Erik of Pomerania (1382?-1459) was king of Norway from 1388 to 1442, of Denmark from 1396 to 1439, and of Sweden from 1396 to 1439. His overly ambitious projects eventually led to rebellion and the loss of all his crowns.
Erik was the son of Duke Vartislav VII of the German duchy of Pomerania. His great-aunt Margaret adopted him after her only child, Olav, died in 1387. Margaret had served as regent (temporary ruler) of Denmark since 1376 and of Norway since 1380. She served on behalf of Olav, who had become king of both countries while still a child. In 1388, during a time of political unrest, Swedish nobles made Margaret regent of Sweden as well. But Olav’s death created a crisis. Olav had no clear heir. The leaders of all three countries wanted Margaret to rule, but no woman had ever been crowned in Scandinavia as a queen in her own right. So Margaret continued to govern as regent and adopted young Erik as her heir and successor. Erik was officially accepted as king of Norway in 1388 and of Denmark and Sweden in 1396, but Margaret remained the real ruler until her death in 1412.
In 1397, Erik was crowned king of all three realms at Kalmar, Sweden. At the same time, leaders of the kingdoms drew up an agreement, later known as the Union of Kalmar. The agreement said the three kingdoms would be united permanently under the rule of one monarch, but each country would keep its own council and laws.
After Margaret’s death, Erik continued most of his great-aunt’s policies, but he lacked her tact and restraint. In Norway and Sweden, he appointed Danes and Germans to many local offices, which the people increasingly resented. Unlike Margaret, Erik got involved in wars to try to expand his empire, which required raising huge amounts of taxes.
In 1434, the Swedes revolted. Between 1439 and 1442, the councils of all three countries removed Erik from his thrones. In 1439, Erik fled to the Swedish island of Gotland, from which he raided Scandinavian shipping on the Baltic Sea until the Swedes drove him out in 1449. He returned to Pomerania, where he lived until his death.
See also Engelbrekt Engelbrektsson; Kalmar, Union of; Margaret.
