Eric I of Denmark

Eric I of Denmark (c. 1070–July 10, 1103), also known as Erik Ejegod (literally: Eric "Evergood"), was King of Denmark following his brother Olaf I in 1095. He was a son of King Sweyn Estridson, by his wife Gunhild Svendsdatter, and he married Boedil Thurgotsdatter.

He was born in the town of Slangerup in North Zealand. During the rule of his half-brother Canute IV of Denmark he was an eager supporter of the king but he was spared during the rebellion against Canute. He was by his side when he was slain in Odense, but fled to Sweden and lived in exile until the change of public feeling which made him elected as a king.

Medieval chroniclers (for instance Saxo Grammaticus) and myths portray him a “strapping fellow” appealing to the common people, a loud man who liked parties and who led a rather dissipated private life. Though a presumed supporter of a strong royal power he seems to have behaved like a diplomat avoiding any clash with the farmers.

On a visit to the Pope in Rome he obtained canonization for Canute, and an archiepiscopal see in Denmark (now Lund in Scania), instead of being under Hamburg-Bremen. The Bishop there Ascer then became the first Archbishop in Scania.

He died at Paphos, Cyprus during a pilgrimage to Jerusalem as the first king after the city was conquered during the First Crusade. His wife Bodil made it to the Holy Land, where she is said to have died on the Oil Mountain.

He had a daughter named Ragnhilde (mother of the future king Eric III) and four sons, Canute Lavard, Harald Kesja, Eric II Emune and Benedict. Canute was the eldest, and he was a chivalrous and popular Danish prince. He was murdered January 7, 1131 by his nephew Magnus, the son of then King Niels, who viewed Canute as a likely competitive contender for the throne. His death occurred days before the birth of his child, Valdemar, who himself would become King of Denmark from 1157-1182. During this royal line Eric is the ancestor of later Danish monarchs.

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