— Ch. 1 · Origins And Captivity —
Edla.
~2 min read · Ch. 1 of 5
Edla lived during the Viking Age, spanning the 10th and 11th centuries. Tradition holds she was the daughter of a Lechitic tribal chief. This leader ruled lands between the Oder and Elbe rivers. That region now forms part of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in modern Germany. Historical records place her capture as a prisoner of war between 995 and 1000. She arrived in Sweden before Estrid of the Obotrites came to the kingdom. Her journey from freedom to captivity marked the start of a new life far from home.
Royal Concubinage
King Olof Skötkonung took Edla into his household as a concubine. He later married Estrid of the Obotrites instead. This union changed the status of Edla within the royal court. The king had children with both women, but their positions differed greatly. Edla bore Emund, Astrid, and likely Holmfrid. These births occurred while she remained outside the formal marriage bond. Her role as a concubine defined her influence and that of her offspring for years.The Children Of Edla
Emund became King of Sweden after his mother's time at court. His sister Astrid married King Olav II of Norway. Their brother Holmfrid is less documented but known as the wife of Sven Ladejarl. These three figures shaped political alliances across Scandinavia. Emund ruled Sweden during a turbulent period of expansion. Astrid connected the Swedish and Norwegian crowns through blood and marriage. Holmfrid linked the family to powerful Jarls in the region. Their lives reflected the complex web of medieval European politics.Fosterage And Tragedy
Snorre Sturlasson wrote about the fate of Edla's children. He noted they were sent away to foster parents. Queen Estrid treated them unkindly according to this account. The decision to remove them from the royal court suggests deep hostility. This action may indicate that Edla died while her children were still young. The separation broke the direct line between mother and offspring. It also protected the children from potential harm within the palace walls.Historical Legacy
Modern scholars rely on limited sources to reconstruct Edla's life. Åke Ohlmarks wrote about all queens of Sweden including her story. Lars O. Lagerqvist detailed rulers over 1,000 years in his book published by Albert Bonniers Förlag AB in 1982. These texts provide the primary framework for understanding her existence today. No contemporary records name her directly outside these later accounts. Historians piece together her identity from fragments of tradition and genealogy. Her legacy survives through the kings and queens she helped create.