Canute I of Sweden facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Canute I |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
|||||
| King of Sweden | |||||
| Reign | 1172/73–1195 | ||||
| Predecessor | Charles VII | ||||
| Successor | Sverker II | ||||
| Born | Before 1150 | ||||
| Died | 1195/96 | ||||
| Spouse | Cecilia Johansdotter of Sweden (traditionally) | ||||
| Issue | Three sons, names unknown Eric X daughter, NN Knutsdotter |
||||
|
|||||
| House | Eric | ||||
| Father | Eric IX "the Saint" of Sweden | ||||
| Mother | Christina Bjornsdatter | ||||
Canute I (in Swedish: Knut Eriksson, in Old Norse: Knútr Eiríksson) was a powerful king of Sweden. He ruled from 1173 to 1195. Canute was the son of King Eric the Saint and Queen Christina. His mother was also related to an earlier Swedish king, Inge the Elder. Canute I helped make Sweden a stronger and more organized country.
Contents
Becoming King: Canute's Early Life
Canute was born before 1150. His father, Eric IX, became king later. When Canute was young, he was supposed to marry a noblewoman. Her name is not known, but she was said to be very special.
In 1160, Canute's father, King Eric IX, was killed in Uppsala. Canute had to flee for his safety. His fiancée also had to hide in a monastery. Some old stories say he lived in Norway for three years, but this might not be true.
Canute returned to Sweden to fight for the throne. In 1161, another king, Magnus Henriksson, who had killed Canute's father, was himself killed by Charles VII. Charles then became king.
Canute fought against King Charles VII and killed him on April 12, 1167. It's not clear if this happened in a battle or if Charles was attacked. After this, Canute still had to fight against other rivals, Kol and Burislev. He won many battles against them. Kol died around 1169, and Burislev around 1172–73. Only then did Canute become the king of all Sweden. He ruled for 23 years as a good king.
Canute's Rule: Building a Stronger Sweden
After 1174, Canute had a strong helper named Birger Brosa. Birger was a "jarl," which was a very important leader, like an earl. He helped Canute rule until he died in 1202.
Canute's long rule helped Sweden become more like other European countries. The king's power grew stronger. The government started to use more written documents. This was a big change! Nine of Canute's royal documents still exist today. Most of them are about the Viby monastery near Sigtuna.
Coinage also returned to Sweden during Canute's time. Before him, there were no Swedish coins for a long time. Canute started making royal coins around 1180. They had "KANVTVS REX" (King Canute) written on them. These coins looked like German coins. Canute also made a trade agreement with Henry the Lion from Saxony before 1180. This was the first trade agreement in Swedish history. It showed that towns were becoming more important. He even sent messengers to Henry II of England around 1185 and received armor in return.
Canute's Neighbors: Friends and Foes
Canute and Jarl Birger Brosa were good friends with King Sverre of Norway. King Sverre even married Canute's sister, Margareta. Canute helped Sverre by capturing one of Sverre's enemies, Erling Steinvegg, and keeping him prisoner.
However, Sweden's relationship with Denmark was not as good. Danish rebels sometimes found safety in Sweden. In 1182, Canute and Birger Brosa even supported a rebel named Harald Skraeng. Harald tried to start a rebellion in Skåne, but the Danish army defeated him.
Canute also fought against people who were not Christian. In 1187, a group of non-Christian Karelians attacked Sweden. They sailed into Lake Mälaren and burned the town of Sigtuna. They also killed Archbishop Johannes. After this attack, Canute built a defensive tower on the island of Stockholm. Many other towers were built along the coast to protect against attacks from the Baltic lands.
Swedish forces also went on expeditions to the east. In 1188, Swedish and German fighters attacked the territory of Novgorod. They won some battles but were later defeated. Jarl Birger Brosa led another expedition in the 1190s. This time, they went to Estonia and made the people there pay tribute.
Canute's Death and His Family
Canute died in Eriksberg in 1195 or 1196. He was the first Swedish king in a long time to die of natural causes. He was buried in Varnhem Abbey.
Canute's sons were grown up when he died. However, he was not followed by one of his sons. Instead, Sverker Karlsson, the son of Canute's old rival Charles VII, became king. The family of Sverker had strong support from the church and important leaders.
Canute married his fiancée after he became king. Her name is often thought to be Cecilia Johansdotter of Sweden. They had several children. One of their sons was chosen to be the next king.
Canute's wife became very ill at one point. She promised God that if she recovered, she would live in a monastery. Canute agreed to this. She did recover and went to a monastery. However, Canute later wrote to Pope Celestine III in 1193. He asked to be allowed to live with his wife again. He said he needed her family's help to fight non-Christians and avoid his enemies' lies. We don't know what the Pope decided.
Canute's children included:
- Three sons who were killed in 1205 at the Battle of Älgarås.
- Erik Knutsson, who later became King of Sweden in 1208.
- A daughter (possibly named Sigrid or Karin). She might have married an important leader and had a son who later claimed the Swedish throne.
See also
In Spanish: Canuto I de Suecia para niños
