Canute, Duke of Estonia
Canute or Knud Valdemarsen (1207 – 1260) was an illegitimate son of King Valdemar II of Denmark, who became Duke of Revelia, Blekinge and Lolland.[1]
Canute was the son of the king by his mistress, Helena Guttormsdotter, widow of Danish nobleman Esbern Snare and daughter of Guttorm, Riksjarl of Sweden.[1] His father gave him lands in Estonia as a hereditary duchy in 1219. He was made Duke of Reval (Tallinn) in 1219, but was dispossessed as Denmark was thrown out by the Estonians in 1227.[2] As compensation, he was given Blekinge in 1242,[citation needed] which he held until his death. Canute supported the younger rebel brothers, Abel and Christopher, against King Eric IV of Denmark in 1246, and was imprisoned at Stegeborg Castle.[3] The king forced him to exchange Blekinge temporarily for Lolland, but Blekinge was soon restored to Canute's possession.[citation needed]
Canute left two sons Erik Knudsen Skarsholm (died 1304) and Lord Svantepolk Knudsen (died 1310), as well as a daughter who is said to have married a Folkung.[3] Canute's land of Blekinge, with Lister, was given to his great-grandson lord Knut Folkason in the 1330s by King Magnus VII of Norway. Lord Knut's heirs continued to claim the lordship.
Citations and references[edit]
- ^ a b Line 2007, p. 594.
- ^ Skyum-Nielsen 1981, p. 119.
- ^ a b Bricka, Carl Frederik, Dansk Biografisk Lexikon, vol. IX [Jyde - Køtschau], 1895, pp. 272. Available online
Cited sources[edit]
- Line, Philip (2007). Kingship and State Formation in Sweden: 1130 - 1290. Brill.
- Skyum-Nielsen, Niels (1981). "Estonia under Danish Rule". In Skyum-Nielsen, Niels; Lund, Niels (eds.). Danish Medieval History: New Currents. Museum Tusculanum Press.