House of Erik

The foremother of the dynasty was Saint Erik's wife Christina Björnsdotter, whom legend claims to have been the maternal granddaughter of Inge the Elder, the king who abolished paganism in Sweden.

Magnus ruled part of Sweden briefly, but was soon slain by Karl Sverkersson, who took the throne.

The struggle against the House of Sverker continued until 1172–73, when Knut finally secured his hold on the kingdom.

To strengthen his claim to the throne, Knut and Uppsala Cathedral promoted the sainthood of his father, Erik.

Descent from this dynasty was regarded as such hard currency in medieval and early modern power games that King Karl Knutsson even fabricated a lineage (see Tofta, Adelsö) to claim that he, too, was an heir of the House of Erik.