Ulf Fase
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Ulf fase (died 1247) was the Riksjarl of Sweden c 1221-47.
Fase (sotetimes written fasi) is his nickname. There is no convincing explanation what it meant in Old East Norse, his language.
After the riksjarl Charles the Deaf had been killed in a Swedish crusade against Estonians in 1220, the vacant post was filled by appointing a relative of his. Ulf may have received the appointment already then, or another ephemeral jarl served briefly. However, before the death of king John I of Sweden in 1222, Ulf already certainly was jarl. He is presumed to have been son of the late earl Charles.
In 1222, the rival dynasty's young heir, Eric XI of Sweden, ascended the throne, at the age of 6. His minority meant that earl Ulf was more powerful actor of the government along with Knut the Tall. However, the nominal regent was lord Bengt Birgersson, Ulf's cousin.
In 1229 Knut usurped the throne and exiled the young Eric. Ulf continued as the new king Canute II's riksjarl.
Upon Canute II's death in 1234, king Eric, now 18, was restored to the throne. His supporters did not appreciate earl Ulf's "treachery" in accepting an usurper over Eric five years earlier. Ulf however was too powerful to be deposed from his office.
There are clear records to show that riksjarl Ulf fase had the right to mint money, an otherwise exclusively royal prerogative. Several pieces of such coins, bearing his signs, are preserved.
In 1247 there was a revolt, an attempted coup, against king Eric, and the rebels were crushed at the Sparrsätra battle. Sources do not reveal whether Ulf was already dead at that time of the said year, or if alive, what he did. There have been guesses that he paticipated the revolt and that his death was caused by execution. Several rebel leaders were beheaded in 1247-48 as result of their unsuccess.
Ulf fase left one well-attested son: Karl Ulfsson, in chronicles called "junker Karl". Young Karl had bad relations with the next powerholder, Birger jarl. Karl went later to voluntary exile by joining Sword Brothers in Livonia. Karl was killed in July 1260 at battle near Riga in Courland, unmarried.
Earl Ulf was immediately succeeded by his relative Birger Magnusson of Bjelbo as Riksjarl of Sweden.
