Emund Slemme Olofsson (abt. 1000 - abt. 1060)

Born about 1000 in Uppsala, Sweden [uncertain]

Ancestors

Descendants

Died about 1060 at about age 60 in Sweden [uncertain]

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Emund Olofsson was part of early Scandinavian history. Join: Early Scandinavia Project Discuss: EARLY_SCANDINAVIA

Biografi

Emund är ansedd vara en historiskt belagd person. Han förekommer i den äldre Västgötalagen. Se https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handskrift_KB_B_59 och https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/V%C3%A4stg%C3%B6talagens_kungal%C3%A4ngd

Från svenska Wikipedia, att bygga vidare på:

Emund den gamle var son till Olof Skötkonung och frillan Edla. Han var halvbror till sin företrädare på tronen, Anund Jakob. Emund den gamle blev den siste svenske kungen av Erik Segersälls ätt. Emund är främst känd genom uppgifter från Adam av Bremen men även från Hervararsagan, Snorre Sturlassons Heimskringla och från Västgötalagens kungalängd.

Biography

Emund Olofsson was a member of the aristocracy in Europe.

Emund is considered to be a historical person. He is known from multiple sources, Adam of Bremen, Hervararsagan, Heimskringla and from the list of kings from Västgötalagen.

We know that Edmunds father, Olof Skötkonung, was the first ruler to have ruled over both Mälardalen (Mälaren Valley) and Västergötland West Gothland) and also the first "sveakung" who was christened and who did not revert to the old beliefs again.

Emund became ruler of the same area after his halfbrother, Anund Jakob, died. He is estimated to been "king" from around 1050-1052 and until his death, 1060 and he were the last of the rulers from the dynasty of Erik Segersäll (Erik Segersälls ätt, Uppsalaätten, gamla kungaätten).

He is sometimes also referred to be of the House of Munsö (Munsö-ätten) or House of Björn Ironside (Björn Järnsidas ätt). Those houses are considered legendary or semi-legendary, while the later dynasty of Erik Segersäll ( 10th to 11th centuries) are more firmly accepted as historical.

According to the sources, Emund was also christened, although Hervararsagan might implicate he was not as serious as his father about implementing it, it says; "in his time, the people neglected Christianity".

Name(s)

Emund den gamle
Æmunðær gamlæ
Emund the Old (he was already old when he became ruler)
Emund Slemme
Æmunðær slemæ

His father was Olof so patronymic would be Olofsson.

Parents

Emund was the son of Olof Skötkonung Eriksson and his "frilla" (mistress) Edla [of the Wends.

Spouse(s) and children

There is no wife mentioned by name in the old sources. Some historians however, seem to think he might have been married to Astrid Njalsdotter of Skjalgaätten (Hålogaland).

He had at least one child, the son Anund. According to Adam of Bremen he died during a raid and was supposed to have died before Emund.

Some historians have also suggested that he had a daughter, name unknown, married to Stenkil who became ruler after Emund died.

According to MedLands he was supposedly married twice, first wife unknown and second wife was Astrid Njalsdotter, widow of Ragnvald Ulfsson, Jarl of Västergötland. However, it also says that "the primary source which confirms her parentage and two marriages has not yet been identified".

In the book "Sveriges regenter under 1000 år", Alex Svensson claims that the name of Emund's wife is not known and that he with that wife only had two known children; Anund and a daughter who probably married Stenkil.

Death and burial

Emund died about 1060, nothing is known about his death place nor burial. Emund dies under uncertain circumstances and the House of Ynglinga/Munsö dies with him.

Research Note

Astrid Njalsdotter has for some reason been connected to Emund as his wife and mother of his children. Astrid is, however, the mother of Stenkil and the wife of Ragnvald Ulfsson.

Sources

• Emund Gamle, http://sok.riksarkivet.se/sbl/artikel/16058, Svenskt biografiskt lexikon (art av Sture Bolin.), hämtad 2015-02-09
• Swedish National Arhive, article Emund Gamle, Svenskt biografiskt lexikon (art av Sture Bolin.), hämtad 2020-02-06.
• http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/SWEDEN.htm
• Ulf Sundberg, Sveriges Krig 1050-1448, Svenskt Militärhistoriskt Bibliotek, 2010
• Svensson, Alex. Sveriges regenter under 1000 år. Svenskt Militärhistoriskt Biblioteks Förlag, 2010. [ ]