When Erik Emune stepped on to the Danish throne, he was put in charge of a split country after winning the throne. Half the country supported former king Niels, who was slain along with his son Magnus during a rebellion led by Erik Emune, the other half supported Erik and the choice of him as a king.
Erik Emune (King of Denmark 1134-1137)
The rivalry wasn’t over with the crowing of Erik Emune and many disagreed with the choice of Erik as king. In Jutland, a large Danish peninsula, the majority of Danes supported former king Niels and resented Erik for the murder of Niels' son Magnus.
In the short time Erik was king of Denmark, he didn’t make a great mark in history as he spend most of his time fighting to hang on to the throne. Erik Emune’s supporters gave him the name Emune, which meant the “always memorable,” but it was reported from the other part of the country that he was a ruthless tyrant, which shows how opinions were conflicting amongst the Danes.
In 1137 Erik was called back from a crusade when he heard news of noblemen planning to rebel against him. At a meeting in Jutland, the Danish noblemen of Denmark gathered to meet with the king. The nobleman Sorte Plov, asked to approach the king but when Sorte Plov got close he realized the king wasn’t wearing any armor. He made a rash decision as he drew his spear and drove it through the king. The king’s nephew Erik, was by the king’s side, ready to avenge the murder, but the rest of the noblemen stopped him as they didn’t want the only heir to the throne to die in a moment of rage.
Erik Lamb (King of Denmark1137-1146)
After Erik Emune’s death, his nephew Erik was the only adult candidate left for the throne and therefore he was chosen and crowned king of Denmark.
Erik's reign was peaceful. So peaceful he got the name Lamb, which was meant to describe his soft personality and ability to keep everyone happy. A few distant relatives still challenged Erik for the throne, but none succeeded and no wars erupted. Erik Lamb left no great mark on history but did bring some years of calmness to the Danes, who for so many years had been in rivalry amongst each other.
In contrast to most Danish kings, Erik Lamb was not brutally murdered or died a mysterious death. In 1146 he stepped of the throne, joined a convict and soon after died. It was said that he knew he was deathly ill and that is why he chose to leave the throne.
For more on the history of the Danish monarchy:
The Danish Monarchy - The beginning and The Danish Monarchy 1146-1182, The Kings Sweyn III, Canute V and Valdemar the Great
Sources:
www.kingsofdenmark.dk
www.kongehuset.dk
www.kongernesjelling.dk
www.heimskringla.no
