[1] Rikissa Birgersdotter was born as one of the eldest children in the marriage of lord Birger Magnusson (better known as Birger Jarl), later riksjarl and regent of Sweden, and Princess Ingeborg Eriksdotter, eldest sibling of King Erik Eriksson of Sweden.
Birger's policy included efforts to keep the peace between Scandinavia's three kingdoms and to strengthen his own already powerful family's influence.
Thus his legitimate children were all considered de facto Swedish princes and princesses through their mother and through Birger's own royal ancestry.
[5][6] In 1262, the Dowager Queen of Norway was married to Henry of Mecklenburg, Prince of Werle (d. 1291).
Chronica principum Saxonie mentions Rikissa as daughter of King of Sweden (filia regis Suecie), which title has caused consternation among later researchers.