Erik Ejegod, the fourth son of Sweyn Estridsen to become king of Denmark, had fought side by side with his brother Canute the Holy, during attempts to gain back the Scandinavian empire built by Canute the Great.
Erik Ejegod (King of Denmark 1095-1103)
After Oluf Hunger died under mysterious circumstances and left the country of Denmark in great disdain, Erik Ejegod was brought back to Denmark and elected King.
Erik had been in exile in Sweden since Canute the Holy was brutally murdered by rebellious peasants.
Erik had his work cut out for him as the country had suffered through drought and starvation during Oluf Hungers reign. But with Erik on the throne the hardship seemed to cease, which the Danes took as a sign from God that Erik was the right king for the country. This in turn made Erik an extremely popular king and earned him the name Ejegod, meaning “always good.”
Erik continued the work of his brother Canute the Holy to promote the Danish church and free the country from the rule of the German church. He was also the one who pushed and obtained sanctification of Canute the Holy.
In 1101 Erik Ejegod decided to set out on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. In his place he appointed his son Harold Kejsa as regent in charge.
Erik never made it to Jerusalem as he fell sick off fever in Cyprus and died on July 10th 1103. His wife, Queen Bodil, had him buried in the hills of Cyprus. She too had fallen sick but continued on and made it to Jerusalem where she died.
King Niels (King of Denmark 1103-1134)
Niels was the fifth and last of Sweyn Estridsen’s sons to become king of Denmark.
He was a well-liked king and the first years of his reign was calm and peaceful.
The peace however, was put to an end by a family feud that was to last for 25 years.
Since Niels was the youngest and last son of Sweyn Estridsen it was no longer a given, who was to claim the throne when Niels died. This started a war between the son’s of Niels and the son’s of Erik Ejegod, who all believed the throne, belonged to them. In 1131 the feud resulted in the murder of Erik Ejegod’s son Canute Lavard by Niels’ son Magnus.
After Canute Lavard’s murder his half-brother Erik was determined to avenge on the murder of his brother and at the same time secure the throne for himself.
Erik succeeded in 1134 when he and his men killed Magnus and set after Niels, who was supportive of his son’s fight for the throne.
After the death of Magnus, King Niels seemingly gave up the fight as he walked into the town of Schleswig, knowing that he was walking into his death as the townsmen was showing only hate towards the king and was determined to avenge the murder of Canute Lavard.
On June 25th 1134 King Niels was killed by the townsmen of Schleswig and thereby ending the long reign of the sons of Sweyn Estridsen.
For more on the history of the Danish Monarchy: The Danish Monarchy - The Beginning and The Danish Monarchy 1134-1146, King Erik Emune and King Erik Lamb
Sources:
www.kingsofdenmark.dk
www.kongehuset.dk
www.kongernesjelling.dk
www.heimskringla.no
