Canute I of Sweden
Canute I | |
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Christina Bjornsdatter |
Canute I (
Youth and ascension
Canute was born no later than the 1140s, thus before his father had yet gained power over parts of Sweden. As a young man he was betrothed to a lady, sister of another Canute. Her name is not revealed, but her equal could supposedly not be found in the land. When Eric IX was killed in
Rule
After 1174, Canute was ably supported in his rule by the
Within
During his reign Canute was reportedly occupied fighting pagans for the sake of dissemination of the Christian faith. A fleet of pagan
Skáldatal names two of King Canute's skalds: Hallbjörn hali and Þorsteinn Þorbjarnarson.
Death and succession
Canute died in Eriksberg in Västergötland, either in the autumn of 1195 or on 8 April 1196.[7] On balance he was the first successful ruler of Sweden for a long time, being the first king since Philip (d. 1118) to die a natural death. He was buried in Varnhem Abbey. His sons were reportedly grown up at his demise, but he was nevertheless succeeded by a son of his former rival Charles VII, Sverker Karlsson. The House of Sverker had sufficient support among the church and grandees to regain power, apparently without shedding blood.[8]
Family
Canute married his cloistered fiancée after his ascension to power. The name of his wife is unknown but sometimes taken to be Cecilia Johansdotter of Sweden. She gave birth to several children of which one was appointed heir to the throne with the consent of the grandees of the kingdom. At a later time she became seriously ill. In her agony she promised before God to observe celibacy if she recovered. Canute agreed in order to console her. In fact she survived and entered a monastery. However, Canute wrote a letter to Pope Celestine III in 1193, asking to be allowed to take up married life. The reason was that he must cooperate with his wife's relative to fight the pagans, and evade the libel of his enemies.[9] The outcome of his request is not clear.
Children:
- N.N. son (slain November 1205 at Battle of Älgarås)
- N.N. son (slain November 1205 at Battle of Älgarås)
- N.N. son (slain November 1205 at Battle of Älgarås)
- Erik Knutsson, who would defeat Sverker the Younger and become King of Sweden in 1208.
- daughter, NN Knutsdotter (possibly Sigrid, or Karin), who is said to have married either jarl Knut Birgersson (and become mother of Magnus Broka), or married Magnus Broka himself (and with Magnus had a son Knut Magnusson, or, Knut Katarinason, claimant of Swedish throne and killed in 1251). Existence of this daughter is based on unclear mentions in old saga and chronicle material, especially the Norwegian Hákonar saga Hákonarsonar. It is to an extent accepted in research literature, to explicate Knut Magnusson's hereditary claim to the throne. This daughter was by necessity born in the 1170s or 1180s. She is also proposed by old romantical-looking genealogies as mother of a Duke's daughter Cecilia Knutsdotter (by necessity born near 1208 at earliest), whose parentage however is fully shrouded in mists of history.
References
- ^ Larsson, Götarnas riken, p. 185.
- ^ Gillingstam, "Knut Eriksson".
- ^ Larsson, Svenska medeltidsbrev, p. 26.
- ^ Harrison, Sveriges historia 600-1350, p. 212, 274-6.
- ^ Sundberg, Medeltidens svenska krig, p. 45.
- ^ Gillingstam, "Knut Eriksson".
- ^ Larsson, Götarnas riken, p. 185.
- ^ Harrison, Sveriges historia 600-1350, p, 213.
- ^ Gillingstam, "Knut Eriksson".
Literature
- Gillingstam, Hans. "Knut Eriksson", Svenskt biografiskt lexikon, https://sok.riksarkivet.se/Sbl/Presentation.aspx?id=11661
- Harrison, Dick, Sveriges historia 600-1350. Stockholm: Norstedts, 2009.
- Lagerqvist Lars O., Åberg Nils. Kings and Rulers of Sweden. Vincent Publications, 2002 (ISBN 91-87064-35-9).
- Larsson, Inger. Svenska medeltidsbrev; framväxten av ett offentligt skriftspråk. Stockholm: Norstedts (ISBN 91-1-301125-1).
- Larsson, Mats G., Götarnas riken; Upptäcktsfärder till Sveriges enande. Stockholm: Atlantis, 2002.
- Liljegren, Bengt. Rulers of Sweden. Historiska Media, 2004 (ISBN 91-85057-63-0).
- Sundberg, Ulf, Medeltidens svenska krig. Stockholm: Hjalmarson & Högberg, 1999 (ISBN 91-89080-26-2).
External links
- Media related to Canute I of Sweden at Wikimedia Commons