| Niels | |
|---|---|
 Fragment of a coin depicting King Niels | |
| King of Denmark | |
| Reign | 1104–1134 |
| Predecessor | Eric I Evergood |
| Successor | Eric II Emune |
| Born | c. 1063 |
| Died | 25 June 1134 (aged 70–71) Schleswig |
| Burial | |
| Spouses | Margaret Fredkulla Ulvhild Håkansdotter |
| Issue more… | Magnus Nielsen |
| House | Estridsen |
| Father | Sweyn II of Denmark |
Niels (c. 1065 – 25 June 1134) was theKing of Denmark from 1104 to 1134. Niels succeeded his brotherEric Evergood and is presumed to have been the youngest son of KingSweyn II Estridson. King Niels actively supported thecanonization ofCanute IV the Holy and supported his sonMagnus after he killed his rival for the succession,Knud Lavard. His secular rule was supported by the clergy. Niels was killed in an ensuingcivil war and succeeded byEric II Emune.
Niels was born around 1063, married in 1105, and died in 1134.[1] His parents were KingSweyn II Estridson and an unknownconcubine. Four of Niels' brothers ascended the throne before him. He is first mentioned in history in 1086 when he was sent toFlanders to take the place of his exiled brother, KingOlaf I.[2] When his brotherEric Evergood died in July 1103 during a pilgrimage, Niels, who was the last surviving brother, was elected king the following year[3] ahead of Evergood's chosen deputyHarald Kesja.[4] He marriedMargaret Fredkulla, the daughter ofInge I of Sweden. She was believed to have wielded considerable influence during his reign.[2]
During the majority of Niels' reign, the country had internal peace. The contemporaryChronicon Roskildense describes him as mild and forthcoming, though not a competent ruler.[1] He carried through reforms of his personalhird retinue, separating it into a military and an administrative branch[5] responsible for tax collection.[1] He placed family members as hisjarls, including his son-in-law Jarl Ubbe and his nephewsEric (Emune) andCanute Lavard, who were the sons of Eric Evergood.[1] Niels supported thecanonization of his brotherCanute IV the Holy by bestowing gifts on the clergy ofOdense as he sought to enlarge the power and influence of the monarchy through the aid of the church.[4] However, it is likely he did not win the full support of themagnates onZealand.[4] He also campaigned against theWends in alliance withPoland.[1] According toSaxo Grammaticus, Niels' son Magnus was elected King ofGeats in 1220s.[6]
His wife, Margaret, died in 1128 or 1129,[1] and his son, Magnus, was forced from the Swedish throne in 1130.[7] After 26 years of internal peace, conflict erupted between Magnus and his cousin Canute Lavard. Canute was popular in theDuchy of Schleswig where he wasjarl and was seen as a potential successor to Niels.[2] On 7 January 1131, Magnus slew Canute near Haraldsted just north ofRingsted. Niels initially condemned Magnus but eventually supported him, and a civil war ensued between Niels and the supporters of Canute's half-brother, Eric (Emune). Niels had his strongest base of support inJutland,[2] and the church also supported him.[3] He secured support from theHoly Roman Empire by agreeing to subordinate the DanishArchdiocese of Lund inScania to the GermanArchdiocese of Hamburg-Bremen, which promptedArchbishop Asser ofLund to support Eric.[5]
Eric made little progress in Denmark and moved on to the battle for Scania in 1134. Niels and Magnus landed at Fotevik Bay in Scania in June 1134 seeking to deal Eric a decisive defeat. At theBattle of Fotevik on 4 June 1134, Niels and Magnus were taken by surprise by a contingent of German soldiers on horses.[8] Niels escaped, while Magnus was slain.[2] Niels sought refuge with Holy Roman EmperorLothar III of Germany, but did not make it past thecity of Schleswig. Niels ventured into the former city of Canute Lavard on 25 June 1134, despite warnings. "Should I fear tanners and shoemakers?," he supposedly remarked.[2] He was greeted by the clergy, but he and his vanguard were slain before they could reach the royal palace as the townspeople turned against him.[2] The almost sixty-year reign of Sweyn II Estridson's sons ended when Niels fell andEric II Emune became king.
Niels marriedMargaret Fredkulla, daughter of kingInge I of Sweden. After Margaret's death in either 1128 or 1129,[1] he marriedUlvhild Håkansdotter, who had been married toInge II of Sweden and later marriedSverker I of Sweden. Niels had two children with Margaret, and one child out of wedlock.
Media related toNiels of Denmark at Wikimedia Commons
Niels Born: c. 1064 Died: 25 June 1134 | ||
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| Preceded by | King of Denmark 1103–1134 | Succeeded by |
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