Canute the Saint of Denmark
| Canute IV | |
|---|---|
Murder of Canute the Holy by Christian Albrecht von Benzon, 1843
|
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| King of Denmark | |
| Reign | 1080 - 1086 |
| Predecessor | Harald III |
| Successor | Olaf I |
| Born | c. 1042 |
| Died | 10 July 1086 St. Alban's Priory, Odense |
| Burial | St. Canute's Cathedral, Odense |
| Spouse | Adela of Flanders |
| Issue |
Charles I, Count of Flanders Cecilia Knutsdatter Ingegerd Knutsdatter |
| House | Estridsen |
| Father | Sweyn II of Denmark |
| Mother | Unknown mistress |
| Religion | Roman Catholicism |
Canute IV (c. 1042 – 10 July 1086), later known as Canute the Holy (Danish: Knud IV den Hellige) or Saint Canute (Sankt Knud), was King of Denmark from 1080 until 1086. Canute was an ambitious king who sought to strengthen the Danish monarchy, devotedly supported the Roman Catholic Church, and had designs on the English throne. Slain by rebels in 1086, he was the first Danish king to be canonized. He was recognized by the Roman Catholic Church as patron saint of Denmark in 1101.
Canute was born c. 1042, one of the many sons of Sweyn II Estridsson. He is first noted as a member of Sweyn's 1069 raid of England, and the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle reports that Canute was one of the leaders of another raid against England in 1075. When returning from England in 1075, the Danish fleet stopped in the County of Flanders. Because of its hostility towards William I of England, Flanders was a natural ally for the Danes. He also led successful campaigns to Sember and Ester, according to skald Kálfr Mánason.
When Sweyn died, Canute's brother Harald III was elected king, and as Canute went into exile in Sweden, he was possibly involved in the active opposition to Harald. In 1080, Canute succeeded Harald to the throne of Denmark. On his accession, he married Adela, daughter of Count Robert I of Flanders. She bore him one son, Charles (a name uncommon in Denmark) in 1084, and twin daughters Cæcilia (who married Erik Jarl) and Ingerid (who married Folke the Fat), born shortly before his death (ca. 1085/86). Ingerid's descendants, the House of Bjelbo, would ascend to the throne of Sweden and Norway and Canute IV's blood returned to the Danish throne in the person of first Olaf II of Denmark.
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