Erik Axelsson Tott

Who was Erik Axelsson Tott?

Erik Axelsson, Dano-Swedish statesman and regent of Sweden, under the Kalmar Union, in 1457, shared with Jöns Bengtsson Oxenstierna, and alone 1466–1467.

Born in Scania during the reign of Eric of Pomerania, as the son of Axel Pedersen Thott, Lord of Herlev and Lilloe, and his second wife Ingeborg Ivarsdotter of a noble Sudermannian family. Entered the service of King Charles VIII of Sweden, his mother's first cousin, at an early age, already when Charles was just a Lord High Constable and castellan.

Lord Eric was the "Swedish anchor" of his family, of whom most regarded themselves as Danish subjects. His father's first wife, who had produced four of the nine sons, was Danish, for starters. In two generations during the latter half of the 15th century, the nine Thott brothers, also known as "Axelssöner", and additionally some sons of Aage, a senior in the brotherly brood, held high and mighty positions just when Denmark and Sweden were opposing nations, however trying to preserve their own family's position and often act in concert. A few of them changed sides in certain occasions, but mostly each of them aligned according to their most important personal landholdings.