Benedict, Duke of Finland
Encyclopedia
Bishop Benedict, Duke of Finland (1254 - 25 May 1291) was a Swedish prelate
and a royal duke
.
His father was Birger jarl
, the real ruler of Sweden
1250-66 and Benedict was from legitimate marriage. Some sources have caused confusion whether his mother was Ingeborg of Sweden
, as it highly likely was, daughter of Eric X of Sweden
, mother of Benedict's elder brothers Valdemar and Magnus.
Older but non-contemporaneous Swedish literature has for some reasons made Benedict a son born of Birger's second wife Mechtild of Holstein, dowager Queen of Denmark. However at the time of his birth, Mechtild, widow of Abel of Denmark
, yet sojourned evidently in Denmark, and Ingeborg died in 1254.
Youngest son of Birger and youngest brother of king Valdemar I of Sweden
and Magnus, Duke of Sweden, later also king, he was put to an ecclesiastical career. Archdeacon of Linköping Cathedral
, he became his brother Magnus's chancellor when Magnus was king. In 1284, some time after the death of his next-elder brother Eric of Småland, and during the reign of their brother Magnus III, dominus Benedict was created Duke of Finland
, the first known holder of that title and appanage. The title may have been just that of Sweden, the successor office of the position of Riksjarl of Sweden, held previously by Eric of Småland, and earlier by Magnus. In this reconstruction, Benedict was called duke of Osterlandia
, or Finland, because seemingly much of his fiefs were located in Finland - like his brother Eric's had been in Smalandia.
In 1286 he was elected bishop
of Linköping
. Linköping's chronicle of bishops from 1523 tells of him Scriptores rerum suecicarum medii ævi. There exists at least two of his last wills, from 1287 and 1289.
He died from the plague.
Prelate
A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...
and a royal duke
Duke
A duke or duchess is a member of the nobility, historically of highest rank below the monarch, and historically controlling a duchy...
.
His father was Birger jarl
Birger jarl
, 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...
, the real ruler of Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
1250-66 and Benedict was from legitimate marriage. Some sources have caused confusion whether his mother was Ingeborg of Sweden
Ingeborg Eriksdotter of Sweden
Ingeborg Eriksdotter , was a Swedish Princess and Duchess, daughter of king Eric X of Sweden, eldest sibling of king Eric XI of Sweden, wife of Birger Jarl and mother of king Valdemar I of Sweden.- Biography :...
, as it highly likely was, daughter of Eric X of Sweden
Eric X of Sweden
Eric "X" of Sweden, Swedish: Erik Knutsson; Old Norse: Eiríkr Knútsson was the King of Sweden between 1208 and 1216. Also known as Eric the Survivor when he became King, he was the only remaining son of King Canute I of Sweden and his queen of an undetermined name, who probably was Cecilia...
, mother of Benedict's elder brothers Valdemar and Magnus.
Older but non-contemporaneous Swedish literature has for some reasons made Benedict a son born of Birger's second wife Mechtild of Holstein, dowager Queen of Denmark. However at the time of his birth, Mechtild, widow of Abel of Denmark
Abel of Denmark
Abel of Denmark was Duke of Schleswig from 1232 to 1252 and King of Denmark from 1250 until his death in 1252. He was the son of Valdemar II by his second wife, Infanta Berengária of Portugal, and brother to Eric IV and Christopher I....
, yet sojourned evidently in Denmark, and Ingeborg died in 1254.
Youngest son of Birger and youngest brother of king Valdemar I of Sweden
Valdemar I of Sweden
Valdemar, English also Waldemar; , was King of Sweden 1250–1275.-Biography:Valdemar was the son of princess Ingeborg Eriksdotter of Sweden and Birger jarl, from the House of Bjelbo. During the first sixteen years of his reign, it was Birger Jarl who was the real ruler...
and Magnus, Duke of Sweden, later also king, he was put to an ecclesiastical career. Archdeacon of Linköping Cathedral
Linköping Cathedral
The Linköping Cathedral is a church in the Swedish city of Linköping. The cathedral is the seat for the bishop in the Church of Sweden Diocese of Linköping. It is situated opposite Linköping Castle.-History:...
, he became his brother Magnus's chancellor when Magnus was king. In 1284, some time after the death of his next-elder brother Eric of Småland, and during the reign of their brother Magnus III, dominus Benedict was created Duke of Finland
Duke of Finland
Duke of Finland was an occasional medieval title granted as a tertiogeniture to the relatives of the King of Sweden between the 13th and 16th centuries. It included a duchy along with the feudal customs, and often meant a veritably independent principality...
, the first known holder of that title and appanage. The title may have been just that of Sweden, the successor office of the position of Riksjarl of Sweden, held previously by Eric of Småland, and earlier by Magnus. In this reconstruction, Benedict was called duke of Osterlandia
Österland
Österland or Österlanden , one of the four traditional lands of Sweden, was a medieval term used for the southern part of Finland. It gradually fell out of use by the 15th century...
, or Finland, because seemingly much of his fiefs were located in Finland - like his brother Eric's had been in Smalandia.
In 1286 he was elected bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of Linköping
Linköping
Linköping is a city in southern middle Sweden, with 104 232 inhabitants in 2010. It is the seat of Linköping Municipality with 146 736 inhabitants and the capital of Östergötland County...
. Linköping's chronicle of bishops from 1523 tells of him Scriptores rerum suecicarum medii ævi. There exists at least two of his last wills, from 1287 and 1289.
He died from the plague.