Jacob Nielsen (died about 1309) was

count Count (feminine: countess) is a historical title of nobility in certain European countries, varying in relative status, generally of middling rank in the hierarchy of nobility. Pine, L. G. ''Titles: How the King Became His Majesty''. New York: ...

of Northern

Halland Halland () is one of the traditional provinces of Sweden (''landskap''), on the western coast of Götaland, southern Sweden. It borders Västergötland, Småland, Skåne, Scania and the sea of Kattegat. Until 1645 and the Second Treaty of Br ...

and a great-grandson of

Valdemar II of Denmark Valdemar II Valdemarsen (28 June 1170 – 28 March 1241), later remembered as Valdemar the Victorious () and Valdemar the Conqueror, was King of Denmark from 1202 until his death in 1241. In 1207, Valdemar invaded and conquered Bishopric of L� ...

. His father ( Niels Nielsen) and grandfather ( Niels Valdemarsen) had both held Halland as a county before him. Jacob received Halland in 1283, but switched allegiance to the King of Norway two years later and was declared an outlaw in 1287 after the murder of

Eric V of Denmark Eric V Klipping (1249 – 22 November 1286) was King of Denmark from 1259 to 1286. After his father Christopher I died, his mother Margaret Sambiria ruled Denmark in his name until 1266, proving to be a competent regent. Between 1261 and 1262, ...

. In Halland, Jacob built the fortresses of Hunehals and later

Varberg Fortress Varberg Fortress () is a former fortification in Varberg, Halland County, Sweden, which currently serves as a museum. History Varberg Fortress was built in 1287-1300 by Count Jacob Nielsen as protection against Eric VI of Denmark, who had decl ...

. Jacob's position weakened after the Norwegian king started to lose interest in the conflict with Denmark, and in 1305, he was forced to relinquish Halland to

Haakon V of Norway Haakon V Magnusson (10 April 1270 – 8 May 1319) (; ) was King of Norway from 1299 until 1319. Biography Haakon was the younger surviving son of Magnus the Lawmender, King of Norway, and his wife Ingeborg of Denmark. Through his mother, ...

, who granted it to his own son-in-law, the Swedish duke Erik Magnusson.

Bibliography

stian Stian ronounce: Steejjańis a given name for males, originating from Norway. It is the modern form of the Old Norse name ''Stígandr'', which means "wanderer". Another translation given is "swift on his feet". Another modern derivation of th ...

Erslev, "Jacob, Greve af Nørrehalland", Dansk biografisk leksikon, VIII. Bind. Holst - Juul, 1894, p 336 f. 13th-century births 14th-century deaths House of Estridsen Halland Danish regicides 13th-century Danish nobility 14th-century Danish nobility {{Europe-noble-stub Eric V of Denmark