few and do not give much insight in affairs during his time. However, in 1216 Innocent III confirmed Eric in the rule, not only over his kingdom, but also over any pagan lands that he may conquer in the future. Thus King Eric entertained plans of military expansion to non-Christian areas across the Baltic Sea. For the rest, his reputation is good in Swedish historiography: the short chronicle incorporated in the Law of Västergötland calls him a good årkonung (harvest king, king of good years). Eric died suddenly of natural causes on 10 April 1216 in Näs Castle on the island of Visingsö. He was buried in the Varnhem Abbey Church. He did not leave a son at his demise, though Queen Richeza gave birth to a boy shortly afterwards (later Eric XI of Sweden). His successor was John I, a son of his rival Sverker II. Issue Sophia Eriksdotter (died 1241), married Henry III of Rostock (allegedly) Martha Eriksdotter, who married the Marshal Nils Sixtensson (Sparre) Ingeborg Eriksdotter (died 1254), married to Birger Jarl, regent of Sweden (possibly) Marianna, who married Barnim I, Duke of Pomerania Eric XI of Sweden (1216–1250) Other Skáldatal mentions that Grani Hallbjarnarson was one of Eric's court skalds. References Literature Axelson, Sven, Sverige i utländsk annalistik 900–1400 med särskild hänsyn till de isländska annalerna. Stockholm, 1955. Bolin, Sture, "Erik Knutsson", Svenskt biografiskt lexikon, https://sok.riksarkivet.se/Sbl/Presentation.aspx?id=15401 Gillingstam, Hans, "Folkungaätten", Svenskt biografiskt lexikon, https://sok.riksarkivet.se/Sbl/Presentation.aspx?id=14301 Gillingstam, Hans, "Knut Eriksson", Svenskt biografiskt lexikon, https://sok.riksarkivet.se/Sbl/Presentation.aspx?id=11661 Gillingstam, Hans, "Utomnordiskt och nordiskt i de äldsta svenska dynastiska förbindelserna", Personhistorisk tidskrift, häfte 1, 1981. http://personhistoriskasamfundet.org/1971-1998/ Harrison, Dick, Sveriges historia; medeltiden. Stockholm: Liber, 2002. Lönnroth, Erik, Från svensk medeltid. Stockholm: Aldus, 1959. Sandblom, Sven, Gestilren 1210. Striden stod i Uppland! I Gästre!. Enköping: Enköpings kommun, 2004. Wieselgren, P., Sveriges sköna litteratur: En öfverblick vid akademiska föreläsningar, Vol. II. Lund: Gleerup, 1834. http://runeberg.org/sverhist/2/0123.html External links 1180s births 1216 deaths 13th-century Swedish monarchs Rulers of Finland House of Eric Burials at Varnhem Abbey Sons of kings