Folkung
In modern
Swedish,
Folkung has two meanings, which appear to be opposites:
# The noble (
royal)
clan of some Folkungar, later named
Folkungaätten (
ätt means
clan), who in effect introduced inheritance of the
throne during the
12th century. Modern historians refer to this family as
Bjälboätten, referring to their origin from the village of
Bjälbo, in Östergötland (
Ostrogothia)See here
House of Bjelbo.# The political opponents of the
dynasty of Folkungaätten (singular
Folkunge, plural
Folkungar). This "party" fought for the ancient right to elect kings in Sweden.
The terms are so confusing that the meanings can be explained only through insight into
Swedish medieval history and medieval sources.
Until the
15th century,
Folkunge was used only with the second meaning. However, these political opponents were also sometimes said to be descendants of
Duke (
Jarl) Folke of the family of Bjälbo (Bjälboätten), who lived before the family became royal. Hence, in the 15th century, the whole family became known as
Folkungaätten, as it still is.
Later research, though, showed that the political Folkungar were not entirely descendants of Duke Folke; instead, they belonged to different Swedish noble families, united by the ambition to fight against a central ruler of Sweden. They wanted to keep the old "freedom" for the small kingdoms, including the election of kings, and to retain power in their local control. Most came from the ancient provinces of
Svealand, along the eastern coastline of what is now modern Sweden.
Because no mediaeval source names the royal family as
Folkungar and because the term wasn't used in this sense until the 15th century, modern historians started to call this "party" the "true Folkungar" and the royal family the "false Folkungar," arguing that the royal family should more correctly be referred to as the family of Bjälbo.
There is still a lot of research to be done, and all the questions are not answered. Therefore, for now the term
Folkung or
Folkunge can mean the family of Folkunga, even though, according to the old medieval sources, it is the name for their political enemies.
*
Magnus I of Sweden, the second king of that royal
dynasty.
*
Unification of Sweden*
History of Sweden
