17 Facts About Stenkil

Stenkil was a King of Sweden who ruled c 1060 until 1066.

Stenkil succeeded Emund the Old and became the first king from the House of Stenkil.

Stenkil is praised as a devout Christian, but with an accommodating stance towards the old Pagan religion.

The contemporary chronicler Adam of Bremen says Stenkil was the nephew or stepson of the former King Emund the Old, while the Hervarar saga asserts that he was related to the previous dynasty by marriage to Emund's daughter.

Stenkil was probably from Vastergotland rather than Uppland or the Malaren area.

The tradition that Stenkil was beloved by the Geats appears to be supported by Snorri Sturluson's Heimskringla.

Stenkil appears in history around 1056, during the reign of Emund the Old.

Stenkil was much given to drinking parties and not much involved in the business at hand.

However, Stenkil apprehended that the people in the area resented the aim of the bishops, and managed to talk them out of the project.

The escapee stayed with King Stenkil who made him Jarl of Varmland.

The worried Stenkil arranged a meeting with King Sweyn and asked for his support.

Sweyn replied that he could not break the recent peace treaty, but advised Stenkil to appoint the valiant Hakon Jarl as sub-ruler of Vastergotland, from where he could confront King Harald.

Strangely, the Knytlinga Saga tells that "King Sweyn had a dispute with the Swedish King Stenkil, who went with his army against King Sweyn, although he did not appropriate any of his territories".

Adam of Bremen, Snorri Sturluson and the Hervarar saga all state that Stenkil passed away at the time of the Battle of Hastings in England.

Stenkil's death triggered a violent civil war, perhaps caused by rising tension between Christianity and adherents of the pagan religion.

Stenkil died in his bed in Sweden about the time that King Harold fell in England.

Stenkil was married to a daughter of Emund the Old, and had at least two children:.