SVITJOD

Svitjod was a kind of wiking society whose inhabitants, the Suiones, engaged in piracy. They were based just north of lake Mälaren in the three folklands of Tiundaland, Attundaland and Fjärdhundraland. A long civil war, staring with the murder of Sverker the Elder in 1156 AD ended with the victory of Magnus Ladulås in 1280 AD, when the leaders of the rebellion were executed. The main part of the conflict began when Birger Jarl (1210-1266 AD) and the church strived to lay the foundation for a state. They encountered fierce opposition from the leaders of Svitjod, the Folkungs. The Folkungs refused paying taxes, carried on with the piracy and wanted to keep their elected bishops. The Folkungs were defeated in two battles in the east of Uppland, at Sparrsätra in 1247 AD and at Herrevadsbro in 1251. Against earlier promises, the Folkungs were thereafter summarily executed.