Knud 4. den hellige, o.1040-1086, King of Denmark, was the second eldest and most outstanding of Svend Estridsen's (illegitimate )sons. His sparkling eyes revealed an enthusiastic and passionate character, and he early showed to be a keen warrior. Svend Estridsen therefore sent him on two expeditions to England, hoping that he would drive out William the Conqueror. On the first expedition (1069-70) Knud shared the leadership with his brother Harald and his paternal uncle Asbjørn Jarl;for a time they were successful, but later they got into trouble; Asbjørn took bribes from the English king, and the fleet had to go back, which probably made Knud furious. On the second England-expedition, where Jarl Hakon Iversen took part, Knud ravaged York in 1075, but achieved nothing. He won fame in his battles to the east against the Sembers and the Estonians; the Scald Kalv Maanesen praised him as victor over 10 kings. After Svend Estridsen's death (1076)Knud could not control his lust for power, and at the king-election at Isøre he ruthlessly tried to force his older brother Harald from his right to the throne, but the people chose unanimously the mild Harald (Hen), and the proud Knud had to - like Ælnoth says - go away from his brother's anger. He spent his exile-years in Sweden. A contemporary papal letter blamed the Norwegian king Olaf Kyrre that he supported Harald Hen's rebellious brothers and in spite of the legend about Knud as a saint it is tempting to imagine him among these brothers. At the death of Harald Hen (1080) Knud achieved the supremacy in Denmark, and his short rule became one of the strangest periods in the Danish history. He was bold and violent, he was over-ambitious and he pursued an aim, but he was also ruthless when he wanted to keep things in order in the country. The power of the magnates was clipped and their violations of the law were punished harshly. But also the common man had to bend under the authoritative monarchy. Knud acquired a power of legislation, and although his endeavours partly were humane and in harmony with the culture of advanced countries, it could not mitigate the indignation of the Danes, who saw their inherited rights being offended. His enthusiasm for the church displeased also the people, who then was forced to obey the clergymen's demands. Knud's work in this area is however a kind of grandiose. He gave the priesthood a higher position in society and attempted to sort it out from the laymen, and he ordered the church festivals and the Lents stricly respected. For his part the proud king followed the precepts of the church, took care of widows and orphants, fast strictly and let himself be flogged by his curates - his piety also showed his passionate character. Most of all he was generous to the churches, especially in Roskilde, Dalby, Odense and Viborg and Lund's bishop church, since he with a large gift (1085) established a charter with a school; possibly he wanted like his father to make Lund into a Nordic archbishopric, but this goal was not achieved in his lifetime. His eagerness and enthusiasm for the church was also a means to strengthen the monarchy, the growing authority of the priesthood forced them to support the king who increased their power, and thus Knud also worked for his own cause. Knud's ambitions kept his old war fever alive.In a great England-expedition he wanted to drive out William the Conqueror and wipe out the memory of the former bad luck of the Danes. In the spring 1085 a great fleet gathered in "Vestervigen" in the western part of Limfjorden in order to go from there to England; Knud's brother-in-law Olaf Kyrre sent Norwegian ships for assistance and Knud expected to get support from the militantly count Robert Friser of Flandern, whose daughter Edel Knud had married. But Knud hesitated in Schleswig in order to keep an eye on the German emperor Henrik IV, whose rival-king he had given shelter recently. During the perpetually wait the army's supply almost had come to an end, and the expedition would now happen so late that it was impossible to come home in time for harvesting. After an army Thing the king's brother Oluf (Hunger) was sent down to him in order to ask him to begin the expedition or send home the army,but Knud treated Oluf as a traitor and sent him in chains to Flandern. Soon after he had to conform to the army's wish and for harvesting reasons send the army back home. When Knud saw his proud conquering-plans destroyed, he wanted to use his utmost power inside the border of the country, he became more and more hard and ruthless to his subjects than before. He probably knew that his bailiffs tormented both rich and poor people with lawsuits and when they collected fines it was said that they took three times as much as before. And now people's patience was exhausted. Knud went on a visit to Vendsyssel and put up at the king's estate Børglum, but the "Vendelboer" rebelled against him, and his attempts to address them was in vain. Knud took flight south to bishop Henrik's farm Biskopstorp (Bejstrup), while most of his men went to the king's estate Aggersborg at Limfjorden. Now the rebellion spread quickly and the king's estates were ravaged, bishop Henrik rode to meet the flocks to mediate, but was met with rage, and when he rode back to tell the king, Knud took flight across Limfjorden and then to the city Viborg. The "Vendelboer" surprised and ravaged Aggersborg and persued Knud. The revolt spread to all Jutland, and from Schleswig the king had to flee to Funen. But also here was revolt. The chief of the rebellion was Piper, who treacherously came to Odense castle and first made Knud feel secure and then hasten a surprise attack on the king. In the last minute Knud succeeded in with his brother Benedict and his men to get into the Albani-church.(in Odense). Knud offered in vain reconciliation.The rebels tried to set the wooden church on fire, and when they failed, a terrible fight began at the church door. Many attackers were killed, among others Piper died from his wounds, but also the king and his men were wounded and had to go back. Kneeling in front of the altar Knud confessed and prepared for death, but the enemy threw spears and stones through the small church windows and Knud was seriously wounded. His brother had already been killed and his 17 men were slain, he himself was dying, when the enemies forced their way into the church and killed him in a raw beating-up.(10 July 1086). The posterity has justified Knud's endeavours, since a later co-operation between a strong monarchy and a strong priesthood gave Denmark power and success. But there is no defense when it comes to the means Knud used - and his downfall was caused by his own unjust measures. The priesthood's awe for his memory and more the disasters of the following period opened way for another reflection; they began to consider him a saint. His bones were taken from his grave already in 1095, and an Odense-priest wrote "Kong Knuds Lidelseshistorie"(King Knud's tale of his suffferings); but not until the pope had canonized Knud, the final shelving of his reliquaries was done with a large celebration (1101), and twenty years later the monk Ælnoth drew up his strange biography of the Martyr-king. The skeleton in Knud's shrine is a witness of his tall and strong body, but at the same time a witness about the rough treatment he suffered at his death. He was married to Edel(Adele) of Flandern and they had the daughters Ingerid and Cæcilia and the son Carl, who became count of Flandern and had a fate similar to his father's. Script, rer. Dan. III. Danske Helgeners Levned, ved H. Olrik. A. D. Jørgensen, Den nord. Kirkes Grundlæggelse. H. Olrik, Konge og Præstestand i den danske Middelalder I. Hist. Tidsskr. 6. R. IV. Kilde: Dansk Biografisk Lexicon Carl Fr. Bricka Project Runeberg (1887-1905) Edel/Adela of Flandern Edel (Adela), --1115, queen, was a daughter of count Robert of Flandern,(called the "Friser"/"Frison") and Gertrude. Edel was married ab. 1082 to Knud den Hellige and had with him 3 children. After her husband was killed in Albani church in Odense 10. July 1086, she stealed at night into the church to bring his body to Flandern, but she already saw the first miracles at the grave and gave up her intention. She then fled with her son Carl (the Dane) to her father in Flandern, while her husband's faithfull brother Erik probably took her two daughters with him to Sweden; they were married in Sweden, Cæcilia to the Jarl from Gotland, Jarl Erik, and Ingerd to Folke who was the ancestor of the Folkunger. Edel stayed in Flandern for 5 years, where she won praise for her piety and charity. Escorted by her brother Robert (2.le Croisé)she went in 1092 through France to Apulia in order to marry duke Roger (1. Bursa). Roger had inherited Apulia from his father Robert Guiscard in 1085; the brilliant exploits which his relatives - i.e. his brother the crusader Boemund and his paternal uncle Roger, the conqueror of Sicily - carried out, put him and his duchy aside; according to the legends Sigurd Jorsalfarer called Roger king on his visit in 1110. At his death he left Apulia to his and Edel's son, (Guillaume).2 earlier born sons, Ludvig and Guiscard had died as infants. Edel did not forget her first husband while she lived so far away from Denmark, and when Knud was declared a saint, she sent valuable gifts to decorate his shrine. She died in April 1115. Translated from Johannes C. H. R. Steenstrup's Danish text: grethe bachmann. Kilde: Dansk Biografisk Lexicon Carl Fr. Bricka Project Runeberg (1887-1905)
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