Talk:Battle of Gestilren

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Improve article[edit]

The article cites no sources and I feel that the composition is rather poor. I'll try to put together an improved/exteneded article and post it here for comments first. Regards Osli73 19:59, 27 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Proposal for a new text - any comments, pls feel free to add or ammend[edit]

The Battle of Gestilren took place in 1210 in central Sweden between Erik X and Sverker II. The battle ended with the death of Sverker II and thereby ended several generations of contest for the Swedish crown between the two families. The circumstances of the battle are not well known and subject to debate among historians. However, the battle is generally seen as a milestone in the creation of the Swedish kingdom during the early Middle Ages.

Background[edit]

The Battle of Gestilren is the culmination of several generations of competition between the Houses of Sverker and Erik for the Swedish throne. In 1130 the Östergötland nobleman Sverker I becomes king of Sweden. In 1150 he is replaced by Erik the Holy. Erik Jedvardsson is murdered in 1160 by the Danish prince Magnus Henriksson. In 1161 Sverker I's son Karl Sverkerson becomes king until he is also murdered in 1167 by Erik the Holy's son Knut Ericson, who then becomes king. When Knut Ericson dies a natural death in 1195 he is replaced by Sverker II. However, in 1205 Knut Ericson's four sons rebell, resulting in the Battle of Älgarås. Three of the brothes are killed in the battle and the only surviving of Knut Ericson's sons, Erik X, flees to Norway. In 1208 Erik X returns from exile in Norway and defeats Sverker II at the Battle of Lena after which Sverker II flees to Denmark. Sverker II returns from Denmark in 1210 to fight Erik X at the Battle of Gestilren, during which he is killed.

Historical Sources[edit]

The Battle of Gestilren is mentioned in a number of historical sources. Documents from Dominican monks in Lund 1254 mention the battle: "1210. Bellum Gestilren 15. Kal. August, ubi occubuerunt Suercherus rex et Fulco dux." The West Geathish Book of Kings, believed to originate from 1240, writes that "Folkungarne slogo Sverker ihjel i Gestilren."

The location of the battle is unknown and contested. Historically, Varvs parish in Västergötland has been named as the location of the battle and in 1910 a monument was raised. More recently, the village of Gästre in Uppland has been named as the most likely location of the battle.

Links[edit]

Slaget ved Gestilren by Jan Troel (in Danish), provides a 'Danish' view of the battle[1]

Removed everything with danish troups[edit]

I removing citation reg danish troups, not one single source claim any danes, Denmark was fully occupied with other things, IF it was battle, no danes were involved! (see the source above where Jan Troel confirms, that the Danes were not involved.) Dan Koehl (talk) 04:12, 1 April 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Assessment comment[edit]

The comment(s) below were originally left at Talk:Battle of Gestilren/Comments, and are posted here for posterity. Following several discussions in past years, these subpages are now deprecated. The comments may be irrelevant or outdated; if so, please feel free to remove this section.

Unref and short ErikTheBikeMan (talk) 22:27, 6 October 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Last edited at 22:27, 6 October 2008 (UTC). Substituted at 09:10, 29 April 2016 (UTC)