It is the oldest in a group of medieval rhymed chronicles recounting political events in Sweden.
Its authorship and precise political significance and biases are debated, but it is clear that the chronicle's protagonist and hero is Duke Erik Magnusson, brother of King Birger of Sweden.
The chronicle is written in knittelvers, a form of doggerel, and in its oldest version is 4543 lines long.
The chronicle was composed after 1320, based on its description of the most recent event, the execution of the young Magnus Birgersson.
At the latest, it was completed by 1335, prior to Magnus Eriksson's coming of age and ascension as king.