John I of Sweden

John I, Johan Sverkersson, (* 1201, † March 10, 1222 ) was from 1216 until his death King of Sweden. He was the son of Sverker Karlsson, King of Sweden, and IngeGerd Birgersdotter.

Already in 1202 he received from his father the title of Jarl. As John's father died in 1210, he was certainly still so young that the guide layer shrank a long regency and Erik Knutsson elected king. So had to move to Denmark he and his mother IngeGerd. After the death of Eric's 1216 John was elected king. Decisive for the choice was certainly the great power of his mother's family. The coronation took place after he had come of age, in spite of the protest of the Danes with the pope in the fall of 1219 in Linköping by the aged Archbishop Valerius instead.

1219 began Valdemar II of Denmark a crusade against Estonia. In order to preserve the Swedish interests, Johann also undertook a crusade to Estonia, which at first was so good that he came back with a part of his army to Sweden. The Crusaders initially made ​​some conquests, but this did not persist for long. Those who remained were sitting in the fortress Leal. In the fall they were attacked by Estonians, with its closest allies, the Jarl Karl Doeve and Bishop Karl Magnusson fell.

John died 1222 Visingsö from an illness and was buried in the monastery of Alvastra. Since he died unmarried and childless, he was the last king from the House of Sverker, which was now extinct on the husband's side.

The emerging in recent chronicles named " Johann the Younger " was based on a mistranslation of the Latin writings. In this he was so named " John Suercheri junioris filius " "John, son of Sverker the Younger ".