Svantepolk of Viby
Svantepolk Knutsson, Lord of Viby in Östergötland, was a Scandinavian magnate.Biography
Svantepolk's father was Canute, Duke of Revalia, an illegitimate son of King Valdemar II of Denmark and Helena Guttormsdotter, daughter of a Swedish jarl.
Svantepolk settled in Sweden in the mid-13th century. His wife was Benedikte of Ymseborg, daughter of Sune Folkesson, a grandson of earl Birger Brosa. Benedikte's mother was Helena Sverkersdotter, the daughter of King Sverker II of Sweden and his first wife Benedicta Ebbesdotter of Hvide. Benedikte's elder sister Catherine of Ymseborg was wife of King Eric XI of Sweden.
Svantepolk became the justiciar of Östergötland and a wealthy feudal lord in Sweden. Svantepolk and Benedikte's daughters married lords of Swedish high nobility and became ancestresses of several Swedish noble families, substantial dowries following. Svantepolk, with royal connections and rights to ducal dignity of Halland and Revalia, was a prominent ancestor, well-remembered in his noble Swedish descendants' pedigrees and family lore.
