Canute IV of Denmark facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Canute IV
Legendary painting of the death of Canute IV of Denmark in the Church of Saint Albanus
King of Denmark
Reign	1080–1086
Predecessor	Harald III
Successor	Olaf I
Born	c. 1042
Died	10 July 1086 St. Alban's Priory, Odense
Burial	St. Canute's Cathedral, Odense
Spouse	Adela of Flanders
Issue	Charles I, Count of Flanders Cecilia Knutsdatter Ingegerd Knutsdatter
House	Estridsen
Father	Sweyn II of Denmark
Religion	Roman Catholicism

Canute IV (born around 1042 – died July 10, 1086) was the King of Denmark from 1080 to 1086. He was later known as Canute the Holy or Saint Canute. Canute was a strong king who wanted to make the Danish monarchy more powerful. He also strongly supported the Roman Catholic Church and hoped to rule England. He was killed by rebels in 1086. Canute was the first Danish king to be made a saint. The Roman Catholic Church recognized him as the patron saint of Denmark in 1101.

Who Was Canute IV?

Canute was born around 1042. He was one of the many sons of King Sweyn II Estridsson. His mother's name is not known.

Canute first appeared in history during a Danish raid on England in 1069. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle says he was a leader in another raid against England in 1075. After this raid, the Danish fleet stopped in Flanders. Flanders was an enemy of William I of England, making it a good friend for the Danes.

When his father, King Sweyn, died, Canute's brother Harald III became king. Canute went to live in Sweden during this time. He might have been against Harald's rule.

On April 17, 1080, Harald died. Canute then became the King of Denmark. When he became king, he married Adela, the daughter of Count Robert I of Flanders. They had a son named Charles, born in 1084. They also had twin daughters, Cæcilia and Ingerid, born around 1085 or 1086.

What Did Canute Do as King?

Canute quickly showed he was a very ambitious and religious king. He worked to increase the power of the church. He also demanded that people strictly observe church holidays. He gave many gifts to churches in Dalby, Odense, Roskilde, and Viborg, especially to Lund.

He was a strong supporter of the Church. He tried to make people pay tithes, which were taxes for the church. By making the church stronger, Canute gained a powerful ally. This ally then supported Canute's own power as king.

In May 1085, Canute gave a lot of land to Lund Cathedral, which was being built. This land was in Scania, Zealand, and Amager. He also started the Lund Cathedral School at the same time. Canute had gained much of this land by forgiving people who had broken the law. The church leaders at Lund got special rights over this land. They could tax and fine the farmers living there. However, Canute kept his royal rights. He could still forgive outlaws, fine people who did not join his army, and demand transport for his followers.

His time as king was marked by strong efforts to increase royal power in Denmark. He tried to control the nobles and make them follow the law. Canute made new rules that said he owned common land. He also claimed the right to goods from shipwrecks. He could also inherit the property of foreigners and people with no family. He also made laws to protect freed servants and foreign church members and traders.

These new rules made many people unhappy. They were not used to a king claiming so much power and getting involved in their daily lives.

Why Did Canute Want to Invade England?

Canute's goals were not just for Denmark. He was the grandnephew of Canute the Great. Canute the Great had ruled England, Denmark, and Norway until 1035. Because of this, Canute IV believed he had a right to the English crown. He saw William I of England as someone who had taken the throne unfairly.

In 1085, Canute planned to invade England. He had the support of his father-in-law, Count Robert, and Olaf III of Norway. Canute called his fleet to gather at the Limfjord. However, the fleet never sailed. Canute was busy in Schleswig because of a possible threat from Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor. Denmark and Flanders were not friendly with Henry. Canute feared an invasion from Henry, whose enemy had found safety in Denmark.

The soldiers in the fleet were mostly farmers. They needed to go home for the harvest season. They grew tired of waiting. They chose Canute's brother Olaf (who later became King Olaf I of Denmark) to speak for them. This made Canute suspicious. He had Olaf arrested and sent to Flanders. The fleet was eventually sent home, and the farmers went to their harvests.

How Did Canute Die?

Before the fleet could gather again, a peasant revolt started in Vendsyssel in early 1086. Canute was staying there at the time. Canute first fled to Schleswig and then to Odense.

On July 10, 1086, Canute and his men took shelter inside the wooden St. Alban's Priory in Odense. The rebels stormed into the church. They killed Canute, his brother Benedict, and seventeen of their followers in front of the altar. A writer named Ælnoth of Canterbury said Canute died from a spear thrust in his side. Olaf then became the next King of Denmark.

Why Was Canute Made a Saint?

Because he was killed for his beliefs and supported the Church, people quickly began to see Canute as a saint. During Olaf's rule, Denmark suffered from bad harvests. Many people thought this was God's punishment for the disrespectful killing of Canute. Soon, people reported that miracles were happening at Canute's grave. People began asking for him to be made a saint even during Olaf's reign.

On April 19, 1101, Pope Paschal II agreed to make Canute a saint. This happened after messengers from Eric I of Denmark convinced him. Canute was the first Dane to become a saint. The Catholic Church celebrates his feast day on July 10.

In 1300, Canute's remains and those of his brother Benedict were moved to Saint Canute's Cathedral. This church was built to honor him. His remains are still on display there.

What Is Canute's Legacy?

People have seen Canute's rule in different ways over time. Some saw him as a harsh king who was mean to his people. Others saw him as a strict but fair ruler who strongly supported the Church and fought for justice. He was never a hugely popular saint in Denmark. However, his sainthood gave the Danish monarchy a special feeling of divine power.

The exact reason for the rebellion that killed Canute is not fully known. Some think it was because of fines given to farmers who left the army in 1085. Others believe it was because of his strong policy on collecting church taxes.

A document about his gift to Lund Cathedral is the oldest complete text from Denmark. It gives us a lot of information about Danish society after the Viking Age. Canute's son, Carl, became the Count of Flanders from 1119 to 1127. He was known as Charles the Good. Like his father, Charles was also killed in a church by rebels in 1127. He was later made a blessed person by the Catholic Church.

According to Niels Lund, a history expert, Canute's failed invasion of England "marked the end of the Viking Age."

In 2008, scientists used X-ray scans on Canute's remains. The scans showed he was right-handed and had a slender body. They also showed he died from a thrust to his lower back, through his stomach. This goes against the earlier story that he was stabbed in the side. The scans also showed he had no injuries from fighting many enemies. This might mean he faced his death without a struggle.

See also

• List of Catholic saints
• List of Danish monarchs

Images for kids

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  Ecclesiastical map of Denmark from the tenth to twelfth century

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  Statue of Saint Canute at St. Peter's Church, Næstved