Background
He was a son of Sweyn World War II His mother"s identity is unknown. Eric was born in the town of Slangerup in North Zealand.
He was a son of Sweyn World War II His mother"s identity is unknown. Eric was born in the town of Slangerup in North Zealand.
During the rule of his half-brother Canute IV he was an eager supporter of the king, but he was spared during the rebellion against Canute IV. Eric remained at the royal farm instead of accompanying Canute IV to Street Albans priory in Odense where Canute IV was killed. Eric talked his way off the farm and fled to Zealand then fled to Scania which was part of Denmark at the time. Olaf I Hunger was elected King of Denmark, but his reign was short.
At last Eric was elected as a king at the several landsting assemblies in 1095.
Eric was well liked by the people and the famines that had plagued Denmark during Olaf Hunger"s reign ceased. Foreign many it seemed a sign from God that Eric was the right king for Denmark.
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.
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.
Bishop Asser then became the first Archbishop of Lund.
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 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. Eric and Boedil had one legitimate son, Canute Lavard.
Harald Kesja was Canute"s half-brother. Canute Lavard was king Eric"s eldest son, and he was a chivalrous and popular Danish prince.
Eric Ejegod is the ancestor of later Danish monarchs.
