Full resolution (TIFF) - On this page / på denna sida - V. Later Catholic Period in Sweden - A. The Regency of Birger Jarl - B. The Reign of Magnus Ladulås
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Magnus Ladulas 67
his following would lie in ambush to attack a wedding
procession and carry off the bride. Any one violating
these laws became an outlaw, and any one was at liber-
ty to put him to death.
In the interest of women, Birger enacted a new in-
heritance law. Hitherto a daughter inherited from her
parents only when there were no male heirs. Other-
wise the law was : "It goes to the hat and away from
the hood’9
which meant that the male heirs took all.
It was, however, regarded as a duty for a brother to
support unmarried sisters. But Birger now enacted a
law that a daughter’s share of inheritance should be
half the amount of a son’s share. This law remained
in force until 1845, when sisters were given equal in-
heritance with their brothers.
The wisdom of Birger’s legislation was further
shown by his abolition of the ordeal by fire. By this
ancient ordeal an accused person was required to carry
in his hands red hot irons or walk on white-heated
plowshares to prove his innocence. If he succeeded in
passing the ordeal unhurt it was held that God had
intervened to prove his innocence.
Birger was the first ruler of Sweden who deserves
the name of statesman. When he died "old and young
mourned/’ and the women, whom he had helped and
befriended, prayed for his soul.
B. THE REIGN OP MAGNUS LADULAS
The Contest for the Throne. On the death of his
father, King Waldemar assumed the reigns of govern-
ment. His three brothers had received dukedoms from
the father, presumably to keep them from being jeal-
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