Message #239980

[Wood Elf]

Short background about King Magnus Ladulås:
 
Magnus Ladulås, painting
at the wall in the attic of the
Riddarholm church in Stockholm.
Photo: Wikipedia

King Magnus Ladulås was the first 'Magnus' to rule Sweden for any length of time. He was king of Sweden 1275-1290.

The name 'Ladulås' is thought to come from his decree of 1279 prohibiting travelling nobles or bishops to demand from the peasant to provide them with food and beds. The word Ladulås is therefore believed to be the name he got after this decree.

Ladulås means "the lock of the barn", i.e. the right of the peasants in Sweden to say no to travelling nobles of enterring their house. Another theory of the name 'Ladulås' is that it refers to his Slavic heritage and would in that case be 'Ladislaus'.

 http://www.stockholmnews.com/more.aspx?NID=8146