgersdotter Valdemar, King of Sweden Magnus III of Sweden Christina Catherine Birgersdotter of Bjelbo Eric Birgersson Ingeborg Birgersdotter of Bjelbo Benedict, Duke of Finland
Parents	Magnus Minniskiöld and Ingrid Ylva

 Birger Jarl  (c. 1200 – 21 October 1266), or Birger Magnusson, was a Swedish statesman, Jarl of Sweden and a member of the House of Bjelbo, who played a pivotal role in the consolidation of Sweden. Birger also led the Second Swedish Crusade, which established Swedish rule in Finland. Additionally, he is traditionally attributed to have founded the Swedish capital, around 1250. Birger used the Latin title of Dux Sweorum which in English equals Duke of Sweden, and the design of his coronet combined those used by continental European and English dukes.

It is known that Birger grew up and spent his adolescence in Bjälbo, Östergötland but the exact date of his birth remains uncertain and available historical sources are contradictory. Examinations of his mortal remains indicate that he was probably about 50 upon his death in 1266 which would indicate a birth around 1216. However, his father Magnus Minnesköld is assumed to have died no later than 1210, which would lead to an assumed birth a few years earlier. Under any circumstance, he was the son of Ingrid Ylva, who according to Olaus Petri was a daughter of Sune Sik and granddaughter of King Sverker I of Sweden, which would make Birger a matrilineal member of the House of Sverker. His brothers or half-brothers — Eskil, Karl, and Bengt — were all born long before 1200, and it can therefore be assumed that they had another mother. He was also a nephew of the jarl Birger Brosa from the House of Bjelbo. The combination of this background proved to be of vital importance.