Canute V of Denmark

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Canute V of Denmark (Knud V Magnusson) 11XX - August 9, 1157, Danish king, co-regent with Sweyn III and Valdemar I between 1146 and 1157.

He was the son of King Niels' son Magnus, who had slain Canute Lavard. After the abdication of Eric III the magnates of Jutland declared him king and for the next years he in vain tried to defeat his rival Sweyn III on Zealand. 1151 he was expelled from Denmark and his request for help from the Emperor only resulted in a compromise which made him the inferior co-ruler of Sweyn.

However a secret co-operation with Valdemar, the son of his father's old enemy, led to an alliance which 1154 made them sole rulers of the kingdom while Sweyn had to fly. After a new war a final compromise 1157 made Canute the ruler of Zealand but during the peace banquet (the Bloodfeast of Roskilde) he was killed allegedly by one of Sweyn's warriors.

Nothing sure is known about his person and character. His half-sister Sophia of Minsk married Valdemar I who revenged him the same year at Grathe Heath.