Eric V of Denmark

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Eric V "Klipping" (1249- November 22, 1286) was King of Denmark (1259-1286) and son of Christopher I. Until 1264 he ruled under the auspices of his mother, the competent Queen Dowager Margaret Sambiria. In this period he was for some time 1261-1262 a prisoner in Holstein after a military defeat and afterwards he was for some years brought up in Brandenburg. He tried to enforce his power over church and nobility. His conflict with the former was brought to a satisfying result but in 1282 he was forced by the latter to accept an agreement (a "handfastening" - a kind of a Danish Magna Carta) which limited his authority. In the 1270s, Erik Glipping attacked Småland.

A never-ending rivalry between Eric and his supporters on one side, and the kin of former King Abel on the other, made Queen Margrethe write to the Pope in Rome around 1262 or 1263, asking the Pope to allow for women to inherit the Danish throne, thus making it possible for one of Eric's sisters to become reigning Queen of Denmark in the event of the young King's death (he had no children as of yet). The Pope seemingly agreed, but it never became an issue; Eric was succeeded by his son, who was named Eric after his uncle, Eric IV "Ploughpenny".

Eric Klipping was assassinated November 22, 1286, and a number of the nation's most powerful noblemen, led by Marsk Stig Andersen Hvide were outlawed by the Danish court. Whether or not they actually had anything to do with the murder, which took place in a small village near Viborg called Finderup, is still being questioned; the King's death meant that they lost almost all the power and influence that the 1282 charter had given them, since a new King would not be bound by the same agreement. The murder of Eric Klipping, who was stabbed to death in his sleep, is a middle-age murder mystery which has never really been solved. Some historians have tried to point out the Duke of South Jutland but no prove has been found.

The king’s nickname ”Klipping” or ”Glipping” has been discussed. Normally it is supposed to mean a medieval coin that has become ”clipped” (a "clipped penny") or cut in order to indicate devaluation. A former popular explanation - that Eric was often blinking (Danish “glippe”) with his eyes – now seems to be generally rejected.