Eric (Swedish king 852)

Eric (Old Norse: Eiríkr, Swedish: Erik) was a Swedish monarch or local ruler who ruled over Birka, an important port town, and possibly Uppsala, an important early Swedish political center, until about the year 852. His existence is attested by the nearly contemporary account Vita Ansgari, written by the missionary Rimbert, who visited Sweden alongside Ansgar in c. 852. By the time of their visit, a king by the name Olof ruled, with Eric being recently deceased.[1]

Eric appears to have been a popular king; according to Rimbert's writings, some of the Anti-Christian Swedes suggested that Eric be worshipped as a god alongside the rest of the Nordic pantheon instead of the new Christian god the missionaries were attempting to introduce in Sweden.[1]