Canute, Duke of Reval
Encyclopedia
Canute or Knud Valdemarsen ( – 1260) was a Danish
bastard son of King Valdemar II of Denmark
, who became Duke
of Revelia
, Blekinge
and Lolland
.
Canute was the son of the king by his concubine, Helena Guttormsdotter, widow of Danish nobleman Esbern Snare and daughter of the late Guttorm, Riksjarl of Sweden. 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 were thrown out by the Estonians in 1227. As compensation, he was given Blekinge
in 1242, 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
. The king forced him to exchange Blekinge temporarily for Lolland
, but Blekinge was soon restored to Canute's possession.
Canute married Hedwig, daughter of Swantopolk I, Duke of Pomerania. He left two sons Eric, Duke of Halland (died 1304) and Lord Svantepolk Knudsen
(died 1310), as well as a daughter who is said to have married a Folkung
. 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.
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
bastard son of King Valdemar II of Denmark
Valdemar II of Denmark
Valdemar II , called Valdemar the Victorious or Valdemar the Conqueror , was the King of Denmark from 1202 until his death in 1241. The nickname Sejr is a later invention and was not used during the King's own lifetime...
, who became Duke
Duke
A duke or duchess is a member of the nobility, historically of highest rank below the monarch, and historically controlling a duchy...
of Revelia
Revelia
Revala was an ancient Estonian county. It corresponded roughly to the present territory of Harju County.- See also :*Battle of Lyndanisse*Danish Estonia*History of Estonia*Harria*List of Estonian rulers*Livonian Crusade...
, Blekinge
Blekinge
' is one of the traditional provinces of Sweden , situated in the south of the country. It borders Småland, Scania and the Baltic Sea.The name "Blekinge" comes from the adjective bleke, which corresponds to the nautical term for "dead calm"....
and Lolland
Lolland
Lolland is the fourth largest island of Denmark, with an area of 1,243 square kilometers . Located in the Baltic sea, it is part of Region Sjælland...
.
Canute was the son of the king by his concubine, Helena Guttormsdotter, widow of Danish nobleman Esbern Snare and daughter of the late Guttorm, Riksjarl of Sweden. His father gave him lands in Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
as a hereditary duchy in 1219. He was made Duke of Reval (Tallinn)
Tallinn
Tallinn is the capital and largest city of Estonia. It occupies an area of with a population of 414,940. It is situated on the northern coast of the country, on the banks of the Gulf of Finland, south of Helsinki, east of Stockholm and west of Saint Petersburg. Tallinn's Old Town is in the list...
in 1219, but was dispossessed as Denmark were thrown out by the Estonians in 1227. As compensation, he was given Blekinge
Blekinge
' is one of the traditional provinces of Sweden , situated in the south of the country. It borders Småland, Scania and the Baltic Sea.The name "Blekinge" comes from the adjective bleke, which corresponds to the nautical term for "dead calm"....
in 1242, which he held until his death. Canute supported the younger rebel brothers, Abel
Abel of Denmark
Abel of Denmark was Duke of Schleswig from 1232 to 1252 and King of Denmark from 1250 until his death in 1252. He was the son of Valdemar II by his second wife, Infanta Berengária of Portugal, and brother to Eric IV and Christopher I....
and Christopher
Christopher I of Denmark
Christopher I was King of Denmark between 1252 and 1259. He was the son of Valdemar II of Denmark by his wife, Infanta Berengária of Portugal. He succeeded his brothers Eric IV Plovpenning and Abel of Denmark on the throne. Christopher was elected King upon the death of his older brother Abel in...
, against King Eric IV of Denmark
Eric IV of Denmark
Eric IV, also known as Eric Ploughpenny , was king of Denmark from 1241 until his death in 1250. He was the son of King Valdemar II of Denmark by his wife, Infanta Berengária of Portugal, and brother to King Abel and King Christopher I.-Early life:...
in 1246, and was imprisoned at Stegeborg Castle
Stegeborg Castle
Stegeborg Castle is a ruined castle in St Anna parish, Söderköping, Östergötland, located on an island in a narrow sound at the bay of Slätbaken.- Brief history :...
. The king forced him to exchange Blekinge temporarily for Lolland
Lolland
Lolland is the fourth largest island of Denmark, with an area of 1,243 square kilometers . Located in the Baltic sea, it is part of Region Sjælland...
, but Blekinge was soon restored to Canute's possession.
Canute married Hedwig, daughter of Swantopolk I, Duke of Pomerania. He left two sons Eric, Duke of Halland (died 1304) and Lord Svantepolk Knudsen
Svantepolk of Viby
Svantepolk Knutsson , Lord of Viby in Östergötland, was a Scandinavian magnate.Svantepolk's father was Canute, Duke of Revalia, a bastard son of king Valdemar II of Denmark with a high-born Swedish lady Helena, daughter of Earl Guttorm...
(died 1310), as well as a daughter who is said to have married a Folkung
Folkung
In modern Swedish, Folkung has two meanings, which appear to be opposites:# The medieval "House of Bjelbo" in Sweden, which produced several Swedish statesmen and kings....
. 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.