The Gestilren Monument

1208 did Erik Knutsson challange king Sverker, then the battle by Lena (alias Kungslena) in Västergötland fight out. The end of this battle forced king Sverker to flee to Denmark.

Two years later, with help by Denish troups, King Sverker returned with ame to get back his crown. But by Gestilren, nearby Lena, Erik Knutsson won again, at the same time as Sverker fell. The same year King Erik was crowned.

The battle by Gestilren marked the end for the fight for power between both the Eriks and Sverkers kingdomfamily. After nearly a century of conflicts the politic situation got stabilized in Sweden, and a consolidate by the state got started.

The battle by Gestilren has a.o.t. by the journalists and the writer Jan Guillou, in the books about knight Arn, been seen as the start för the swedish united government. One process that later during the 1200 was completed by Birger Jarl.