Eric was born in 1216 as the second legitimate son of King Valdemar II by his second wife Berengária of Portugal.
His rule was marked by bitter conflicts and civil wars against his brothers. Especially he fought his brother, Duke Abel of Schleswig who seems to have wanted an independent position and who was supported by the counts of Holstein.
Eric had only been king for about a year when he first came into conflict with his brother, Duke Abel of Schleswig, in 1242. The conflict lasted for two years before the brothers agreed on a truce in 1244 and made plans for a joint crusade to Estonia.
In 1246 conflict again broke out between Erik and his brothers and it lasted until 1247 when a truce was arranged by Eric's sister Sophie of Brandenburg which left Eric in firm control of all of Denmark.
In 1250, His brother, Duke Abel of Southern Jutland offered him hospitality at his house at Gottorp in Schleswig. While they sat in the great hall, Duke Abel reminded Erik of the attacks that he had endured early in Erik's reign. "Do you remember that a few years ago your men ravaged this city, and my daughter was forced to run for her life without so much as a pair of shoes for her feet." "I have enough," replied Erik, "that I can give her a pair of shoes."
Later that night Erik was taken prisoner, he was bound and dragged out of the duke's house and down to a boat and rowed out into the Schlien, where he was beheaded and his body dumped into the Schlien.
The next morning two fishermen dragged the king's headless body up in their net. They carried the body to the Dominican Abbey in Schleswig; his body was later transferred to St. Bendt's Church in 1257.
His brother Abel swore he had nothing to do with the murder of his brother King Erik.
Eric had six children from his marriage with Jutta of Saxony, whom he married on 17 November 1239, they were:
Canute, died young
Christopher, died young
Sophia of Denmark (1241–1286), married to King Valdemar of Sweden
Ingeborg of Denmark, Queen of Norway (1244–1287), married to King Magnus VI of Norway
Jutta, Abbess of St. Agneta in Roskilde 1246–1284)
Agnes, Abbess of St. Agneta in Roskilde (1249–1288/95), reputively married to Eric Longbone, Lord of Langeland
Eric was born in 1216 as the second legitimate son of King Valdemar II by his second wife Berengária of Portugal.
His rule was marked by bitter conflicts and civil wars against his brothers. Especially he fought his brother, Duke Abel of Schleswig who seems to have wanted an independent position and who was supported by the counts of Holstein.
Eric had only been king for about a year when he first came into conflict with his brother, Duke Abel of Schleswig, in 1242. The conflict lasted for two years before the brothers agreed on a truce in 1244 and made plans for a joint crusade to Estonia.
In 1246 conflict again broke out between Erik and his brothers and it lasted until 1247 when a truce was arranged by Eric's sister Sophie of Brandenburg which left Eric in firm control of all of Denmark.
In 1250, His brother, Duke Abel of Southern Jutland offered him hospitality at his house at Gottorp in Schleswig. While they sat in the great hall, Duke Abel reminded Erik of the attacks that he had endured early in Erik's reign. "Do you remember that a few years ago your men ravaged this city, and my daughter was forced to run for her life without so much as a pair of shoes for her feet." "I have enough," replied Erik, "that I can give her a pair of shoes."
Later that night Erik was taken prisoner, he was bound and dragged out of the duke's house and down to a boat and rowed out into the Schlien, where he was beheaded and his body dumped into the Schlien.
The next morning two fishermen dragged the king's headless body up in their net. They carried the body to the Dominican Abbey in Schleswig; his body was later transferred to St. Bendt's Church in 1257.
His brother Abel swore he had nothing to do with the murder of his brother King Erik.
Eric had six children from his marriage with Jutta of Saxony, whom he married on 17 November 1239, they were:
Canute, died young
Christopher, died young
Sophia of Denmark (1241–1286), married to King Valdemar of Sweden
Ingeborg of Denmark, Queen of Norway (1244–1287), married to King Magnus VI of Norway
Jutta, Abbess of St. Agneta in Roskilde 1246–1284)
Agnes, Abbess of St. Agneta in Roskilde (1249–1288/95), reputively married to Eric Longbone, Lord of Langeland
Family Members
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