Algot Magnusson (Sture)
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Algot Magnusson, Lord of Räfsnäs (c. 1355 – c. 1426) was a medieval Swedish magnate of the
Sture (Sjöblad) Sture () was a name borne by three distinct but interrelated noble families in Sweden in the Late Middle Ages and Early Modern Period. It was originally a nickname, meaning 'haughty, proud' (compare the Swedish language, Swedish word ''stursk'' ...
family. He served as castellan of the fortification of Styresholm at
Kramfors Kramfors () is a locality and the seat of Kramfors Municipality in Västernorrland County, Sweden. It had a population of 5,990 inhabitants in 2010. The town grew on the western bank of the Ångerman river in the 19th century as harvested logs ...
and governor of
Ångermanland Ångermanland ( or ) is a historical province (''landskap'') in the northern part of Sweden. It is bordered (clockwise from the north) by Swedish Lapland, Västerbotten, the Gulf of Bothnia, Medelpad and Jämtland. The name is derived from the ...
.


Biography

Algot Magnusson was first mentioned in historical sources in 1374. He was born the son of Magnus Anundsson Sture and Karin Algotsdotter, daughter of Algot Magnusson who belonged to the ancient
Västergötland Västergötland (), also known as West Gothland or the Latinized version Westrogothia in older literature, is one of the 25 traditional non-administrative provinces of Sweden (''landskap'' in Swedish), situated in the southwest of Sweden. Vä ...
dynasty of justiciars. The family byname
Sture Sture () was a name borne by three distinct but interrelated noble families in Sweden in the Late Middle Ages and Early Modern Period. It was originally a nickname, meaning 'haughty, proud' (compare the Swedish word ''stursk'' and the Old Norse ...
, although already used by his father, was not used of Algot. He was usually known as Algot of Räfsnäs. Through his marriage with Märta Bosdotter of Rigshult, Algot received new positions and moved from Västergötland to the east-coast regions of Sweden:
Östergötland Östergötland (; English exonym: East Gothland) is one of the traditional provinces of Sweden (''landskap'' in Swedish) in the south of Sweden. It borders Småland, Västergötland, Närke, Södermanland and the Baltic Sea. In older English li ...
and the provinces around the Lake Mälaren. Algot's wife was a first cousin of the High Justiciar Bo Jonsson of
Gripsholm Gripsholm Castle () is a castle in Mariefred, Södermanland, Sweden. It is located by lake Mälaren in south central Sweden, in the municipality of Strängnäs, about 60 km west of Stockholm. Since Gustav I Vasa, Gripsholm has belonged to ...
(c. 1330 – 1386), then the head of the High Council of Sweden and real leader of the country. Bo Jonsson built his power base by having trusted relatives in important positions including Algot. Bo Jonsson obtained in c. 1383 the fortresses Öresten and Öppensten in Västergötland. Algot was appointed as his governor there. In 1388, Algot was the first Swedish aristocrat to start support
Margaret I of Denmark Margaret I (; March 1353 – 28 October 1412) was Queen regnant of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden (which included Finland) from the late 1380s until her death, and the founder of the Kalmar Union that joined the Scandinavian kingdoms together for ...
against
Albert, King of Sweden Albert (, – 1 April 1412), also known as Albert of Mecklenburg (), was King of Sweden from 1364 to 1389 and Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin from 1384 to 1412. Background He was the second son of Duke Albert II of Mecklenburg and Euphemia ...
. By 1389, Albert was deposed of Sweden and incarcerated, while the Dowager Queen Margaret became the new ruler. In 1392–1393 Algot was castellan of Örebro, and the winter 1393–1394 he held power in all
Uppland Uppland is a historical province or ' on the eastern coast of Sweden, just north of Stockholm, the capital. It borders Södermanland, Västmanland and Gästrikland. It is also bounded by lake Mälaren and the Baltic Sea. The name literally ...
and led the siege of
Stockholm Stockholm (; ) is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in Sweden by population, most populous city of Sweden, as well as the List of urban areas in the Nordic countries, largest urban area in the Nordic countries. Approximately ...
, the principal town yet in hands of the deposed King Albert's representatives. King Albert himself was kept imprisoned at Lindholmen Castle in
Scania Scania ( ), also known by its native name of Skåne (), is the southernmost of the historical provinces of Sweden, provinces () of Sweden. Located in the south tip of the geographical region of Götaland, the province is roughly conterminous w ...
where he spent the next six years. Algot Magnusson became a member of the National Council in 1395. Algot played a key role in the lengthy peace negotiations in Lindholmen and Helsingborg, which ended with the release of Albert, in exchange for his
pledge Pledge may refer to: Promises * a solemn promise * Abstinence pledge, a commitment to practice abstinence, usually teetotalism or chastity * The Pledge (New Hampshire), a promise about taxes by New Hampshire politicians * Pledge of Allegianc ...
to pay a large sum in compensation to Queen Margaret, or to give up Stockholm within three years. After the three years, Albert chose to give up Stockholm. After 1398 Queen Margareta took over Styresholm. In 1405, Algot was granted a
fief A fief (; ) was a central element in medieval contracts based on feudal law. It consisted of a form of property holding or other rights granted by an overlord to a vassal, who held it in fealty or "in fee" in return for a form of feudal alle ...
for life as castellan of Styresholm and served as governor over
Ångermanland Ångermanland ( or ) is a historical province (''landskap'') in the northern part of Sweden. It is bordered (clockwise from the north) by Swedish Lapland, Västerbotten, the Gulf of Bothnia, Medelpad and Jämtland. The name is derived from the ...
. By 1400, Algot became owner of the royal estate Räfsnäs (''Räfsnäs kungsgård'') in
Södermanland Södermanland ( ), locally Sörmland, sometimes referred to under its Latinisation of names, Latinized form Sudermannia or Sudermania, is a Provinces of Sweden, historical province (or ) on the south eastern coast of Sweden. It borders Östergà ...
where he then mainly lived. In 1403–1404, Algot had command of the expedition to
Gotland Gotland (; ; ''Gutland'' in Gutnish), also historically spelled Gottland or Gothland (), is Sweden's largest island. It is also a Provinces of Sweden, province/Counties of Sweden, county (Swedish län), Municipalities of Sweden, municipality, a ...
, to regain the island from the
Teutonic Order The Teutonic Order is a religious order (Catholic), Catholic religious institution founded as a military order (religious society), military society in Acre, Israel, Acre, Kingdom of Jerusalem. The Order of Brothers of the German House of Sa ...
, but the campaign was unsuccessful. In 1419 he received
Gripsholm Castle Gripsholm Castle () is a castle in Mariefred, Södermanland, Sweden. It is located by lake Mälaren in south central Sweden, in the municipality of Strängnäs, about 60 km west of Stockholm. Since Gustav I Vasa, Gripsholm has belonged ...
, which he exchanged in 1423 for
Nyköping Castle Nyköping Castle ( or ) is a medieval castle, located in Nyköping, from the Birger Jarl era, partly in ruins, mostly known for the Nyköping Banquet which took place here in 1317. Information plaque, Nyköpingshus Construction Construction o ...
. In his last years, he accompanied King
Erik of Pomerania Erik of Pomerania ( 1381/1382 – 24 September 1459) ruled over the Kalmar Union from 1396 until 1439. He was initially co-ruler with his great-aunt Margaret I until her death in 1412. Erik is known as Erik III as King of Norway (1389–1442), ...
on journeys to other lands. Algot died on 7 March 1425 or 1426, and was buried at
Vadstena Abbey 250px, Aerial view The Abbey Pax Mariae (), more commonly referred to as Vadstena Abbey, is situated on Lake Vättern in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Stockholm and is a monastery of nuns within the Bridgettine Order. It was active from 134 ...
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Family

Around 30 August 1381 Algot married Märta Bosdotter of Ringshult, scion of an important Östgöta family and widow of castellan Christopher Mikelsdorp. Her father was lord Bo Bosson of Ringshult, and her grandmother had been Cecilia Knutsdotter of Aspanes, descendant of several dukes. The couple had four historically known surviving children: * Anund Algotson Sture, lord of Räfsnes, who married heiress of Grönskog * Gustav Algotson Sture, holder of Ängsö who married firstly heiress of Ängsö, and secondly heiress of Lagmansö. * Karin (Katarina) Algotsdotter of Räfsnes, who first married Karl Karlsson, lord of Ulvåsa (grandson of St. Bridget of Sweden), and secondly knight Håkan Nilsson. * Marta (Margareta) Algotsdotter of Räfsnes, married the rich knight Erik Jonsson Ummereise, lord of Björnö near
Kalmar Kalmar (, , ) is a city in the southeast of Sweden, situated by the Baltic Sea. It had 41,388 inhabitants in 2020 and is the seat of Kalmar Municipality. It is also the capital of Kalmar County, which comprises 12 municipalities with a total of ...
When Märta's son Johan Erikson Ummereise died in c. 1440 as last of his line, the Ummereise inheritance became inherited by his surviving cousins. Algot Gustavson Sture from Lagmansö became lord of Björnö. Karin Algotsdotter had one known daughter from both of her marriages. When the elder, Birgitta Karlsdotter of Ulvåsa, died at the approximate age of nine, bringing to extinction her paternal grandfather's entire line, the surviving mother Karin Algotsdotter inherited Ulvåsa, St. Bridget's family seat. Karin's younger daughter (who inherited Ulvåsa from the mother) married and had children, one of whom married but her children did not survive, and Ulvåsa ended to Ellen Gisladotter of Geddeholm, a half-sibling of these last ones. Whereas lineages from both sons survive to the present day. One son's family produced, among others, the regent
Sten Sture the Elder Sten Sture the Elder (; 1440 – 14 December 1503) was a Swedish statesman and regent of Sweden from 1470 to 1497 and again from 1501 to 1503. As the leader of the victorious Swedish separatist forces against the royal unionist forces led by De ...
and his nephews, while the Lagmansö branch on the other hand cognatically continued through short-lived branches of families of Oxenstierna, Tillbakaseende Ulv, Thott, Färla and
Gera Gera () is a city in the German state of Thuringia. With around 93,000 inhabitants, it is the third-largest city in Thuringia after Erfurt and Jena as well as the easternmost city of the ''Thüringer Städtekette'', an almost straight string of ...
to barons
Oxenstierna The Oxenstierna family ( , ) is a Swedish nobility, Swedish noble family, originally from Småland in southern Sweden, and is part of the Swedish ''uradel'', the ancient nobility. History The Oxenstierna family held vast estates in Södermanl ...
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References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Algot Magnusson 1350s births 1420s deaths 14th-century Swedish nobility 15th-century Swedish nobility