Magnus Ladulås

Artist: Rune Karlzon
Year of creation: 1984
Placement: Barnarpsgatan, Jönköping

About the artwork

Länsförsäkringar donated the sculpture on 18 May 1984 in connection with the 700th anniversary of Jönköping’s founding as a city.

Magnus Ladulås

Magnus Ladulås was born Magnus Birgersson, son of Birger Jarl. He is thought to have been born around 1240. Not much is documented about Magnus’ childhood and adolescence. Before he ascended the throne, his older brother Valdemar Birgersson was king. Valdemar fell out with his other brothers and allied himself with Magnus. Eventually, Magnus and Valdemar also came into conflict and Valdemar resigned as king in 1275. Magnus took the throne as king on 22 July 1275 in Uppsala Cathedral. The bishops of Sweden accepted Magnus as the new king and his coronation was held on Whitsun Day, 24 May 1276, in Uppsala Cathedral.

Charters

Magnus’ reign has been characterised as ‘the time of the definitive establishment of the charter society’. To further stabilise the political situation in the kingdom, Magnus chose to establish a system of privileges and benefits. In 1281, a comprehensive charter was issued for the church in connection with the coronation of Queen Helvig in Söderköping. By 1284, Jönköping was a growing trading centre, as it was here that many roads intersected. On 18 May of the same year, King Magnus Birgersson Ladulås wrote a charter that gave the city the right to hold two markets a year. One was held in January and the other in October. Bargaining in the countryside was forbidden, as the king wanted control over trade in order to levy taxes and customs duties. Trade was now only permitted in market towns; it is usually said that it was this point at which Jönköping became a city.