Eric IV of Denmark facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Eric IV Ploughpenny
Church fresco in St Bendt's Church, Ringsted.
King of Denmark and the Wends
Co-reign Solo-reign	1232–1241 1241–1250
Coronation	30 May 1232
Predecessor	Valdemar II the Victorious & Valdemar the Young
Successor	Abel
Senior king	Valdemar II
Born	c. 1216
Died	10 August 1250 (aged 33–34) on the bay of the Schlei, near Gottorf Castle
Burial	first at Schleswig Cathedral, then St. Bendt's Church
Spouse	Jutta of Saxony
Issue among others...	Sophia, Queen of Sweden Ingeborg, Queen of Norway Jutta, Abbess of St. Agneta Agnes, Abbes of St. Agneta
Full name Eric Valdemarsen
House	Estridsen
Father	Valdemar II of Denmark
Mother	Berengaria of Portugal

Eric IV (born around 1216 – died 10 August 1250) was a king of Denmark. He was also known as Eric Ploughpenny (in Danish: Erik Plovpenning). He ruled Denmark from 1241 until his death in 1250. His time as king was full of disagreements and even civil wars with his own brothers.

Early Life of Eric IV

Eric was born around 1216. His father was King Valdemar II of Denmark, and his mother was Berengária of Portugal. He had two younger brothers who also became kings: Abel of Denmark and Christopher I of Denmark.

In 1218, Eric's older half-brother, Valdemar the Young, became co-ruler with their father. At that time, Eric was made the Duke of Schleswig. Sadly, Valdemar the Young died early in 1231.

After this, Eric was crowned king on May 30, 1232. He became co-ruler with his father and the next in line for the throne. He then gave the Duchy of Schleswig to his younger brother, Abel. When his father died in 1241, Eric became the sole king of Denmark.

Eric's Time as King

Eric's rule was marked by many tough conflicts. He often fought with his brother, Duke Abel of Schleswig. Abel seemed to want his region to be independent. He also had support from the counts of Holstein.

Eric also had problems with the farmers in Scania. They rebelled because he introduced very strict taxes. One of these taxes was on ploughs. The more ploughs a farmer owned, the wealthier he was considered. This tax gave King Eric his nickname, "Ploughpenny."

Just one year after becoming king, Eric had his first big fight with Duke Abel in 1242. This conflict lasted for three years. In 1244, they finally agreed to a truce. They even planned to go on a crusade together to Estonia.

At the same time, Eric faced issues with the Church. Church leaders believed their lands should not be taxed. But Eric wanted to tax church lands just like any other property. In 1245, the Pope sent a special messenger to help them talk. The Church warned Eric that anyone who ignored their ancient rights could be excommunicated. This was a clear warning to the king.

In 1249, King Eric became very angry. He took action against Niels Stigsen, the Bishop of Roskilde. The bishop had to flee Denmark that same year. Eric took over the bishopric's lands in Zealand, including the growing city of Copenhagen. Even though Pope Innocent IV asked Eric to give the lands back, the problem was not solved. Bishop Niels Stigsen died in 1249. The lands were not returned to the Church until after King Eric's death in 1250.

The conflict between King Eric and his brothers started again in 1246. Eric tried to take back Holstein, a region his father used to control. But Duke Abel, who was married to a daughter of the Count of Holstein, stopped him. The next year, Abel and his allies from Holstein attacked Jutland and Funen. They burned and looted towns like Randers and Odense. Abel was supported by the city of Lübeck and his brothers, Christopher and Canute.

King Eric quickly fought back. He took back the city of Ribe and captured Abel's city of Svendborg in the same year. In 1247, he also captured Arreskov Castle on Funen. He took his brothers Christopher and Canute as prisoners. Eric's sister, Sophie of Denmark, helped arrange a truce. This agreement left Eric in strong control of all of Denmark.

In 1249, the farmers in Scania rebelled again because of the plough tax. The king managed to restore order with help from Zealand. However, the Church, Duke Abel, and the German counts in southern Jutland formed an alliance against the king.

The King's Death

In 1249, King Eric gathered an army and sailed to Estonia to protect his lands there. On his way back in 1250, he took his army to Holstein. He wanted to stop the capture of the Rendsburg fortress and show the German counts who was still king.

His brother, Duke Abel of Schleswig, invited Eric to stay at his home in Gottorp. That evening, while the king was playing a game with a German knight, the duke's chamberlain and other men rushed in. They took the king prisoner. They tied him up and dragged him out of the duke's house. They put him in a boat and rowed out into the Schlien bay. Another boat followed them.

When King Eric heard the voice of Lave Gudmundsen, an enemy, he knew he was going to be killed. One of his captors was paid to kill the king with an ax. Eric was beheaded, and his body was thrown into the Schlien. The next morning, two fishermen found the king's headless body in their net. They took the body to a church in Schleswig. Later, in 1257, his body was moved to St. Bendt's Church, Ringsted.

Eric's brother, Abel, then became the new king. Abel claimed he had nothing to do with the murder. However, Abel himself was killed within a year and a half. His younger brother, Christopher, then became king of Denmark.

Marriage and Children

Eric married Jutta of Saxony on November 17, 1239. She was the daughter of Albert I, Duke of Saxony. They had several children:

• Canute, who died young.
• Christopher, who also died young.
• Sophia (1241–1286), who married King Valdemar of Sweden. Their family line included Christian I of Denmark.
• Ingeborg (1244–1287), who married King Magnus VI of Norway.
• Jutta (1246–1284), who became the Abbess of St. Agnes' Priory, Roskilde.
• Agnes (1249–1288/95), who also became the Abbess of St. Agnes' Priory, Roskilde. She may have married Eric Longbone, Lord of Langeland.

See also

In Spanish: Erico IV de Dinamarca para niños