Danish prince and duke, Canute Lavard, was posthumously elevated to the stature of saint in the roman catholic church. He was the only legitimate son of King Erik Evergood Svendsson of Denmark and consort Boedil Thurgotsdatter. As a minor he was bypassed in the election of 1104. He grew up in close contact with the noble family of hvide, who were among his most eager supporters. In 1115, his uncle, King Niels of Denmark, placed him in charge of the duchy of Schleswig (jarl af sønderjyll) in order to end the attacks of the slavic obotrites. During the next fifteen years he fulfilled his duty of establishing peace in the border area, and was thereafter titled Duke of Holstein (hertug af Holsten) and became a vassal of the holy roman empire. He seemed to have been the first member of the danish royal family who was attracted by the knightly ideals and habits of medieval Germany; indicated by the changing of his title to duke of Schleswig. Many mighty enemies of his were acquired among the danish princes and magnates, who apparently questioned his loyalty and feared his bond with Emperor Lothair the Third, who had recognized him as sovereign over the western wends. King Niels and his son, Magnus the Strong, were reportedly alarmed at Canute's recognition by the emperor. On January 7, 1131, Canute was trapped in the Haraldsted Horest (haraldsted skov) near Ringsted in Zealand and supposedly murdered by Magnus. Ringsted Abbey, one of the earliest benedictine houses in Denmark, became his initial resting place. In 1157, his remains were moved into a new chapel at St. Bendt's church in Ringsted, the former ringsted abbey. A chapel was erected at the site of his death during medieval times but disappeared after the reformation. The ruins were rediscovered in 1883. A large cross was fashioned as a memorial to him in 1902 near where he died. After his passing, the obotrite lands were partitioned between Pribislav and Niklot (1090 to 1160), chiefs of the obotrites. Some consider his death to be a murder committed by Magnus; others attribute it to Niels himself. The death provoked a civil war that lasted intermittently until 1157. The war ended only with the victory of Canute's son Valdemar the First. The fate of Canute and his son's victory formed the background for his canonisation in 1170, which was requested by valdemar. His feast day (Knutsdagen) is celebrated on the day of his death, january 7. Canute Lavard was married to Ingeborg of Kiev. They had four children: 1. Margaret, married stig hvitaledr 2. Christina (born 1118), married (1133) Magnus the fourth of Norway 3. Catherine, married Pribislav Henry, Duke of Mecklenburg 4. King Valdemar the first of Denmark (born 1130 to 1140).



∼Saint Canute Lavard

Also known as
Knud Lavard; Knut Lavard
Memorial
7 January; 25 July in Denmark for the translation of his relics
Profile
Second son of King Eric the Good of Denmark. Nephew of King Saint Canute of Denmark. Raised in the court of Saxony. Duke of Jutland with his court at Schlewig. Spent years defended against Viking raids. Supported the missionary work of Saint Vicelin. Father of King Valdemar I, who worked for Canute's canonization. King of the Western Wends in 1129. Canute's uncle, King Nils of Denmark, opposed Canute coming to the throne, and arranged his murder. Venerated in Denmark.
Born
c.1096 at Roskilde
Died
murdered in 1131 by his cousins Magnus Nielsen and Henry Skadelaar in the forest of Haraldsted near Ringsted in Zeeland; declared a martyr for justice; relics enshrined at Ringsted 25 June 1170
Canonized
1169 by Pope Alexander III
Patronage
Zeeland, Denmark
Representation
knight with a wreath, lance, and ciborium
∼Canute Lavard (Danish: Knud Lavard) (March 12, 1096 – 7 January 1131) was a Danish prince. Later he was the first Duke of Schleswig and the first border prince who was both a Danish and a German vassal.

He was killed by his cousin Magnus, (later King Magnus I of Sweden) (ca. 1106-1134) In the forest of Haraldsted near Ringsted in Zealand, Denmark. He saw him as a rival to the Danish throne.