Erik II Emune, -- 1137 -- ~ Malmfred -- 1130 --

Kilde:
Dansk Biografisk Lexicon
Carl Fr. Bricka
Project Runeberg
(1887-1905)

Erik Emune, --1137, king, illegal son of Erik
I Ejegod. E. joined during his father's brother
king Niels' government his brother Knud Lavard,
who had given him some islands to govern. When
Knud was murdered 7. January 1131,E. wasn't in
the country, but he came quickly demanding
revenge; archbishop Asser reached a settlement
though on the condition that Magnus Nielsen
left Denmark. This was however not respected,
which made E. and his halfbrother Harald Kesja
urge the people to do a revolt. E. was let down
by king Lothar of Germany, while Niels bought
Lothar's friendship, and E. had to endure a tough
siege in Schleswig in the winter 1131-32, but he
got away in spring and succeeded in beating Magnus
at Sejerø. Soon after he suffered a defeat at
Onsild Bridge and was saved only by the braveness
of Bjørn Ironside(Harald Kesja's son) and Åge
Christiernsen. Harald Kesja had however joined
king Niels, and E. fought against both him and the
king, who won a victory at Værebro. At that time E.
had married Sigurd Jorsalfarer's repudiated wife
Malmfred, a daughter of the Russian Grand Prince
Mstislaw or Harald, and he hoped for assistance
from Norway, but king Magnus let him down. After
archbishop Asser had joined E., Niels tried to
start a main battle, but at Fodevig on Whit Monday
(4 June) 1134 E. was the victor, especially with
the assistance from his cavalry. 3 weeks later
king Niels was killed by the Gildebrødrene
(Brothers of the guild, Knud Lavard's friends)
in Schleswig (25 June 1134), and Erik was paid
tribute as king. The by-name Harefoot, which
his earlier roaming had given him, was replaced
after the victory by the name Emune, which meant
"the forever memorable". When Harald Kesja the
next year (1135) let himself proclaim king at
Urnehoved Thing, E. captured both him and his
many sons except one and let them kill.Shortly
after E. brought his cavalry across the sea to
Rügen and forced the Wends to submission and
christening, but the fleet had hardly left the
island, before they took up their old paganism.
King Magnus persuaded E. to an expedition to
Norway, but he met a serious resistance and
had to withdraw. When E. 18. Sept. 1137 held a
thing at Ribe or Urnehoved, a landlord, Sorte
Plov, stepped forward in front of the king. He
wanted revenge for having suffered an unjustice,
and when he noticed that the king did not wear
a coat of mail, he thrusted his spear through
him. E. was buried in Ribe Cathedral.

E. owned several qualities which also
characterized Knud Lavard, like courage,
enterprise and stamina, and he had, while he was
with his halfbrother, whose memory he honoured,
trained himself to be a great warrior. On the
other hand he was a different person, and his
character was blemished by thoughtless desire
of conquest,harshness and cruelty. He had no
children by Malmfred who survived him; before
his marriage he had a son Svend (Grathe) with
a mistress Thunna.

Suhm, Hist. af Danmark V.
Dahlmann, Gesch. von Dannemark.
Ræder, Danmark under Svend Estridsen og hans Sønner.
H. Olrik, Knud Lavards Liv og Gærning.

Johannes C. H. R. Steenstrup.

Malmfred, --1130--, queen, was a daughter of
the Russian prince Mstislav or Harald and
Christine, a daughter of the Swedish king Inge.
M.s maternal aunt Margrethe Fredkulla, king
Niels' wife, seems to have worked for relations
between the Nordic principalities, it might
therefore be she, who arranged a marriage
between M. and the Norwegian king Sigurd
Jorsalfar ab. 1120, like she had arranged a
marriage between M.'s sister Ingeborg and Knud
Lavard. Sigurd and M. had a daughter Christine,
who was later married to Erling Skakke. In
his last years Sigurd, who was mentally sick,
repudiated M. and took another wife. M. was
then married to her sister's brother-in-law
Erik Emune ab. 1132 and shared his changing fate
during the battles with king Niels and Magnus,
she followed him on his flight to Norway in 1133.
In 1134 she became queen at Erik's accession
to the throne, but nothing is known of her later
life.

Munch, Det norske Folks Hist. II.
Olrik, Knud Lavard.

Johannes C. H. R. Steenstrup.



Kilde:
Dansk Biografisk Lexicon
Carl Fr. Bricka
Project Runeberg
(1887-1905)

translation grethe bachmann  ©​ copyright 

Knud V, 1129 - 9. August 1157 ~ a daughter of king Sverker I of Sweden

Kilde:
Dansk Biografisk Lexicon
Carl Fr. Bricka
Project Runeberg
(1887-1905)

Knud V. Magnussen,1129 - 9 august 1157, King.
K., who was a son of Magnus Nielsen and Richiza,
let the Jutlanders pay tribute to him after Erik
Lam's resign (1146). The Jutlanders had also
supported his father and grandfather, and K. soon
started a fight against Svend (Eriksen),who had
the supremacy over Zealand and the provinces in
Skåne. After K. with great promises had won
archbishop Eskil, he went to Skåne, but dared not
land; he deserted Eskil and advanced instead at
Zealand; Svend persued him however, defeated him
at Slangerup and drove him back to Jutland.

In 1147 K. and Svend joined together in a crusade
against the Wends, but the expeditions only increased
the discord and hastened a new feud. K succeeded in
surprising Roskilde, but after the defeat at Tåstrup
he had to flee to Jutland the second time.(1148).
Svend now started an attack, he resided at Funen,
while his cousin Valdemar, whom he had made hertug,
won Sønderjylland, although K. had tried to secure
it in an alliance with grev Adolf II of Holstein.

Later Svend advanced in Jutland and was victorious
at Viborg (1150), and K. then took flight to his
stepfather, king Sverker I in Sweden. The ousted
king tried in vain to get assistance in his
mother's homeland Poland and by the hertug of
Sachsen, but he won archbishop Hartvig I of
Hamburg-Bremen by promising him suzerainty over
the Danish church and went with a German army
into Jutland, but suffered a defeat at Gjedbæk
south of Viborg (1151) and took flight to
Sachsen.

In a last attempt to win the kingdom K. gathered
the Danish Frisians , but Svend became again
the victor, and K. went to the German king
Frederik I . At the meeting in Merseburg (1152)
Frederik acknowledged now Svend as sole king in
Denmark, but he let him promise to give K. Zealand
as a vasalry.Svend did not keep his promise, but
he gave spread vasalries to K. instead of collected
vasalries.

Valdemar, who had worked for the agreement in
Merseburg, was now closer to K., who promised
him his halfsister Sophie in marriage and a
third of his paternal estate as a dowry.They
then went together to Svend's enemy king Sverker,
and K. married his daughter. Now Svend wanted to
kill them , and they dared to be paid tribute as
kings at Viborg thing; Svend lost his followers
and had to flee the country (1154).

K. couldn't compare with his co-king Valdemar,
and in the dividing of the kingdom in three parts
in 1157 he was the last of three, the other kings
had chosen their parts, and K. got the islands.
He still mistrusted Svend and felt deceit during
the Feast in Roskilde, he therefore said goodbye
to Valdemar and left, but he was not enough
resolute to avoid a sudden attack; Ditlev cleaved
his head, and soon after his relative Constantin
was cut down. (9 August 1157).)

- K. was an easy-going, not especially eminent
personality, but well-spoken and because of his
amiable manners very liked by his crew, where no
one would let him down in spite of his bad luck.
He had a great weakness for women, and from his
casual relations were several children: Niels
who later was honoured as a saint, Valdemar,
the famous Schleswig-bishop, who became a traitor,
the daughters Jutta, who married the Sachsen-hertug
Bernhard, Hildegard, married to prince Jarimar
of Rygen, Ingerd, married to hertug Casimir II of
Pommern-Demmin, and a daughter, married to Bugislav
III of Schlawe. It is probably a misunderstanding
that K. had a son Magnus, who was killed in Roskilde
in 1157.There are no informations about Sverker's
daughter - who was K.'s queen for about one year.

Translated from Hans Olrik's Danish text:
grethe bachmann.

Extra:
Ditlev (or actually Thetlev), --1157, son of
Edlar, was an influental German hirdmand
(housecarl) by Svend Grathe, and at Blodgildet
(the Blood Feast) in Roskilde (9. Aug. 1157)
he was the leader of the attack on the kings
Knud and Valdemar. After an arrangement with
Svend he broke into the hall with Svend's
armed men. Valdemar quickly turned off the
lights and attacked D. so they both fell to
the ground. While Valdemar - although badly
wounded - got away during the muddle, D.
jumped up and cleaved Knud's head - and
together with his men he cut down Knud's
relative Constantin. In the  battle at
Grathe hede (23 Oct. 1157) D. was captured
and in spite of his pitiful pleas he was
put on a rack and broked on the wheel.


Source:
Dansk Biografisk Lexicon
Carl Fr. Bricka
Project Runeberg
(1887-1905) 

translation grethe bachmann  ©​ copyright 

Svend III Grathe, ab. 1125-1157, ~ Adelheid of Meissen

Source:
Dansk Biografisk Lexicon
Carl Fr. Bricka
Project Runeberg
(1887-1905)

Svend Grathe, o.1125-1157, king, was en illegitimate
son of Erik Emune . His father took him along, when
he sought shelter in Norway (1133), and dangerous
to himself he also took his boy along on his bold
flight from Norway to Denmark(1134). When Erik was
killed (1137) S. was too young to be king; Erik Lam,
who was crowned, sent him to Conrad III's court,
where he became friend with the king's brother's son,
the young Frederik of Schwaben (later emperor
Frederik I). German sources from this time call S.
by the name Peter; like others in the royal family
he had a double name. In the late part of Erik Lam's
rule he was back in Denmark, where he and his cousin
Valdemar in spite of archbishop Eskil's protest
shrined Knud Lavard's bones.(1146). The same year
Erik retired and died, and soon after S. grasped
for the Crown, he succeeded in winning support
from the people from Zealand and Skåne, but the
main part of the Jutlanders supported Knud
Magnussen, and a violent throne-fight began.
Eskil was close to supporting Knud, but S. won
over the archbishop and held him prisoner in his
own cathedral, but he soon goot scared by his own
daring and bought Eskil's forgiveness and support
by giving the archbishopric some estate in Skåne
and a big part of Bornholm. He defeated luckily
Knud at Slangerup and drove him back to Jutland.
Under influence of the large European crusade-
movement the kings then joined in a common
expedition to the Wends (1147), but did not
achieve much; the Jutlanders saw happily the
Wends slay down the Skånings and take S.'s royal
ship, and S. was too distrustful of Knud; he did
not want to sail home on his ship. The war of the
kings broke out again.Knud was again the attacker,
he took Roskilde by surprise, but lost the battle
at Tåstrup, where S. did not distinguish himself
personally (1148). S. had now the upper hand, he
conquered Funen, placed Valdemar as hertug in
Schleswig and attacked - supported by the Ditmarsker
Edeler - grev Adolf of Holstein, because he had
joined Knud, but he could not prevent the fall
of Edeler in an uneven fight with the Holsteiners.
Later S. was victorious at Viborg (1150) and
chased Knud out of the country, but when Knud
came back with some German auxiliaries, he
inflicted a new defeat on him at Gedbæk (1151).
The honour of these victories was mostly due
to Valdemar.  S. tried to secure his control
over Denmark by a humble approach to Conrad III,
whom Knud also,but in vain, asked for assistance.
Once again Knud fastened on Danish ground by
conquering the Frisians, but S. captured the
Frisian Castle (Friserborg).Knud went to the
German king,Frederik I, who summoned his friend
to the meeting in Merseburg (1152).The Crown
was judged to go to S.; but he became the vasal
of Frederik and had to promise to give Zealand
to Knud as a vasalry. When he however only gave
him spread vasalries, he offended Valdemar, who
had vouched for the agreement, and S. thereby
made the base of his own misfortune.

During his success he had in spite of bishop
Elias' advice spared his captured enemies, even
his father's murderer Plov. (Sorte Plov) But
this magnanimity was rather reckless, he was
blind for the reality and underestimated his
opponents. Furthermore there were deficiencies
in his ruling. During the throne- feuds the
Wends had grown more dangerous in the Danish
waters. S. let build some earth-banks as a
protection and inflicted some defeats on them,
but else he was content with just giving large
sums to the Sachserhertug Henrik Løve that he
should keep away the Wends, which Henrik did
not do, and S. did not use his power to build
a big national defence. An insult - towards
the jarl Carl by the Swedish king's son, Jon
Sverkerson, gave S. an excuse for an attack on
Sweden,but caused by the winter-cold he had to
go home without having achieved anything.(1153).
He was always in a feud with Eskil, and his
unreliability and exploitations woke aversion in
many people. He suppressed some rebellions in
Skåne with blood, and he often did wrong to his
friends. He admitted German gentlemen in his
entourage, and he submitted to their rude
behaviour towards his own people. And with
partiality for German law  (duels) and court
customs he caused enmity from everyone.German
musicians were his guests, but an Icelandic
Scald was not payed for his kongekvad.(a
song about the king).

In these circumstances Valdemar and Knud joined
more closely together. S. tried to kill Valdemar
or to neutralize him by luring him into German
captivity, but his plan failed. At Viborg Thing
Knud and Valdemar took name of king.(1154).
Eskil left S., even many of his earlier faithful
supporters left him, and followed by his warriors'
disdain he took flight to Germany. He drifted
around for almost three years without finding
any helpers for his fight. Giving golden promises
to Henrik Løve he finally got prepared for war
with his assistance. They bribed Danevirk'es
guard to let them slip through into Schleswig,
extorted contributions from the city and
plundered the trade-fleet in Slien, but went
back without waiting for the enemy to arrive.
Henrik Løve let however the Wends he ruled
ravage Funen and then lead S. to the plagued
island, where they paid tribute to him. The
other kings advanced against him, but some
negotiations began in Odense and a peace-
meeting was arranged at Lolland, where Valdemar
by a court order divided the kingdom and chose
Jutland for himself; S. had a right to choose
before Knud and took the Skåne-country in
order not to be pent-up between his rivals,
and Knud got Zealand. S.'s bad luck had for
long removed the good elements he originally
had owned and developed his worst qualities,
he now became a villain. At the "Blodgildet"
(Blood Feast) in Roskilde (9. August 1157) he
let Knud cut down and almost killed Valdemar
too, but Valdemar escaped and S. followed him
to Jutland.At the crucial meeting Valdemar
was the victor; S. took flight, his horse got
stuck in a moor, and S. was run down by
exhaustion, he was discovered by some robbing
peasants, who killed him (23. Okt. 1157). This
happened at Grathe Hede, and he later got a
by-name from this place. Some peasants buried
the body, soon a chapel was built, and at its
northern side was S.'s stone coffin seen not
so long ago.

His queen Adelheid went to Germany and married
again; a son of S. died a baby; their daughter
Luccardis was later married to grev Berthold II
of Andechs, Markgreve of Istrien, but divorced
from him because of infedelity.(died 1188).

Saxo, ed. Müller.
Helmold, Chron. Slavorum.
H. Olrik, Konge- og Præstestand II.
Steenstrup, Vore Folkeviser S. 215 ff.
Hist. Tidsskr. 6. R. III, 108 ff. 226 ff.;
7. R. III, 369 ff.
Aarh. f. nord. Oldkynd. 1887, S. 78 ff.

Hans Olrik.

Adelheid (or Adele)(of Meissen) --1152--queen,
was the next-youngest daughter of Conrad of
Wettin, Markgreve of Meissen and Lausitz, and
his wife Luccardis. Adelheid was in 1152
married to king Svend (Grathe), with whom she
had a son, who died a child, and a daughter,
Luccardis. She was accused for inducing her
husband to introduce foreign customs in
Denmark, but Saxo said this was unjust.After
Svend's death she married grev Albert of
Aschersleben or Ballenstedt, with whom she
had a daughter Gertrudis, who later was
married to Walther af Arnstein.

Suhm, Hist. af Danmark VI.

J. Kinch.

Source:
Dansk Biografisk Lexicon
Carl Fr. Bricka
Project Runeberg
(1887-1905) 

translation grethe bachmann  ©​ copyright 

Valdemar I the Great, 1131-82, ~ Sophie of Russia, ab. 1140-98.

Source:
Dansk Biografisk Lexicon
Carl Fr. Bricka
Project Runeberg
(1887-1905)

Valdemar I, 1131-82, Danish king,a son of Knud
Lavard and Ingeborg, was born eight days after
his father's murder 14. January 1131; he was
named after his mother's paternal grandfather
Grandprince Vladimir. V. was brought up by Asser
Rig in Fjenneslevlille and was from his childhood
united in a faithful friendship to Asser's sons,
the older Absalon and his brother Esbern (Snare);
devoutness and patriotism was the guiding
principle in this home.

It is characteristic of V.'s fiery temper that
he and his cousin Svend Eriksen (Grathe), both
still only boys, decided to move Knud Lavard's
mortal remains from the grave into a reliquary,
since the holyness of Knud often showed itself
in miracles, and the boys carried out their
purpose in spite of archbishop Eskil's protests.
When the kingdom was divided between Svend and
Knud, V. took service by Svend and was appointed
Jarl in Schleswig; in the fights against Knud
V. took part with great courage. But Svend's
unreliability and no ability in ruling became
gradually obvious to V. Knud's friends arranged
a betrothal between V. and Knud's halfsister
Sophie, and when Svend ambushed V.,he joined
Knud completely and became his co-regent.
After an agreement via V.'s mediation had
been arranged about a tripartition of the
kingdom, Svend attacked treasonably his
co-kings during a gathering at Knud in Roskilde;
Knud was killed , V. was wounded, but got away
and escaped in the dark. (9. Aug. 1157). He
kept hiding in the forests for some time,
until he succeeded with Esbern's help to get
to Jutland in a great storm. In the battle
at Grathe Hede 23. Oct. 1157 Svend suffered a
decisive defeat and was killed under his flight.
V. showed a great mildness to his opponents,
just two of Svend's men were executed because
Knud's warriors demanded it.

The first big task for V. was to free Denmark
from the Wendic attacks and cleanse the Danish
waters from these pirates. During the throne-
feud and all the inner unrest in the previous
generation the Wendic robbers had free rein,
but many parts of the country were completely
desolate, and all citizens were frightened
and could not do their business. Absalon,
who had been elected bishop in Roskilde in
1158, realized acutely the importance of the
task,and also how to carry it through, and he
was not only V.'s persevering helper, but a
pioneer in this warfare. However, the task
seemed so large that they thought it necessary
to make an alliance with hertug Henrik Løve in
the fight against the Wends, but the advantages
in such an alliance were few, and soon V. and
Absalon had frightened the Wends off from the
Danish waters.

The center of the Wendic heathendom and piracy
was still Rygen/Rügen, and the goal was to
conquer this island and destroy its famous shrine
Arkona. Together with the Pommeranian V. made
an expedition there and captured Arkona; St. Viti
Day, 15 June 1169, he made his entry into the
castle.Pope Alexander III placed the island under
Roskilde Bishopric by a papal bull. In several
later expeditions, especially to the countries
at the mouth of Oder, V. succeeded in restraining
both the Wends and the Pommeranians. By
organizing the war system and by building
fortifications he also took care of the defence
of the country; he let build a very thick tile-
wall in front of Danevirke, a half mile long
(Danish mile = ab. 7,5 km)- and at the island
of Sprogø he raised a strong tower, surrounded
by a fortification wall.

When V. ascended the throne, the conditions
of the kingdom were outwards so insecure that
the king thought it necessary - on emperor
Frederik's request -to promise to pay tribute
to him. When the emperor returned from Italy,
he had summoned a Rigsdag and a church-meeting
at Dole in France Comté.(1162).Here had to be
a judgement in the large church-feud between
the two popes Victor IV and Alexander III, who
both claimed that they were rightfully elected
and both had large parties in the various
countries. The emperor asked V. to be present,
and although Absalon and Esbern advised him
firmly not to, he went down there. In a church-
view the meeting was without importance, since
Alexander's supporters were not present, but V.
- who until now had supported pope Victor -
although archbishop Eskil had taken Alexander's
side, suddenly discovered the danger in such
a support to the emperor. The tribute he had
to pay emperor Frederik I, was of lesser
importance, since it did not order him vasalry.
Not long after his homecoming V. changed his
church-view, and Eskil, who caused by his
hot-tempered attitude to the king in the
church-feud had to leave the country, could
come back again.

V. had shortly after his ascending the throne
promised the Norwegian chief Erling Skakke
his assistance, if his son Magnus, when he
got the throne of Norway, gave Vigen to V.
After Magnus was crowned king (1164), the
promise was not fulfilled , and therefore made
V. two expeditions to Norway(1165, 1168), but
without any large profit. The unrest was
however very awkward for the Norsemen, and
Erling achieved in a visit by Valdemar in
Randers in 1170 a peace, whereafter Vigen
was given to Denmark, on the condition that
Erling got it as a vasalry. V. had the same
year obtained, what he had worked for for a
long time at the Kurien in Rome, that he
wanted his father Knud Lavard admitted among
the saints. At a great party in Ringsted the
papal bulle about this was announced the day
after St. Hansdag 1170 (25 June), and Knud's
bones were put into a magnificent reliquary.
Just after this was V.'s 7 year old son Knud,
who already had been paid tribute to as heir
to the throne 5 years ago, annointed and
crowned by archbishop Eskil.

V. worked during all his rule in a close
connection to the church.The feud he had
with Eskil for a period, was now atoned for,
and when Eskil resigned, he was allowed by
the pope to elect his successor and chose
Absalon. By many privileges and favours
V. supported churches and klosters, he
founded as thanks for his victory over
Svend the richly equipped Vitskøl kloster.
For the sick and worn-out warriors he
established the first Danish Johanitterkloster
in Antvorskov, and he gave great gifts to
Ringsted church and to many other churches
in the country.

Kong V.s rule was only darkened by few
shadows, but there were some. Like the
unwise and unfortunate conspiracies, in
which Buris Henriksen, Magnus, Erik Lam's
son and Eskil's daughter's sons Carl and
Knud were guilty; Carl was killed in the
fight, the three others were put in prison
for life at Søborg. V. almost showed
forbearance in his treatment of these men.
On the other hand V. could be blamed for
being too hard and unforgiving during the
rebellion, which the Skåne-people started
in 1180-81, when they drove away the non-
Skåne-officials and denied to pay bishop-
taxes and other duties. Saxo does not
approve V.'s tough treatment of the rebels,
and Svend Aagesen/Aggesen, who was a friend
of the Skåne-people and wrote reports just
after the rebellion , seems to blame V.
that he was more "cruel to his own" than
was righteous. Svend eagerly praises the
king as a magnificent warrior, very
handsome, sharp-sighted and cleverly
judging, very cultured and right-minded,
and all contemporaries agreed in this
opinion. His nature was happy, like his
open kindness and complete lack of arrogance
won many hearts; his braveness and his
generosity towards his enemies was appreciated
by everyone. But although he was tempered and
resolute, when danger was there and the fight
came close, he could in quiet conditions show
a hesitation in his decisions, which was not
good, a certain shyness in speaking out made
him restrain bursts of anger, which would
have been natural and might have hindered
that a grudge kept staying in his mind, like
it often happened.

Much of, what V. had fought for, became his
son's gain, and "came to him almost without
efforts" says Saxo. And V., who always had
fought against the narrow-mindedness of the
Jutlanders, had to - on his deathbed in
Vordingborg - see the fleet give up an
expedition to the Wends caused by the
sullenness of the Jutland crew. His fever
got worse and he died 12. May 1182.  The
peasants came at once to bear this fine king
on their shoulders to his last resting place;
he had been the liberator and innovator of
the homeland; and here in Ringsted church
his fosterbrother Absalon read, deeply
moved, the soul mass for the king.

V. had with Sophie, whom he had married just
before the battle at Grathe hede, 2 sons,
Knud and Valdemar, and 6 daugthers, Sophie,
who married Sigfried of Orlamünde, Richiza,
the Swedish king Erik's wife, Ingeborg, married
to Philip August of France, Helene, the wife
of Vilhelm of Lüneburg and 2 daughters, who
became nuns. - Before his marriage V. had a
son Christoffer with his mistress Tove.

Johannes C. H. R. Steenstrup.


Sophie, o.1140-98, Queen, was a halfsister of
king Knud (III), Magnus's son, since his
mother Richiza had after the fall of Magnus
married a Russian prince Volodar, whom she
however had left to marry king Sverker of
Sweden. After Valdmar, the son of Knud Lavard,
had turned from the alliance with Svend and
had reconciled with Knud, a marriage between
Valdemar and sophie was arranged; she was only
adolescent, but showed signs of becoming very
beautiful, and since she had no estate in
Denmark, Knud promised to give her 1/8 of his
paternal inheritance as a dowry. S. was
brought to a woman, Bodil, for upbringing,
but after Knud's murder Valdemar married his
bride in Viborg (1157), and after the victory
at Grathe Hede were striken some brakteats
coins)with his and Sophie's picture.
S. bore the sons Knud and Valdemar and the
daughters Sophie, Richiza, Ingeborg and Helene
and two, who became nuns. Svend Aagesen/Aggesen
talks with great admiration about S.'s beauty.
She seems to have been a self-assured, ambitious
personality.
After Valdemar's death 12 May 1182 Landgraf
Ludwig of Thüringen - who had repudiated his
wife - proposed to the Danish queen; he was one
of the mightiest princes of Germany, bluff and
violent. King Knud lead his mother, accompanied
by a large entourage to Eider, where Ludwig
received her. But Ludwig quickly changed his mind
and sent the mortified S. back to Denmark; he
went on a crusade and died on his way home (1190).
S. died 5.May 1198 and was buried in Ringsted
church beside king Valdemar.

Johannes C. H. R. Steenstrup.

Source:

Dansk Biografisk Lexicon
Carl Fr. Bricka
Project Runeberg
(1887-1905)

translation grethe bachmann  ©​ copyright

Knud Lavard, ab. 1096-1131, ~ Ingeborg Mstislavsdatter

Knud Lavard's Kapel

Knud Lavard, o. 1096-1131,
Hertug, a son of Erik Ejegod and queen Bodil, was
born in Roskilde shortly after his father became king,
probably 12. March (maybe in April) 1096. The parents
wanted to call him Hugo, but a farmer from Balstrup
claimed that he according to a revelation from Knud den
Hellige had to be named Knud. When Erik and Bodil went
on their pilgrimage in 1102, they let the mighty Jarl of
Sjælland, Skjalm Hvide bring up the boy. At the election
to king in 1104 some wanted the little Knud to be king.
Later he was sent to hertug Lothar of Sachsen who became
his second fosterfather. The long stay abroad extended
Knud's knowledge and gave him a sense for foreign culture.
At his homecoming Knud found bad conditions in Denmark.
King Niels, who lacked ability to govern the country,had
even taken his sister's son, the Wendic prince Henrik's
maternal inheritance, whereafter Henrik harrassed the
border areas and sent Wendic vikings to the Danish waters.
The bad luck also hit Knud, when some captains during the
Wendic attacks had to sink his treasure into the sea. This
loss did not impress Knud much, but king Niels, who liked
money, was very annoyed. Knud took now part in an
unsuccessful expedition against Henrik; in the fight at
Ljutka he fell injured to the ground, but was saved by one
of his resolute men. After his victory Henrik attacked more
and more the Danish borders, where everything became
chaotic, but the bad luck urged Knud to use his power, and
with his father's brother king Niels he finally obtained
to become Jarl in Sønderjylland, which no one alse dared
to take over. (in 1115).

Schleswig


Knud used all his abilities in this difficult task as
a guardian of the border. He decided to secure property
and peace and hunted down many thiefs and robbers who
wanted to exploit the common disorder. He was ruthless
in his hunt for justice. A nobleman, who for a long
time had been robbing people, was sentenced to death,
and when the man wanted to befriend Knud , Knud just
mocked his noble descent by hanging him in a higher
gallow. In this way the enemies within the borders were
soon exterminated. He gained an even greater reputation
as a warrior.He beat off the enemies, and he surrounded
Schleswig, which was his usual residence, with strong
banks and moats. Shortly after his death the city was
during a whole winter able to resist a mighty army.
Besides this city fortification, which was unique in
the North, he built several towers as a protection of
Slien and was thus ground-breaking for the development
of the defence.  But also in another field of warfare
he obtained a great importance for the future: he
developed a total chavalry. It was about - contrary
to the Danes' usual slowness - to make quick and
unforeseen attacks on the dangerous Wendic prince, and
this was only possible with fast horsemen. Knud now
took the enemy by surprise when he attacked as quick as
lightning. Once Henrik only got away by swimming across
the Ejder, and his border castle was destroyed. The
arrogance of the Wendic prince had changed into fear,
and when Knud offered peace, he accepted gladly. Knud
showed his chivalry; although he was the victor, he
saw to that Henrik got his maternal inheritance. From
that time the two men were friends and it is said that
both Knud and other Danes could stay in Henrik's
country as well as in their own. No wonder that Knud was
honoured as Denmark's rescuer and was given the byname
"Lavard".   The word is of Anglo-Saxon origin (English
Lord) and means Herre (Master).Knud replaced his Nordic
title as jarl with the title as hertug, he appeared in
magnificent German dress and introduced grand court
customs from abroad. In spite of his authority he was
very popular, and he showed his sense for the people's
interests by being elected Oldermand for Schleswig
Borgeres Gilde ( a union of citizen), the socalled
"edslag" (giving an oath). He was a friend of the clergy
and equipped the churches with books and altar pieces,
and the granite churches began replacing the old wooden
chapels  in Sønderjylland. He also saw to that his
priests behaved well and he went on a crusade to the
still heathen Småland (in Sweden). Finally he was so
generous to the poor, that he even once gave a beggar
his overtunic. (!!!)

Schleswig Cathedral


Knud took up an important position in his homeland. As a
guard of the border he was the governor of Sønderjylland,
but he was also the leader of Denmark's defence and could
send his brother Erik (Emune) to protect the islands
against the Wendic vikings. He had inherited several
castles from his father, and when he married the Russian
princess Ingeborg, her maternal aunt queen Margrethe gave
her large parts of her estates in Vestergötland (in
Sweden) as a dowry. Knuds' power was later increased
considerably. After the Wendic prince Henrik and his
family had died, Knud bought from his fosterfather Lothar,
who was now German king, the prince title over the
western Wends and was by his new feudal overlord crowned
as king of the Wends or "Knés". (1129) The Obotrits and
Vagirs rebelled against him, but after he had forced
their chiefs Niklot and Pribizlav to surrender,he had
secured the control and consolidated it by supporting
"The Wendic Apostel" Vicelin in his missionary work
and by building the castle Alberg (later named Segeberg),
which however was demolished by the Holsteiners.

Schleswig
Cathedral

He was at that point more powerful than any of his fellow-countrymen. His upright and handsome figure , his chivalrous and dignified behaviour, his eloquence , courage and cleverness as a warrior caused common admiration, and it was as if luck followed him whereever he went. During a famine he had abundance and helped the needy. His authority was so strong in all the kingdom that he was able to summon his feuding brothers Harald Kesja and Erik to his court of law , and he could with approval from the army free the Pommeranian prince Vratislav, when king Niels treacherously had taken him prisoner. The weak king Niels could not assert himself compared with his brother's son, and this created envy, especially in Niels' hot-headed son Magnus, whose prospects of the throne became very doubtful during these circumstances, but also envy in Knud's cousin, the spiteful Henrik Skadelaar. Queen Margrethe Fredkulla (Magnus' mother and Ingeborg's aunt) had seen the danger , and she had tried to prevent it by being like a mother to Knud; she let him, although he was still a kid , be the godfather of Magnus and she equipped his bride Ingeborg with riches, but after her death the storm came on.

Schleswig Cathedral


Henrik Skadelaar ,whose evil sarcasm only gave him Knud's superior derision in return, was the most eager in wanting to kill Knud; and Knud, who had an immensely difficult position both as a Danish hertug and as a Wendic prince under a feudal overlord in Sachsen, was probably careless and relaxed his guards; at a meeting in Schleswig, inside the Danish borders, he even behaved as a Wendic king, equal to king Niels. The men, who envied Knud gossipped to king Niels, who steamed up and blamed Knud at a meeting in Ribe, why he had taken a king's name and had introduced new customs. Knud replied that he was not a king he was Knés, and he claimed with pride that the new custom he had introduced was peace and quiet contrarily to the former insecurity. With this he had disarmed his enemies. Magnus had also to put a good face on it; he had earlier sworn brotherhood to Knud, and apparently they were more united in the bonds of friendship, since Knud became the godfather of Magnus' daughter. But Henrik Skadelaar formed a conspiracy against Knud; his followers were Magnus, Niels' son-in-law Ubbe and his son Hakon Skaaning, in the beginning also Knud's own brother-in-law Hakon Jyde.
(Hakon Jyde was married to Ragnhild, a halfsister of Knud; Henrik Skadelaar was a grandson of Knud den Hellige)

Roskilde

The murder plot speeded up, when Knud in spite of Ingeborg's warnings accepted Niels' invitation to Christmas feast in Roskilde (1130). During the Christmas days Magnus looked several times for an opportunity to kill Knud, but still in vain. Then he pretended, as if he wanted to go on a pilgrimage and asked Knud for a secret meeting , where they could negotiate about his business during his absence, and Knud accepted this. King Niels knew about the murder plot, and on parting in Roskilde he asked Knud to swap rings. Niels thought that Knud's ring hid a talisman. Knud stayed for some days in the Ringsted-area, first in Balstrup, then in Haraldsted with his relative Cæcilia and her husband Erik Jarl.

On the morning of 7 January 1131 he was awakened by a German singer Sivard, who was sent by Magnus in order to fetch him for the arranged meeting in the forest. (Haraldsted skov). His men warned him and asked him to be his followers, but according to the arrangement with Magnus he only took two hirdmen (housecarls) with him and only his sword as weapon. Sivard felt compassion for Knud and tried secretly to warn him, among other things by humming the song about Grimhild's deceit against his kinsman, but Knud refused all suspicion. Magnus waited in the forest, appearantly alone, and therefore Knud went to him without his followers. Magnus greeted him friendly, but when he had drawn him away from the road and was sure to be in control, he suddenly explained: "To whom belongs Denmark?" Hearing this question Knud astonished drew back, and simultaneously Magnus drew his sword , and his men came out from the thicket where they had been lurking. Knud's hand dashed in vain after his sword, but Magnus was in the lead, he grapped him in the cloak cap and cleaved his head, and Henrik Skadelaar and the others came running and thrusted their spears into his breast. This murder was the beginning of bloody throne fights, which brought Denmark into terrible conditions, until Knud's son Valdemar brought a new time for the country and its people.
Haraldsted kirke

At Erik Jarl's request Knud's body was first buried in Haraldsted kirke, but soon after brought to Ringsted klosterkirke. The compassion with the murdered and his avengers' wise politics soon made a martyr of this chivalrous man of the world. Revelations were seen at his grave, a well was said to have sprung close to the scene of the crime and a chapel was built there. After Valdemar I's powers had grown by victories abroad and by reconciliation with archbishop Eskil, he had his father canonized (1160), and his Helgenben (Saint's bones) solemnly placed in a reliquary in Ringsted. (1170). Here was made a biography of the saint, but already in Erik Emune's ruling period an English monk, Robert of Ely, had described Knud's life and martyr death.
Ringsted kirke

Knud was a sympathetic personality, brilliant in his behaviour, open and bold, of course ambitious and proud, but always noble. In somes respects raised above Denmark, and as a pioneer for a higher culture he pointed beyond his narrow-minded contemporaries.

He had three daughters with Ingeborg: Margrethe, married to Stig Hvide, Kirsten and Cathrine, who probably was married to the Wendic prince Prizlav. Eight days after Knud's murder and probably before the tragic news had reached Schleswig, his son Valdemar was born.


Monumenta Germaniæ, Script. XXIX.
H. Olrik, K.s Liv og Gærning (1888).
Jahrbb. f. d. Landesk. Schlesw., Holst. u. Lauenb. X.
Danske Helgeners Levned, ved H. Olrik.
From Hans Olrik's Danish text: grethe bachmann
Dansk Biografisk Lexicon
Carl Fr. Bricka
Project Runeberg

Ingeborg, –1131–, daughter of the Russian prince Mstislav and Christine , a daughter of the Swedish king Inge; she married Knud Lavard (ab. 1116). The legendary story about Knud's courting her via the merchant Vidgaut is not historical; the marriage was due to Ingeborg's aunt, her mother's sister queen Margrethe Fredkulla, who even gave Ingeborg a part of her own Swedish paternal estate as a dowry. Ingeborg advised Knud against going to the Christmas feast in Roskilde (1130-) -, eight days after his murder she gave birth to the son Valdemar (January 1131). She and Knud had also three daughters, Margrethe, Kirsten and Cathrine. When the høvdingen (chief) Christiern Svendsen after king Erik Emune's kill wanted to make the little Valdemar king, Ingeborg opposed strongly. From this time she is not mentioned anymore.

H. Olrik, Knud Lavard.




Dansk Biografisk Lexicon
Carl Fr. Bricka
Project Runeberg

translation grethe bachmann  ©​ copyright

Niels, - 1134 - ~ Margrethe Fredkulla

Niels, -1134, King of Denmark, the longest living and
the last ruler of Svend Estridsen's illegitimate sons.
He is mentioned for the first time, when he after Knud
den Hellige's kill (1086) was sent to Flandern as a
hostage, so the magnates could pay Oluf Hunger free
and make him king; Niels was close to this brother and
agreed in the reaction against Knud's supremacy. When
the message about Erik Ejegod's death arrived in
Denmark, Niels succeeded in being elected king (1104);
some of his older brothers had died, Svend and Ubbe
Kongsemne (= pretender).

Even the Roskilde Chronicle, which else is friendly to
Niels,regards him not qualified as king. He was ordinary,
but without overview and without royal appearance, and
he was controlled by small-mindedness and greediness and
brought disasters to the country. Misplaced thrift and
greediness made him restrict his entourage and cut off
maintaining discipline and order, so the security from
Erik Ejegod's time was replaced by common insecurity;
among other things he submitted to Harald Kesja's
robberies. His own men did not respect their king, the
chief Christiern Svendsen broke crudely Vederlagsretten,
( =judicial payments),and when king Niels was careless
enough to be content just giving fines,worse ruptures
soon happened among the king's men.

Niels was greedy for estate and did not give his sister's
son, the Wendic prince Henrik his maternal inheritance,
and Henrik started a feud, which brought distress and
misery on Denmark. It would have been much worse if Niels
had not such a strong personality by his side, his wife
Margrethe Fredkulla, whom he married shortly after his
accession to the throne.

A large expedition which Niels made to Ljutka in Holstein
ended - caused by the Jarl Elev's treason - into a defeat,
and not until Knud Lavard became hertug in Sønderjylland
(1115) Denmark achieved peace from its southern neighbour.
But from now on the chivalrus hero Knud Lavard threw his
paternal uncle into the shade. There were enough contrasts
between them. While Knud was the standard bearer of the
advanced European culture,Niels was narrow-minded and held
on to inherited common practice. This was obvious on the
clerical grounds.

Although Niels was friendly with the clergy and especially
gave Roskilde domkirke and Odense kloster privileges,the
pope demanded him to protect the church from assaults and
to reject Niels' un-ecclesiastical demands that Danish
priests were allowed to get married.(1117). On the other
hand king Niels could not prevent the persecution of
married priests at Sjælland (1123) and altogether he
preferred to be an onlooker of events.Sigurd Jorsalfarer
promised him support on a crusade to Småland, but he went
back on his words and the Norwegian king ravaged furiously
one of his farms.

Knud Lavard's growing power and fame caught the jealous
eye of king Niels. He saw that his own son Magnus, whom
he assisted to be king in Sweden, could not compare with
his cousin, who once would be his rival to the throne.
But he dared not act vigorously towards Knud, although
Knud did not show his uncle the necessary consideration.
Niels set on to Knud by Henrik Skadelaar's initiative and
by queen Ulvhild, whom he had married after Margrethe's
death; he complained about Knud at the Thing, but he had
to give up to Knuds frank and proud reply. Niels now
resorted to schemes; without participating in the
conspiracy against Knud, he promoted the schemes and
wheedled out Knud's ring, because it according to his
belief contained a talisman which made its owner
invincible.

After Magnus had murdered Knud, Niels felt threatened by
the crews at the Thing of Sjælland and had to send his
own son in exile. (1131) But soon after he called him
back, and now Erik Emune raised a rebellion. During the
civil war, where Niels especially had support from Jutland
he won the better of it and he had Erik Emune driven out,
but had to on the other side recognize the German king
Lothars supremacy. Erik however had now the power in Skåne,
and Niels and Magnus, who was now his father's co-king,
gathered a large army in order to win a crucial victory
over Erik, but the battle at Fodevig (4. June 1134)was
a terribly defeat for them, Magnus was killed, and the old
king escaped and took flight through the country in order
to come to king Lothar; he came to Schleswig.

He was afraid of going into Knud Lavard's city and his men
warned him against the "Edslaget", the guild, where Knud
had been Master of the Guild, but since he had taken in
some hostages, his weak nature changed from fear into
arrogance. "Should we be afraid of tailors and shoemakers?"
he supposedly said, and he rode into the city. The citizens
really wanted to revenge Knud Lavard, they locked the city
gates, rang the guild-bell and gathered together. Niels
wanted to flee to the king's castle, but was killed with
his entourage (25 June 1134). His lack of character caused
his downfall.

Contrary to the other sons of Svend Estridsen Niels grew
old and was therefore named "den Gamle" (the Old).He had
two sons with Margrethe: Inge who as child was kicked to
death by a horse and Magnus. Besides he had a daughter by
a mistress, Ingerid, who married Jarlen(the earl) Ubbe.

Ræder, Danmark und. Svend Estridsen og hans Sønner.
A. D. Jørgensen, Den nord. Kirkes Grundlæggelse.
H. Olrik, Knud Lavard.
Samme, Konge og Præstestand I.                                           

translated from Hans Olrik's Danish text: grethe bachmann.

Kilde:
Dansk Biografisk Lexicon
Carl Fr. Bricka
Project Runeberg
(1887-1905)

Margrethe Fredkulla, --1117(?), Queen, was a daughter
of the Swedish king Inge Stenkilsen and was very young
married to the Norwegian king Magnus Barfod, and a
Danish peace agreement was thereby confirmed (1101).
Therefore Margrethe got her byname Fredkulla. She
brought as a dowry to Magnus the landscapes west of
Gøtaelven (river in Sweden) - the feud between the
two kings had been about this land. Her  first
marriage was short. During a poaching at the coast of
Ireland Magnus was killed (1102.

Margrethe was not fond of her new living place,and
her marriage was childless, which meant that Norway
missed the countries which were her dowry.The
Norwegians mistrusted her, it was even said, that
she by her leave from Norway had stolen Holy Olaf's
reliquaries. Shortly after Niels ascended the
Danish throne (1104) she became his queen, they had
the sons Magnus and Inge , the last mentioned died
when he was a child, kicked to death by a horse.

Margrethe asserted herself in Denmark as a strong
personality. She had once been a pawn of peace, and
she tried to keep peace in the Danish royal house,
especially by making marriage connections between her
relatives and the Danish royal descendants. Most of
all she let Knud Lavard marry her sister's daughter
Ingeborg, and Henrik Skadelaar marry her brother's
daughter Ingerid, and each of those two brides she
gave a fourth of her Swedish estates as a dowry.

Margrethe Fredkulla's politics did not secure peace,
but it was said that there could be no fight as long
as she lived. Outwardly she also seems to have
contributed to protect Denmark, the tradition assigns
the eastern part of Danevirke to a queen M.,and it
could hardly be anyone else but her. She was very
generous to the church, she embroidered chasubles and
altar cloths and she gave Lund's cathedral a very
valuable gold chalice. Margrethe Fredkulla left
herself a fine reputation. She died on 4.November
from dropsy. The year of death is in a yearbook
written as 1117 - but according to the connection of
events it should be later.

H. Olrik, Knud Lavard.
A. D. Jørgensen, Bidrag til Nordens Hist. i Middelald. S. 7 ff.
(Norsk) Hist. Tidsskr. 3. R. I, 272 f.
H. Olrik, Konge og Præstestand I.


Kilde:
Dansk Biografisk Lexicon
Carl Fr. Bricka
Project Runeberg
(1887-1905) 

translation grethe bachmann  ©​ copyright 

Erik 1. Ejegod, - 1103 -, ~ Bodil Thrugotsdatter

Erik 1. Ejegod 

Erik Ejegod, --1103, king, was an illegitimate son of Svend Estridsen.
His date of birth is unknown, but he was born in Slangerup,Sjælland
(Zealand), where he later let build a church. Erik joined closely his
brother Knud den Hellige (the Holy), by whom he was appointed Jarl
in Sjælland; he was very alike Knud as for courage and frankness,
but he also had sober-mindedness and an ability to mediate and
make himself popular, which Knud was lacking in. Erik fought bravely
by Knud's side in St. Albani church 10 July 1086.

After Oluf had been elected king, Erik went to Sweden, where he
gained such good reputation that he - 9 years after king Oluf died 18
August 1195 - was called home and elected king after he had sworn to
be faithful to Harald Hen's laws. He took up the fight against the
heathens, also on the Continent where he conquered Oldenburg in
Vagrien. He also fought for an ecclesiastical liberation. The emperor
-friendly archbishop Liemar of Bremen had opposed to Erik, who now
joined Pope Urban II,the king now wanted to make an attempt in
liberating the church of the North from the supremacy of Bremen, and
at the same time he hoped to have his murdered brother adopted as
a church saint.

In autumn 1098 he went to Italy and met pope Urban in Bari in Apulia,
where was held a synod, but his questions were not finally decided. On
the journey Erik took care of the Nordic pilgrims by establishing a
guesthouse in Piacenza and taking similar care of the travellers in
Lucca; he brought reliquaries of the holy Nicolaus home to his church
in Slangerup. Finally the pope's blessing for his brother Knud's
canonization came, at a great party on Good Friday (19. April) the
costy reliquary with Knud den Hellige's bones could be placed upon the
altar of the newbuilt Skt. Knud's Kirke in Odense. Some estate was
given to the church and the connected kloster, to which monks came
from the kloster Evesham in England.

In the summer of the same year there was a meeting at Gøtaelven (a
river in Sweden) between Erik and the kings: Inge of Sweden and king
Magnus Barfod of Norway. Magnus had plundered in Halland, and he was
still fighting with king Inge. Erik mediated between the kings and tried
without doubt to prepare the way for the idea about a Primat for the
Nordic church in Lund.This case was not decided in Rome until after
Erik Ejegod's death.

In fury Erik had killed some hirdmen;a musician had according to Saxe
brought him into rage with his enchanted music. He wanted to go to the
Holy Land "to heal his soul", the Icelandic Skald says. When Erik told
what he wanted to do, the people asked him appealingly to give up this,
they would offer rich presents to pay him from his promise. But Erik
dared not break his oath,he appointed a viceregent staff, who were his
eldest son Harald Kesja and bishop Asser of Lund, and then went together
with his wife Bodil in the year 1102 across Gardarike to Constantinople,
where emperor Alexius showed him much honour. Erik was the first of
the European kings, who went on pilgrimage to the Holy Land, but he did
not succeed. In Baffa at Cypern he caught a fever and died 10.July 1103.
After having buried her husband, Bodil continued the journey to Jerusalem,
but died outside the city on the Mount of Olives.

Erik Ejegod was a handsome man, taller and stronger than most men; his
sonorous voice could be heard by everyone in assemblies,he was a popular
speaker, and he sent greetings to everyone who weren't there even wives,
children and slaves. He had a brilliant memory and knew several foreign
languages. He was a skilled ruler, he punished criminals in a hard way, but
however he got the byname "egoth" (always good), and he left as an
important inheritance to his son Knud Lavard and his grandson Valdemar a
shining memory about a loved and clever king.

In his marriage to Bodil he only had the son Knud (Lavard). But he had many
mistresses,(where his queen showed to be very tolerant), and with these
he had the sons Harald Kesja, Benedict, Erik Emune and a daughter Ragnhild.

Ræder, Danmark under Svend Estridsen og hans Sønner.
A. D. Jørgensen, Den nord. Kirkes Grundlæggelse.



Kilde:
Dansk Biografisk Lexicon
Carl Fr. Bricka
Project Runeberg
(1887-1905)

Bodil Thrugotsdatter

Bodil, --1103, queen. She was a daughter of the
Jarl Thrugot Fagerskind. According to Saxos
narrative she was already married to Erik Ejegod
in the beginning of Oluf Hunger's rule, since
she followed him in exile to Sweden. Their only
child was as far as it is known the later hertug
Knud Lavard. Saxo praises her duty and her
character, especially her tolerance of her
husbands' excesses. She followed him on his
journey to the Holy Land, and she came there
after his death, but died there in 1103.
Knytlingasagas tales about her are considered
untrustworthy.

H. Olrik, Knud Lavard S. 25 ff.

Translated from J. Kinch's Danish text: grethe bachmann.

Kilde:
Dansk Biografisk Lexicon
Carl Fr. Bricka
Project Runeberg
(1887-1905) 

translation grethe bachmann  ©​ copyright