Eric III of Denmark facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eric III Lamb |
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Eric on his coin
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| King of Denmark | |
| Reign | 1137–1146 |
| Predecessor | Eric II |
| Successor | Sweyn III, Canute V, Valdemar I |
| Born | c. 1120 |
| Died | 27 August 1146 (aged 25–26) Odense |
| Burial | St. Canute's Abbey, Odense |
| Consort | Lutgard of Salzwedel |
| House | Estridsen |
| Father | Hakon Sunnivasson |
| Mother | Ragnhild of Denmark |
Eric III Lamb (born around 1120 – died August 27, 1146) was the King of Denmark from 1137 to 1146. He was the grandson of King Eric I and the nephew of King Eric II. Eric III became king after his uncle.
He decided to give up his throne in 1146. This is called abdication. Eric III was the only Danish king to willingly step down until Margrethe II did so 878 years later in 2024. After Eric III left the throne, Denmark faced a period of civil war. Several powerful people fought to become the next king. These included Sweyn III, Canute V, and Valdemar I.
The Early Life of Eric III
Eric was born on the island of Funen in Denmark. His mother was Ragnhild, who was the daughter of King Eric I. His father was a nobleman named Hakon Sunnivasson. Hakon was a great-grandson of Magnus the Good, who was a king of both Norway and Denmark.
Eric was the nephew of Eric II of Denmark. He fought alongside his uncle Eric II in an important battle called the Battle of Fotevik in 1134. This battle was a big win for Eric II. When Eric II was killed in 1137, Eric III took over as king.
Eric's Time as King
We don't know a lot about Eric's time as king. People who wrote about him back then had different ideas about his personality. Some said he was a quiet and unsure leader. Others described him as a brave and eager fighter.
Eric had to defend his kingship against his cousin, Olaf Haraldsen. Olaf was sometimes called Olaf II. In 1139, Olaf tried to take power from a region called Scania. But Eric defeated Olaf and killed him in 1141 near Helsingborg.
During these civil wars, a group of people called the Wends attacked the Danish coasts. They raided towns and inlets. The Danish forces under Eric did not put up much resistance against these attacks. Eric also supported Magnus the Blind and Sigurd Slembe in the civil war happening in Norway.
Eric worked to make the church stronger. He especially supported St. Canute's Abbey in Odense. He had a close relationship with Bishop Eskil of Roskilde.
Marriage and Abdication
In 1143, Eric married Lutgard of Salzwedel. She was the daughter of Rudolf I, Margrave of the Nordmark. Eric and Lutgard were married by Rudolf's son, Hartwig. Hartwig was a church leader in Bremen Cathedral at the time. Their wedding took place in either 1143 or 1144.
In 1146, Eric decided to give up his throne. The exact reasons why he did this are not known. He was the only Danish king in history to willingly step down until Margrethe II did so in 2024. After he abdicated, Eric went to live at St. Canute's Abbey. He died there on August 27, 1146, and was buried in the abbey.
Some historians think he gave up the throne because he felt he couldn't rule well. Others believe he was very sick, and that illness eventually led to his death.
Eric's Legacy
Eric's nickname was "Lam," which means "lamb." This nickname might have meant he was a very religious person, like the Lamb of God. It could also have described him as kind and generous. However, some people think it meant he was a weak or soft king.
His marriage to Lutgard of Salzwedel in 1144 showed that German influence in Denmark was growing. Eric and Lutgard did not have any children together. After Eric died, Lutgard married Herman II of Winzenburg.
