| Eric Anundsson | |
|---|---|
| Semi-legendary kings of Sweden | |
| Reign | ?–882 AD |
| Predecessor | Björn Ironside |
| Successor | Björn Eriksson |
| Born | Gamla Uppsala, modern-day Sweden |
| Died | 882 AD (according to tradition) |
| Issue | Björn Eriksson, Ring of Sweden? |
| House | House of Munsö |
| Father | Anund Uppsale |
| Religion | Norse Paganism |
Eric Anundsson or Eymundsson was a semi-legendary Swedish king who supposedly ruled during the 9th century. The Norse sagas describe him as successful in extending his realm over the Baltic Sea, but unsuccessful in his attempts of westward expansion. There is no near-contemporary evidence for his existence, the sources for his reign dating from the 13th and 14th centuries. These sources, Icelandic sagas, are generally not considered reliable sources for the periods and events they describe.
Controversially, older Swedish historians have identified Eric with another legendary Swedish king, Erik Weatherhat, who is mentioned in some medieval king-lists as the predecessor of Eric the Victorious.[1] However, Saxo Grammaticus identifies Erik Weatherhat with another figure, a son of the legendary Viking Ragnar Lodbrok.[2]