 His mother was Princess Ingeborg of Sweden, daughter of Eric X of Sweden and sister of King Eric XI of Sweden.Older Swedish literature incorrectly stated that Benedict was the son of Birger's second wife, Mechtild of Holstein, dowager Queen of Denmark.However, Ingeborg died in 1254, the year of Benedict's birth, at which time Mechtild, widow of Abel of Denmark, still lived in Denmark for many years.