A pretender from another family, Erik Jedvardsson (whom later generations dubbed martyr and saint), ruled over parts of Sweden in the following years.

In fact he is the first Swedish ruler to be expressly titled rex Sweorum et Gothorum (King of the Swedes and Geats) in a papal letter from 1164.

After a request by the king, his jarl Ulf, and the Swedish bishops, the pope appointed Stefan, a former monk in Alvastra Abbey, as the first archbishop.

Shortly afterwards, the people of Värend at the border to Denmark offered money to the king if he supported the installation of a particular bishop in Växjö.

[11] In the spring of 1167, King Karl was killed on the island of Visingsö by supporters of Knut Eriksson, head of the rival Eric dynasty.

"[13] Starting from Karl Sverkersson's death, his kinsmen (either half-brothers or possibly nephews) Burislev and Kol together opposed Knut's kingship and were rival kings recognized in parts of Götaland.