Eric Bielke

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Eric Bielke (d 1511), also known as Eerikki Tuurenpoika and Eric Tureson, royal councillor of Sweden, knighted, feudal fiefholder of Viipuri castle (="margrave")

He was son of sir Ture Tureson of Kråkerum, Lord High Constable of Sweden, and Ingegerd Kyrningsdatter af Farlöv (being descended from different Danish families 75% and just a fourth from Swedish families, see [1]). He belonged to the highest nobility of his country and was a descendant of the Bååt clan.

Quite young, he was in 1487 appointed as bailiff of castle of Stockholm (realm's capital) by Regent Sten Sture the elder. As such he served until 1490.

From the start of year 1495 he was installed as bailiff of the castle of Stegeborg. A plague went through Ostrogothia province in 1496.

In Summer 1499 he was given the extraordinary governorship of Viipuri and Olavinlinna, meaning the margraviate of Sweden's eastern border.

From 1504, he was holder of all royal castles of Finland, which meant a general-governorship.

Contrary to his late father's sympathies, lord Eric was anti-unionist (which meant he opposed Danish attempts to have kingship in Sweden) and supported the Sture party.

His wife was a formidable lady, Gunilla Juhanantytär Bese, who after his death held the Viipuri fief for a year and a half, defending it from Russians; ultimately ceding its governorship to their son-in-law lord Toni Eerikinpoika Tott.

Their eldest daughter Anna did rather similarly at Kalmar castle in 1520 as did her mother in Viipuri almost a decade earlier: when husband, the governor, died, the widow continued to rule the castle and fief and led the war efforts (in that case, against the Danish).

Their son's Axel's descendant became queen Gunilla Bielke, second wife of John III of Sweden.