Ulf Jarl
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Ulf Jarl (jarl is a title, corresponding to English earl) belonged to a prominent Swedish family since he was the son of Thorgils Sprakalägg who is considered to have been the son of Styrbjörn the Strong and Tyra, the daughter of Harald Bluetooth. He was consequently closely related to both the Swedish and Danish royal houses.
Ulf joined Canute the Great's expedition to England. In c. 1015, he married Canute's sister Estrid[1] and was appointed the Jarl of Denmark which he ruled when Canute was absent. He was also the foster-father of Canute's son Harthacanute.
When the Swedish king Anund Jakob and the Norwegian king Saint Olaf took advantage of Canute's absence and attacked Denmark, Ulf convinced the freemen to elect Harthacanute king, since they were miscontent with Canute's absenteeism. This was a ruse from Ulf since his role as the caretaker of Harthacanute would make him the ruler of Denmark.
When Canute learnt of what had happened in 1026, he returned to Denmark and with Ulf Jarl's help, he defeated the Swedes and the Norwegians at the Battle of the Helgeå. This service, did not, however, make Canute forgive Ulf for his coup.[2] At a banquet in Roskilde, the two brothers-in-law were playing chess and started arguing with each other. The next day, the Christmas of 1026, Canute had one of his Housecarls kill Ulf Jarl in the church of Trinity. The accounts of the two brothers and Ulf's death are contradictory.
Ulf was the father of Sweyn Estridson, and thus the ancestor of Danish royal house which would rule Denmark 1047-1375.
[edit] Notes
- ^ M. K. Lawson, Cnut: England's Viking King (2004), p. 94, says that the identification of Ulf with the husband of Estrith (Estrid) is commonly made but not certain.
- ^ Havhingsten fra Glendalough: The battle of the throne of England
