Eric of Pomerania – Slavic king of Scandinavia who became “The Last Viking”.

Eric is crowned for a king of whole Scandinavia

Eric of Pomerania is by many historians and common Kashubians considered to be one of the most important rulers of
Pomerania. The Griffins Dynasty gave many great sons, and Bogusław, known also as Eric of Pomerania, was definitely among the greatest of them.

Interior of Darłowo castle.

Who was the man who would become the King of Norway, Sweden and Denmark, the Duke of Stargard and Słupsk? How did it happen that he lost his thrones and became known as “The Last Viking” of Baltic Sea? Lets find out in this article.

Eric of Pomerania was born as Bogusław of the House of Griffins on 11th of June 1382 A.D. He was delivered by his mother Maria Niklotovic/Nikloting (of the Meklemburg) in his father’s castle in Darłowo on the coast of the Baltic Sea. He was the son of Warcisław VII, the Duke of Pomerania.

In those times, European politics started to get very complicated, bloody, full of ambitious characters and betrayals. Being born in an aristocratic, and especially a royal family was a sure ticket to danger, excitement and ability to write history. Because he came from two legendary lineages, he inherited the rights to parts of Pomerania, Norway, Sweden and also Denmark. But how did a child become king of the entire Scandinavia? Let’s look at the internal situation in Scandinavia for a while.

Statue of Eric in Denmark

After the death of king Valdemar IV, the Danish throne was taken by his 6-year-old grandson Olaf II. Real power, however, lay in the hands of his mother Margaret. Olaf died at the age of 17. His father, Haakon VI Magnusson, King of Norway, died even earlier, which made queen Margaret I virtually the ruler of both Denmark and Norway. In the meantime, the Swedes were struggling against their ruler Magnus IV. He was finally overthrown by an uprising of local gentry and knights. Hoping for a change, the Swedes chose Albert of Meklemburg to be king, but they did not like him either, and for a good reason. He started taking away the privileges of the aristocracy, and even their land. The desperate Swedes asked Margaret for help. In return, she would rule Sweden same as Denmark and Norway, as a regent. She accepted the offer and helped overthrow Albert.

Margaret I gained great power. Her ambition was to unify whole Scandinavia, but she was not short sighted. She was not getting any younger and she lacked a male descendant. She decided to adopt the son of her sister Maria Niklotovic. The boy was basically living on the Danish royal court as he was the only living grandson of the Danish king Valdemar IV. After the death of her own son, Bogusław the Griffin was her closest male relative. He was her best chance. While still a child, Bogusław was crowned king of Denmark, and later Norway and Sweden, and became known as Eric of Pomerania. In 1397, he became the first ruler of the Kalmar Union. His full title stated “King of Denmark, Sweden and Norway, Wends and Goths, Duke of Pomerania”.

From his aunt, Eric was learning the ways of royalty, as she was still the one who was in control and it stayed that way till her death in 1412. Eric was already 30 years old at the time, married to Philippa of England (known also as Philippa of Lancaster). Future Pope, Pius II described him as  having “a beautiful body, reddish yellow hair, a ruddy face, and a long narrow neck … alone, without assistance, and without touching the stirrups, he jumped upon a horse, and all women were drawn to him, especially the Empress, in a feeling of longing for love”.

Statue of Eric and his aunt in Denmark

Soon after the start of his actual rule, he became known for his aggressive and stubborn character. He was also disliked by his opponents for putting “his people” (which meant Pomeranians and Danes) on high functions in Sweden and Norway. Denmark was involved in a long-lasting conflict with its tributaries, the dukes of Schleswig and Holstein. Eric decided that a fast and brutal attack would solve the problem once and for all. His decision caused a rather costly war that dragged for over 11 years. After he realized his failure in that field, he decided to focus on internal affairs. He started to reform Denmark, developed Copenhagen and numerous other Danish cities.

Years passed but his rule was stable.  People saw him as intelligent, strong, charming and well-spoken. He was sometimes criticized for his lack of diplomatic skills, being too agressive and stubborn.

His first wife came out to be infertile, and the second one gave him a son who died at an early age. After his pilgrimage to Jerusalem and travels around Europe he decided to attack Schleswig and Holstein once more. At the same time, he started an economical competition with the cities of the Hansa (a network of trading centers on the northern seas). To finance his war, he raised taxes for the trading ships passing through the Danish straits. The Danes gained more economical power at the expense of the Hansa, but they could not go on with the expensive war. Eric was too stubborn to admit that. Finally, the Swedes, who suffered from the weakening of Baltic trade, decided that it was time to overthrow another king. Soon after, the Danes, who had had enough of the never-ending war, did the same. Norwegians followed three years later.

Eric was the descendant of some of the most notorious and famous pirates of the Baltic sea and his aggressive character turned his attention to the field he knew he could succeed in. Overthrown but not alone, he gathered people loyal to him, pillaged the Danish treasury and made the island of Gotland his pirate base. He was attacking mostly ships of the Hansa, which he seemed to hate. It is in that time he got his nickname – “The last Viking”. Finally, the Swedes, who were still suffering economically from his hand, organized a big military attack on Gotland and drove him back to eastern Pomerania. He was in his 60s at the time.

Statue of Bogusław in Darłowo castle.

When he got back to his father’s castle, he became a completely different man. He became known for his abilities to diffuse conflicts, and used the enormous wealth he had gathered for the well being and development of his homeland. He arranged the marriage between the daughter of his cousin Sophia and his relative Eric II, who was also a Griffin and the duke of western Pomerania and Ruyana island (Rügen). He made him his heir and left him all his wealth. He lived in peace till the age of 78. He died where he was born, in Darłowo. His remains are kept in a sarcophagus till this day.

Sarcophagus of Bogusław.

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