Kol of Sweden

For the parent of Sverker I of Sweden, see his article.

Kol (died about 1173) and Boleslaw of Sweden were contenders for the throne of Sweden from 1167 until their deaths a few years later. Kol has been called Kol Sverkersson, based on an unverifiable assumption that he was a son of King Sverker I of Sweden. The only medieval sources that say anything about his parentage claim he was a grandson of Sverker, that is a son of Prince John.^[1][2]

Kol did battle for the throne, allegedly in tandem with his younger half-brother or uncle Boleslaw, after King Charles VII of Sweden was assassinated by Canute I of Sweden. Kol was recognized at least in parts of Sweden. He is to have held the throne in opposition to Canute for a few years. He was probably killed in battle or murdered by Canute's men around 1173. A 14th-century source claims that he was killed at Bjälbo.^[1][2]

The suggestion that he was a son of Sverker is based on a Danish source which mentions that Sverker had a son Boleslaw. This son has been identified by some historians (such as Nathanael Beckman in Svenskt biografiskt lexikon) as the throne contender by the same name, and thus Kol has also been assigned Sverker I for a father.^[1]

Though some sources affirm that Kol actually was King of Sweden for a few years, the Swedish Royal Court does not recognize him as such in its official list of rulers.

Sources

1. Hans Gillingstam (1977). "Kol". Svenskt biografiskt lexikon band 21.
2. Liljegren, Bengt (2004). Rulers of Sweden. Historiska Media. p. 34. ISBN 9185057630. Retrieved 2014-02-11. Kol was killed in a battle at Bjalbo in Ostergotland in 1173 digitized July 9, 2008

• Kol i Nationalencyklopedin.