Kings of Gothenland (The Kalmar Union)

The Kings of Gothenland are usually dated from the rule of Stenkil who was the first historically reliable king of a separate Gothenland. Previously it drifted between periods of Danish, Vikene and Svealandic rule with local strongmen, styling themselves 'king' but rarely exercising full power and only amassing power by playing various sides off against each other. Stenkil himself only succeeding in obtaining a thanks to his marriage to Anund Kolbranna's niece, and in this resepct many saw it as a simple division of the Swedish kingdoms. However his rule solidified the 'separateness' of Gothenland and after his death its crown was kept distinct by its rulers from their other titles.

After Olaf I's death a period of instability reigned. Hakan Rode married Olaf's daughter and was accepted by many nobles as the rightful successor. However his rule is almost totally devoid of sources. His probable son, Halsten, has even less evidence for his own short rule. He was either deposed or murdered leading to an extended power struggle which would result in the coronation of Sverker I in 1128.