Eric I of Denmark

Eric I Coin of Eric the Good King of Denmark Reign 1095–1103 Predecessor Olaf I Successor Niels Born c. 1060 Slangerup, Denmark Died 10 July 1103 (aged 42–43) Paphos, Cyprus Burial Chrysopolitissa Basilica, Paphos, Cyprus Consort Boedil Thurgotsdatter Issue Canute Lavard Harald Kesja Eric II of Denmark House House of Estridsen Father Sweyn II of Denmark Religion Roman Catholicism Danish Royalty House of Estridsen Eric I Evergood Children Saint Canute Lavard, Duke of Sønderjylland Illegitimate Children Harald Kesja Ragnhild Eriksdatter Benedikt Eriksen Eric II the Memorable Grandchildren Valdemar I the Great Margaret Knudsdatter Christina, Queen of Norway Catherine, Duchess of Mecklenburg Björn Haraldsen Ironside Olaf (II) Haraldsen Eric III Lamb (maternal) Great-Grandchildren Christina, Queen of Sweden

Eric I^[1] (c. 1060 – 10 July 1103), also known as Eric the Good,^[2][3][4] (Danish: Erik Ejegod), was King of Denmark following his brother Olaf I Hunger in 1095. He was a son of Sweyn II. His mother's identity is unknown. He married Boedil Thurgotsdatter.

Biography

Plaque commemorating Eric I's burial in Paphos, Cyprus

Eric was born in the town of Slangerup in North Zealand. During the rule of his half-brother Canute IV he was an eager supporter of the king, but he was spared during the rebellion against Canute IV. Eric remained at the royal farm instead of accompanying Canute IV to St Albans priory in Odense where Canute IV was killed. Eric talked his way off the farm and fled to Zealand then fled to Scania which was part of Denmark at the time. Olaf I Hunger was elected King of Denmark, but his reign was short. At last Eric was elected as a king at the several landsting assemblies in 1095. Eric was well liked by the people and the famines that had plagued Denmark during Olaf Hunger's reign ceased. For many it seemed a sign from God that Eric was the right king for Denmark.

Medieval chroniclers, such as Saxo Grammaticus, and myths portrayed Eric a “strapping fellow” appealing to the common people. He could keep his place when four men tried their best to move him. Eric was a good speaker, people went out of their way to hear him. After a ting assembly concluded, he went about the neighborhood greeting men, women and children at their homesteads. He had a reputation as a loud man who liked parties and who led a rather dissipated private life. Though a presumed supporter of a strong centralized royal power, he seems to have behaved like a diplomat avoiding any clash with the magnates. He had a reputation for being ruthless to robbers and pirates.

On a visit to the Pope in Rome he obtained canonization for his late brother, Canute IV, and an archbishopric for Denmark (now Lund in Scania), instead of being under the Archbishop of Hamburg-Bremen. Bishop Asser then became the first Archbishop of Lund.

King Eric announced at the Viborg assembly that he had decided to go on pilgrimage to the Holy Land. The cause, according to Danmarks Riges Krønike, was the murder of four of his own men while drunk at a feast in his own hall. Despite the pleadings of his subjects, he would not be deterred. Eric appointed his son, Harald Kesja, and Bishop Asser as regents.

Eric and Boedil and a large company traveled through Russia to Constantinople where he was a guest of the emperor. While there, he became ill, but took ship for Cyprus anyway. He died at Paphos, Cyprus in July 1103. The queen had him buried there. He was the first king to go on pilgrimage after Jerusalem was conquered during the First Crusade.^[5] Queen Boedil also became ill, but made it to Jerusalem where she died. She was buried at the foot of the Mount of Olives in the Valley of Josaphat.

Memorial stone in Borgvold, Viborg, Denmark

Family

Eric and Boedil had one legitimate son, Canute Lavard. Harald Kesja was Canute's half-brother. Eric had two sons outside marriage Eric II the Memorable and Benedict, and the daughter Ragnhilde (mother of the future king Eric III Lamb).^[6]

Canute Lavard was king Eric's eldest son, and he was a chivalrous and popular Danish prince. Canute was murdered 7 January 1131 by Eric's nephew Magnus the Strong, the son of King Niels, who viewed Canute as a likely competitor for the throne. Canute's death occurred days before the birth of his child, Valdemar I the Great, who would become King of Denmark from 1157 to 1182. Eric Ejegod is the ancestor of later Danish monarchs.

Ancestry

References

Monarchs of Denmark Early monarchs c. 916–1412 (Harthacnut) Gorm the Old Harald Bluetooth Sweyn Forkbeard1 Harald II Cnut the Great1 Harthacanute1 Magnus the Good Sweyn II Estridsen Harald III Hen Canute the Saint Olaf I Hunger Eric Evergood Niels Eric the Memorable Eric Lamb Sweyn Grathe / Canute V / Valdemar the Great Canute VI Valdemar the Victorious / Valdemar the Young Eric Plough-tax Abel Christopher I Eric Klipping Eric Menved Christopher II / Eric Christoffersen Valdemar III Interregnum Valdemar Atterdag Olaf II Margrethe I2 Palatinate-Neumarkt 1397–1448 Eric of Pomerania2 Christopher of Bavaria2 Oldenburg 1448–1863 Christian I2 John2 Christian II2 Frederik I Christian III Frederik II Christian IV Frederik III Christian V Frederik IV Christian VI Frederik V Christian VII Frederik VI Christian VIII Frederik VII Schleswig-Holstein- Sonderburg-Glücksburg since 1863 Christian IX Frederik VIII Christian X3 Frederik IX Margrethe II Italics indicates Danish monarchs who were also monarchs of Norway. 1 Also monarch of England. 2 Also monarch of Sweden. 3 Also monarch of Iceland.