Anund Jacob of Sweden
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Anund Jakob (referred to as Emund Kolbränna during his time) was King of Sweden 1022-1050. He is believed to have been born in 1008 as Jakob. When the Swedish counsel, the Thing, was to elect him the co-ruler of Sweden, the people objected to his non-Scandinavian name. They then gave him the pronomen Anund, which they did when they found a name too difficult. (See also the later Anund Gårdske).
He was said to have the cognomen Kolbränna ("Coal-burner") as he had the habit of disposing of opponents by burning them to death inside their houses. The name is found in a list of regents in the Västgötalagen provincial law text.
His political agenda was to maintain the balance of power in Scandinavia. That is why he supported the Norwegian kings Olaf II and Magnus I against Denmark's king Canute during the 1020s and 1030s. At the Battle of the Helgeå, Anund and Olaf were defeated by Canute. Consequently, Canute subjugated for some time the core provinces of Sweden around lake Mälaren where he had his own coins minted in Sigtuna.
When Magnus I became king of Norway and Denmark in 1042, Anund Jakob supported him until the death of Magnús in 1047.
See also Early Swedish History, House of Munsö.
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