Valdemar the Victorious left a crumbling kingdom to his oldest son Eric, whom had been co-ruling the country with his father since 1232.
Eric Plovpenning (King of Denmark 1241-1250)
Valdemar the Victorious had three legitimate sons, Eric, Abel and Christoffer with Berengária of Portugal. All three sons of course thought they deserved the throne when their father died.
Eric, the oldest, was chosen to co-rule the country with his father in 1232, when Valdemar's oldest son, Prince Valdemar, died in a tragic accident. When King Valdemar died in 1241, Eric was elected King of Denmark. He was known as a hardheaded, aggressive ruler and during his reign Erik introduced a tax on ploughs, which made him especially unpopular with the peasants. The tax earned him his name Plovpenning.
The election of Erik as king, started a war amongst the brothers that was to last for many years and carry on into the next generation of kings.
Abel, who received support from brother Christoffer, was planning on taking the throne at any cost and in 1250, Abel tricked Erik into an ambush where Erik was taken out in a boat and beheaded by one of Abel’s men. Abel of course claimed he had nothing to do with the murder of his brother and that his men did not act on his order.
Erik’s headless body was thrown into the water but later found by fishermen and his remains were put to rest in Ringsted.
Abel (King of Denmark 1250-1252)
Even though Abel and 24 noblemen swore Abel had nothing to do with the murder of Erik, it was commonly believed that he had his brother assassinated in order to overtake the throne. Since Erik had no sons and thereby no natural heirs to the throne, his closest relative, the man behind his murder, was crowned King of Denmark in 1250.
Abel’s reign was cut short when he set out to punish the peasants in Freesia, who refused to pay their taxes. He was killed on Husum Brigde and buried in Schleswig Church. After his death it was rumored that strange noises came from Abel’s grave and people were afraid to enter the church. Abel’s body was therefore moved from the church to an area outside of Schleswig. Legend has it, that Abel never found peace because of what he did to his brother and that his ghost has been seen hunting on a white horse accompanied by glowing hound dogs.
At the time of Abel’s death, his son Valdemar, who was the natural heir to the throne was held prison in Cologne. To take his place was Abel’s younger brother Christoffer, who was also the last legitimate son of Valdemar the Victorious. Christoffer was crowned King of Denmark in 1252.
For more about the history of the Danish Monarchy read The Danish Monarchy-The Beginning and The Danish Monarchy 1252-1259, King Christoffer
Sources:
www.kingsofdenmark.dk
www.kongehuset.dk
www.kongernesjelling.dk
