Erik Ejegod af Danmark*

   Dødsårsag: På pilgrimsrejse til Jerusalem.

  Notater:

Erik Ejegod liv

Erik Ejegod 'the Good' was born in Slangerup in North Zealand about 1060, the son of Svend IV Estridsen. He was king of Denmark following his brother Olaf I Hunger in 1095. Before 1086 he married Bodil Thorgunnasdotter, daughter of Thrugot Ulfsen (Fagrskinna) and Thorgunna Vagnsdatter. Their son Knud Lavard would have progeny. Erik also had several illegitimate children of whom Erik II Mun, a future king of Denmark, Harald Kesja and Ragnhild would have progeny; she was the mother of Erik III Lam, who would succeed her brother Erik II Mun as king of Denmark.

During the rule of Erik's brother Knud IV 'der Heilige', king in Denmark, he was an eager supporter of the king, but he was spared during the rebellion against Knud. Erik remained behind at the royal estate instead of accompanying Knud to St. Albans Priory in Odense where he was killed. Erik talked his way out of the estate and fled to Zealand, then to Scania which was part of Denmark at the time. Erik's brother Olaf I Hunger was elected king of Denmark, but his reign was short. At last Erik was elected as king at the several _landsting_ assemblies in 1095. Erik was well liked by the people, and the famines that had plagued Denmark during Olaf Hunger's reign ceased. For many it seemed a sign from God that Erik was the right king for Denmark.

Medieval chroniclers, such as _Saxo Grammaticus,_ and myths portrayed Erik as a physically strong man who appealed to the common people. He was also a good speaker, and people went out of their way to hear him. After a _ting_ (assembly) concluded, he went about the neighbourhood greeting men, women and children at their homesteads. He had a reputation as a boisterous man who liked parties and who led a rather dissipated private life. Though a personal supporter of strong, centralised royal power, he seems to have behave diplomatically, avoiding any clash with the magnates. He had a reputation for being ruthless to robbers and pirates.

On a visit to the pope in Rome he obtained canonisation for his late brother Knud IV, and an archbishopric for Denmark (now Lund in Scania), instead of being under the archbishop of Hamburg-Bremen. Bishop Asser became the first archbishop of Lund.

Erik announced at the Viborg assembly that he had decided to go on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. The cause, according to _Danmarks Riges Kronike,_ 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. Erik appointed his son Harald Kesja and Bishop Asser as regents.

Erik and Bodil and a large company travelled through Russia to Constantinople where he was a guest of the emperor. While there he became ill, but he took a ship for Cyprus. He died at Paphos in Cyprus on 10 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 Bodil also became ill, but she reached Jerusalem where she died. She was buried at the foot of the Mount of Olives in the Valley of Josaphat.

  Begivenheder i hans liv:

1. Bopæl, 1056, Slangerup Frederiksborg.

2. Beskæftigelse, 1095-1103. Konge af Danmark

3. Død, 1103, Paphos, Cypern.

Erik blev gift med Bodil Borgautsdôttir*, datter af Thrund Fagerskind* og Thorgunna Vagnsdatter*. (Bodil Borgautsdôttir* blev født i 1065 og døde i 1103 i Oliebjerget Jerusalem Israel, , ,.). Årsagen til hendes død var På pilgrimsrejse med husbond.