Nielsen Hayden genealogy

Erik I, King of Denmark

Male Abt 1060 - 1103  (~ 43 years)


Personal Information    |    Notes    |    Sources    |    All

  • Name Erik I  
    Suffix King of Denmark 
    Birth Abt 1060  Slangerup, North Zealand, Denmark Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Gender Male 
    Death 10 Jul 1103  Paphos, Cyprus Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Siblings 1 sibling 
    Person ID I25071  Ancestry of PNH, TNH, and others | Ancestor of TWK
    Last Modified 8 Jun 2019 

    Father Swein II Estridsson, King of Denmark,   b. Abt 1026, England Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Apr 1074, Søderup, near Åbenrå, Sonderjylland, Denmark Find all individuals with events at this location (Age ~ 48 years) 
    Family ID F1315  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 (Unknown mistress of Erik "The Good" of Denmark) 
    Children 
    +1. Harald Kesja,   b. Abt 1080   d. 4 Jun 1134 (Age ~ 54 years)
    Family ID F15264  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 8 Jun 2019 

    Family 2 Boedil Thorgunnasdotter,   b. Abt 1062   d. 1103, near Jerusalem Find all individuals with events at this location (Age ~ 41 years) 
    Marriage Bef 1086  [1
    Children 
    +1. St. Canute Lavard,   b. 1096, Roskilde, Zealand, Denmark Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 7 Jan 1131, Haraldsted forest, near Ringsted, Zealand, Denmark Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 35 years)
    Family ID F15028  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 6 Jun 2019 

  • Notes 
    • Called "The Good."

      From Wikipedia:

      Medieval chroniclers, such as Saxo Grammaticus, and myths portrayed Eric a “strapping fellow” appealing to the common people. He could keep his place when four men tried their best to move him. Eric was a good speaker, people went out of their way to hear him. After a ting assembly concluded, he went about the neighborhood greeting men, women and children at their homesteads. He had a reputation as a loud man who liked parties and who led a rather dissipated private life. Though a presumed supporter of a strong centralized royal power, he seems to have behaved like a diplomat avoiding any clash with the magnates. He had a reputation for being ruthless to robbers and pirates. [...]

      King Eric announced at the Viborg assembly that he had decided to go on pilgrimage to the Holy Land. The cause, according to Danmarks Riges Krønike, was the murder of four of his own men while drunk at a feast in his own hall. Despite the pleadings of his subjects, he would not be deterred. Eric appointed his son, Harald Kesja, and Bishop Asser as regents.

      Eric and Boedil and a large company traveled through Russia to Constantinople where he was a guest of the emperor. While there, he became ill, but took ship for Cyprus anyway. He died at Paphos, Cyprus in July 1103. The queen had him buried there. He was the first king to go on pilgrimage after Jerusalem was conquered during the First Crusade. Queen Boedil also became ill, but made it to Jerusalem where she died. She was buried at the foot of the Mount of Olives in the Valley of Josaphat.

  • Sources 
    1. [S49] Genealogics by Leo Van de Pas, continued by Ian Fettes and Leslie Mahler.