Birger Magnusson (1210-1266) was a duke of Sweden. Jarl Birger Magnusson is today known under the name "Birger Jarl" by the public, but since jarl is a title, sometimes translated into latin as dux (duke), which he shared with others, he never used his title in combination with his forename.
Being son to the knight Magnus Minnesköld to Bjälbo and Ingrid Ylva, and nephew of the former jarls of Sweden Birger Brosa and Karl the Dumb, he was member of the noble family of the manor Bjälbo, which was famous in early Swedish history.
Birger married Ingeborg Eriksdotter of Sweden, sister of King Erik Eriksson, between 1237 and 1240. The king was the last member of the dynasty and childless. After Birger fought down the king's enemies he was created jarl of Sweden by the king in 1248.
After Erik’s death in 1250 Birger Magnusson’s son Valdemar Birgersson was elected king while his father acted as regent. During the sixteen years of his sway Sweden advanced greatly in fame and prosperity. In 1249 he led an expedition to Finland, built the fortress of Tavastthus, and thus laid the foundations of Swedish oversea empire. He also built Stockholm, and enriched it by making it the chief mart for the trade of Lubeck, with which city he concluded a commercial treaty.
As a lawgiver also Birger laboured strenuously in the interests of civilization. In his old age he married the daughter of King Abel of Denmark. There is a fine statue of the great jarl in the Riddarholm church at Stockholm, erected by Fogelberg at the expense of the Stockholm magistracy in 1884. He is also the central figure of Fr. Hedberg’s drama Bröllopet på Ulfåsa (1865).
Children with unknown mother:
Children with Ingeborg Eriksdotter of Sweden:
- Rikissa Birgersdotter b. 1238
- Magnus Birgersson b. 1240, king of Sweden 1275.
- Valdemar Birgersson b. 1243, king of Sweden 1250 - 1275.
- Catherine Birgersdotter b. 1245
- Ingeborg Birgersdotter b. ca. 1245, died 1302
- Eric Birgersson b. 1250
Ingeborg died 1250 and Birger married in 1261 Mechtild of Holstein, queen widow of Denmark.
Children with Mechtild:
- Bengt Birgersson b. 1254
- Christine Birgersdotter