Sweden Monarch. He was the founder of the Erican Dynasty of Swedish kings. He was the son of a Lord Edward, a wealthy landowner, and Lady Cecilia, who has been asserted to be a daughter or granddaughter of the somewhat mysterious King Hacon Red. Eric married King Ingold the Elder's granddaughter, Princess Christina of Denmark, already Dowager Queen of Norway as the widow of Magnus IV the Blind. Because of sacral tales about him, launched later and promoted by the dynasty, her Swedish husband is also known as Saint Eric (Sankt Erik), though never officially canonized as such by the Vatican. The Catholic Cathedral of Stockholm is, however, named for him.For hundreds of years, Swedes would swear allegiance on solemn occasions to "the Kingdom and Saint Eric the King". A stylized portrait of him in blue and yellow (not necessarily a likeness) is used as the modern-day coat of arms of Sweden's capital of Stockholm, which his elder son Canute I officially founded in the 1180's after the pillaging and destruction of Sigtuna. Eric and Christina seem to have attempted to support a more national Swedish church. He led an expedition, probably a crusade, to Finland. As of his reign, that area appears to have been added more specifically to the Kingdom of Sweden, to which it then belonged for over 600 years. King Eric the Holy's just legislation and other inspiring virtues are likely to have been exaggerated by the powerful legend his short reign inspired. His violent death in 1160, at the spot where the Upsala Cathedral now stands, can hardly be questioned, as evidenced by an examination of his bones. He was beheaded and practically chopped to pieces. Allegedly this happened after the King had refused to break off mass to take cover against another murderous throne claimant who succeeded him as King Magnus II. What is left of Eric's remains rests in an ornate shrine at the magnificent Upsala church, and the bejeweled headband of his gilt crown, also found there, is the oldest piece of royal regalia left in the country. Erik and Christina had another son Philip from whose branch a later king would come, and two daughters, one of whom became Queen Consort of Norway.