Battle of Fotevik
Encyclopedia
Battle of Fotevik was fought between forces of King Niels of Denmark
together with those of his son Magnus Nilsson
against those of Erik Emune
on June 4, 1134 at the bay of Fotevik in Skåne.
At his death, King Eric I of Denmark
had two known sons who were candidates for King of Denmark, Canute Lavard
and Erik Emune. King Eric's younger brother, was selected to succeed him and became King Niels. In January 1131, Canute Lavard
was trapped in a forest near Ringsted
in Zealand and executed. Canute, as the only legitimate son of King Eric I of Denmark
, was a likely candidate for the throne. Some sources consider it to have been a murder committed by Magnus Nilsson, some attribute it to King Niels himself. Niels and Magnus soon found themselves in a civil war against Lavard's half-brother Eric Emune
. The death of Canute Lavard provoked a civil war that lasted intermittently until 1157.
At the Battle of Fotevik, the forces of King Niels were taken by surprise by a contingent of German soldiers on horses. Cavalry attack on a large scale had previously only rarely been used in Scandinavia. Magnus Nilsson was slain together with the six (possibly five) bishops and a large amount of the priests accompanying the invading army. A half brother of Canute Lavard, Harald Kesja
, together with eight of his sons who had sided with King Neils were subsequently captured and decapitated near Vejle
in Jutland
.
After the battle, King Niels fled with the remnants of his fleet to Schleswig
. King Niels was murdered on June 25, 1134 by the city's burghers. The battle was a decisive victory for Eric, who became the next King of Denmark as Eric II
.
Niels of Denmark
Niels of Denmark was King of Denmark from 1104 to 1134, following his brother Eric Evergood, and is presumed to have been the youngest son of king Sweyn II Estridson. Niels actively supported the canonization of Canute IV the Holy, and his secular rule was supported by the clergy...
together with those of his son Magnus Nilsson
Magnus I of Sweden
Magnus I of Sweden, son of Nicholas , later called Magnus the Strong , was a Danish duke who ruled Gothenland in southern Sweden from 1125 to 1130...
against those of Erik Emune
Eric II of Denmark
Eric II the Memorable was king of Denmark between 1134 and 1137. Eric was an illegitimate son of Eric I of Denmark, who ruled Denmark from 1095 to 1103. Eric the Memorable rebelled against his uncle Niels of Denmark, and was declared king in 1134. He punished his adversaries severely, and...
on June 4, 1134 at the bay of Fotevik in Skåne.
At his death, King Eric I of Denmark
Eric I of Denmark
Eric I Evergood , also known as Eric the Good, , was King of Denmark following his brother Olaf I Hunger in 1095. He was a son of king Sweyn II Estridsson, by his wife Gunhild Sveinsdotter, and married Boedil Thurgotsdatter.-Biography:...
had two known sons who were candidates for King of Denmark, Canute Lavard
Canute Lavard
Canute Lavard was a Danish prince. Later he was the first Duke of Schleswig and the first border prince who was both a Danish and a German vassal, a position leafing towards the historical double position of Southern Jutland...
and Erik Emune. King Eric's younger brother, was selected to succeed him and became King Niels. In January 1131, Canute Lavard
Canute Lavard
Canute Lavard was a Danish prince. Later he was the first Duke of Schleswig and the first border prince who was both a Danish and a German vassal, a position leafing towards the historical double position of Southern Jutland...
was trapped in a forest near Ringsted
Ringsted
Ringsted, a city in Ringsted municipality, is in the middle of the Danish island of Zealand. The municipal population is about 31,000 and the city population is 21,151 .Ringsted is approximately 60 km from Copenhagen.-Modern hotspot:...
in Zealand and executed. Canute, as the only legitimate son of King Eric I of Denmark
Eric I of Denmark
Eric I Evergood , also known as Eric the Good, , was King of Denmark following his brother Olaf I Hunger in 1095. He was a son of king Sweyn II Estridsson, by his wife Gunhild Sveinsdotter, and married Boedil Thurgotsdatter.-Biography:...
, was a likely candidate for the throne. Some sources consider it to have been a murder committed by Magnus Nilsson, some attribute it to King Niels himself. Niels and Magnus soon found themselves in a civil war against Lavard's half-brother Eric Emune
Eric II of Denmark
Eric II the Memorable was king of Denmark between 1134 and 1137. Eric was an illegitimate son of Eric I of Denmark, who ruled Denmark from 1095 to 1103. Eric the Memorable rebelled against his uncle Niels of Denmark, and was declared king in 1134. He punished his adversaries severely, and...
. The death of Canute Lavard provoked a civil war that lasted intermittently until 1157.
At the Battle of Fotevik, the forces of King Niels were taken by surprise by a contingent of German soldiers on horses. Cavalry attack on a large scale had previously only rarely been used in Scandinavia. Magnus Nilsson was slain together with the six (possibly five) bishops and a large amount of the priests accompanying the invading army. A half brother of Canute Lavard, Harald Kesja
Harald Kesja
Harald Kesja, Harald the Spear, was the son of Eric I of Denmark and anti-king of Denmark.He acted as regent 1103-1104 for his father while he was on pilgrimage to Jerusalem alongside Archbishop Asser of Lund. As regent, he was courageous, but violent, cruel and debauched. Harald plundered far and...
, together with eight of his sons who had sided with King Neils were subsequently captured and decapitated near Vejle
Vejle
Vejle is a town in Denmark, in the southeast of the Jutland Peninsula at the head of Vejle Fjord, where the Vejle and Grejs Rivers and their valleys converge. It is the site of the councils of Vejle Municipality and the Region of Southern Denmark...
in Jutland
Jutland
Jutland , historically also called Cimbria, is the name of the peninsula that juts out in Northern Europe toward the rest of Scandinavia, forming the mainland part of Denmark. It has the North Sea to its west, Kattegat and Skagerrak to its north, the Baltic Sea to its east, and the Danish–German...
.
After the battle, King Niels fled with the remnants of his fleet to Schleswig
Schleswig
Schleswig or South Jutland is a region covering the area about 60 km north and 70 km south of the border between Germany and Denmark; the territory has been divided between the two countries since 1920, with Northern Schleswig in Denmark and Southern Schleswig in Germany...
. King Niels was murdered on June 25, 1134 by the city's burghers. The battle was a decisive victory for Eric, who became the next King of Denmark as Eric II
Eric II of Denmark
Eric II the Memorable was king of Denmark between 1134 and 1137. Eric was an illegitimate son of Eric I of Denmark, who ruled Denmark from 1095 to 1103. Eric the Memorable rebelled against his uncle Niels of Denmark, and was declared king in 1134. He punished his adversaries severely, and...
.