Sweyn III of Denmark facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sweyn III Grathe |
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Illustration of Sweyn III in the 13th-century Saxon World Chronicle
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| King of Denmark | |||||
| Reign | 1146–1157 | ||||
| Predecessor | Eric III Lamb | ||||
| Successor | Valdemar I the Great | ||||
| Born | c. 1125 | ||||
| Died | 23 October 1157 (aged 31–32) Grathe Heath, Denmark |
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| Burial | Gradehede, then Viborg Cathedral | ||||
| Consort | Adela of Meissen | ||||
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| House | Estridsen | ||||
| Father | Eric II the Memorable | ||||
| Mother | Thunna | ||||
Sweyn III Grathe (Danish: Svend III Grathe; c. 1125 – 23 October 1157) was a king of Denmark. He ruled from 1146 to 1157. During his reign, he often had changing alliances. His main rivals were Canute V and his own cousin Valdemar I. In 1157, the three leaders agreed to divide Denmark into three parts. Sadly, Sweyn tried to kill his rivals at a peace dinner. He was later defeated by Valdemar I at the Battle of Grathe Heath and died.
Sweyn's Early Life
Sweyn was the son of King Erik II the Memorable and a woman named Thunna. In the mid-1130s, Sweyn traveled with his father to Norway. His father, Eric II, was fighting to become the King of Denmark.
After Eric II died in 1137, Eric III became king. Sweyn was then sent to the court of Conrad III of Germany. There, he became good friends with Conrad's nephew, Frederick.
In 1146, Sweyn returned to Denmark. He and his cousin Valdemar wanted to make Sweyn's uncle, Canute Lavard, a saint. This was not supported by Archbishop Eskil of Lund. When Eric III stepped down as king in 1146, Sweyn was chosen as king by important nobles in Zealand. At the same time, Canute V was crowned king by nobles in Jutland. This led to a long and difficult civil war.
The Danish Civil War
For several years, Sweyn fought a civil war against Canute. They were both fighting to be the only king of Denmark. Valdemar supported Sweyn. Archbishop Eskil supported Canute. Sweyn tried to get Eskil's support by giving him land in Scania and Bornholm.
Sweyn then defeated Canute in Zealand. This forced Canute to stay in Jutland. In 1147, Sweyn and Canute worked together for a short time. They both supported the Wendish Crusade. This was a military campaign against the Wends, a group of people living near the Baltic Sea. Sweyn fought the Wends in a sea battle. However, Canute did not help much, and Sweyn lost his main warship. After this, the civil war started again.
Sweyn won several battles. He took control of Funen and parts of Jutland. He made Valdemar the Duke of Schleswig. Sweyn also fought alongside Etheler von Dithmarschen against Adolf II of Holstein. Adolf II was a supporter of Canute.
In 1150, Sweyn managed to force Canute out of Denmark. Canute tried to return in 1151 with German troops, but Sweyn pushed them back. Both Canute and Sweyn asked for help from Conrad III of Germany. In 1152, Frederick I became the King of Germany. He helped make a peace deal in Merseburg. This deal said Sweyn would be the "premier king." Canute would get a large part of Denmark, and Valdemar would keep his title as Duke of Schleswig.
However, Sweyn did not follow the agreement. He only gave Canute small areas of land. Sweyn's rule became unpopular. People thought he was acting like a tyrant and favored Germany too much.
Dividing the Kingdom
In 1154, Sweyn was overthrown. Canute and Valdemar formed an alliance against him. Valdemar was then crowned as Canute's co-ruler, Valdemar I. Archbishop Eskil and most of Sweyn's other supporters left him. Sweyn went to Germany.
Sweyn spent three years trying to gather support to win back his kingdom. In 1157, he returned to Denmark with help from the German duke Henry the Lion. This made the Danish nobles decide to divide the kingdom into three parts: Jutland, Zealand, and Scania. Sweyn chose first and became the ruler of Scania.
At a peace dinner in Roskilde on August 9, 1157, Sweyn planned to kill his two co-rulers. He succeeded in killing Canute. This event became known as the Bloodfeast of Roskilde.
Valdemar managed to escape to Jutland. On October 23, 1157, Sweyn and his army met Valdemar's army at the Battle of Grathe Heath. This battle gave Sweyn his nickname, Grathe. Sweyn's army was defeated. As he tried to escape, his horse got stuck in a bog. Peasants caught him there, and he was killed.
Family Life
In 1152, Sweyn married Adela of Meissen. She was the daughter of Conrad, Margrave of Meissen, and Luitgard of Ravenstein. Sweyn and Adela had a son who died young. They also had a daughter named Luitgard. Luitgard later married Berthold I of Istria.
See also
In Spanish: Svend III de Dinamarca para niños
