King of Sweden. He was the last ruler of the Erican Dynasty, often (but not genuinely) called Eric XI, and born posthumously as the only son of King Eric the Survivor. His mother, Dowager Queen Richeza, was originally a Danish princess. Though only 5 or 6 years old, it could not be contested that he became King upon the death of the last Sweartgarian, King John I, who was unmarried and childless. Eric reigned in two periods, at first in 1222-1229 having two great earls as his regents. Unseated by his father's second cousin, King Canute II, he fled to Denmark and didn't return to the throne until after Canute's fall in battle in 1234. There were war expeditions to the east across the Baltic Sea during his reigns, and a church council also took place, establishing celibacy for the Swedish priesthood. Finland was secured more permanently as a part of Sweden and areas of Estonia were added to the kingdom, albeit temporarily. King Eric Balbus, as he also was styled, was physically handicapped, possibly a sign of some measure of infantile degeneration, manifesting itself towards the last members of these dynasties. His Queen Catherine, whom he had married in 1245, was several years older than him and the daughter of a Swedish magnate of the early Bielbo Dynasty (soon to be taking over). His mother-in-law was a Sweartgarian half-sister of his predecessor. Thus the childless marriage of Eric and Catherine was a match between the two rival dynasties and brought the whole turbulent era of dynastic feuding and warfare to an appropriate close. One of his sisters was married to the great Duke Birger, who began running things even before Eric had died, and who continued doing so for many years to come, grooming his own sons for the throne, as well as for duchies and bishoprics.