View source for Canute IV of Denmark

{{Short description|King of Denmark from 1080 to 1086}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{redirect|Saint Canute|the later saint|Canute Lavard}}
{{Infobox monarch
| name         = Canute IV
| image        = Christian-albrecht-von-benzon, the death of Canute the Holy.jpg
| image_size   = 250
| caption      = Legendary painting of the death of Canute IV of Denmark in the Church of Saint Albanus
| succession   = [[King of Denmark]]
| reign        = 1080–1086
| predecessor  = [[Harald III of Denmark|Harald III]]
| successor    = [[Olaf I of Denmark|Olaf I]]
| house        = [[House of Estridsen|Estridsen]]
| spouse       = [[Adela of Flanders]]
| issue        = [[Charles I, Count of Flanders]]<br>[[Cecilia Knutsdatter]]<br>[[Ingegerd Knutsdatter]]
| father       = [[Sweyn II of Denmark]]
| birth_date   = c. 1042<ref name="pajung"/>
| birth_place  = 
| death_date   = 10 July {{death year and age|1086|1042}}
| death_place  = St. Alban's Priory, [[Odense]]
| burial_place = [[St. Canute's Cathedral]], [[Odense]]
| religion     = [[Catholic Church in Denmark|Roman Catholicism]]
}}

{{Infobox saint
| honorific_prefix = [[Saint]] and [[Martyr]]
| name             = Saint Canute (Sankt Knud)
| honorific_suffix = 
| image            = [[File:Skt. Knud den Hellige.JPG|140px]]
| imagesize        = 140px
| alt              = 
| caption          = Statue of Saint Canute at [[St. Peter's Church, Næstved]], in [[Odense]], Denmark
| titles           = [[King of Denmark]], [[Saint]] and [[Martyr]]
| birth_name       = 
| birth_date       = c. 1042<ref name="pajung"/>
| birth_place      = 
| home_town        = 
| residence        = 
| death_date       = 10 July {{death year and age|1086|1042}}
| death_place      = St. Alban's Priory, [[Odense]]
| death_cause      = [[Martyrdom]]
| venerated_in     = [[Catholic Church in Denmark|Roman Catholicism]]
| beatified_date   = 
| beatified_place  = 
| beatified_by     = 
| canonized_date   = 19 April 1101
| canonized_place  =
| canonized_by     = [[Pope Paschal II]]
| major_shrine     = [[St. Canute's Cathedral]]
| feast_day        = 10 July ([[Catholic Church in Denmark|Catholic Church]])
| attributes       = 
| patronage        = [[Denmark]]
| issues           = 
| suppressed_date  = 
| suppressed_by    = 
| influences       = 
| influenced       = 
| tradition        = 
| major_works      = 
| module           = 
}}


'''Canute IV''' ({{circa|1042}}&nbsp;– 10 July 1086), later known as '''Canute the Holy''' ({{langx|da|Knud IV den Hellige}}) or '''Saint Canute''' (''Sankt Knud''), was [[King of Denmark]] from 1080 until 1086. Canute was an ambitious king who sought to strengthen the [[Danish monarchy]], devotedly supported the [[Roman Catholic Church]], and had designs on the [[English throne]]. Slain by rebels in 1086, he was the first Danish king to be [[canonized]]. He was recognized by the Roman Catholic Church as [[patron saint]] of Denmark in 1101.

==Life==
Canute was born {{circa|1042}}, one of the many sons of [[Sweyn II of Denmark|Sweyn II Estridsson]]<ref name="pajung">Stefan Pajung, [http://danmarkshistorien.dk/leksikon-og-kilder/vis/materiale/knud-den-hellige-ca-1042-1086/ Knud den Hellige ca. 1042–1086] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719121800/http://danmarkshistorien.dk/leksikon-og-kilder/vis/materiale/knud-den-hellige-ca-1042-1086/ |date=19 July 2011 }}, danmarkshistorien.dk, [[Aarhus University]], 22 January 2010</ref> by an unknown mistress. He is first noted as a member of Sweyn's [[Danish attacks on Norman England|1069 raid on England]],<ref name="bricka">[[Carl Frederik Bricka|Bricka, Carl Frederik]], ''Dansk Biografisk Lexikon'', vol. IX [Jyde&nbsp;– Køtschau], 1895, [https://runeberg.org/dbl/9/0262.html pp. 260–263].</ref> and the ''[[Anglo-Saxon Chronicle]]'' reports that Canute was one of the leaders of another raid against England in 1075. When returning from England in 1075, the Danish fleet stopped in the [[County of Flanders]].<ref name="gyldendal">[https://www.denstoredanske.dk/Danmarks_geografi_og_historie/Danmarks_historie/Danmark_f%C3%B8r_Reformationen/Knud_4._den_Hellige Knud 4. den Hellige] at Gyldendals Åbne Encyklopædi</ref> Because of its hostility towards [[William I of England]], Flanders was a natural ally for the Danes. He also led successful campaigns to Sember and Ester, according to [[skald]] Kálfr Mánason.<ref name="bricka"/>

When Sweyn died, Canute's brother [[Harald III of Denmark|Harald III]] was elected king, and as Canute went into exile in [[Sweden]],<ref name="bricka"/> he was possibly involved in the active opposition to Harald.<ref name="gyldendal"/> On 17 April 1080, Harald died,<ref>[[Carl Frederik Bricka|Bricka, Carl Frederik]], ''Dansk Biografisk Lexikon'', vol. VII [I. Hansen – Holmsted], 1893, [https://runeberg.org/dbl/7/0076.html p. 74].</ref> and Canute succeeded him to the throne of Denmark. On his accession, he married [[Adela of Flanders|Adela]], daughter of Count [[Robert I, Count of Flanders|Robert I of Flanders]]. They had one son, [[Charles I, Count of Flanders|Charles]], who was born in 1084, and twin daughters [[Cæcilia Knudsdatter|Cæcilia]] (who later married Erik Jarl) and [[Ingerid Knudsdatter|Ingerid]] (who later married [[Folke the Fat]]), who were born shortly before his death (ca. 1085/86).<ref name="bricka"/><ref>{{cite book |title=Kingship and State Formation in Sweden: 1130–1290 |first=Philip |last=Line |publisher=Brill |year=2007 |pages=499–500 }}</ref> Ingerid's descendants, the [[House of Bjälbo]], would ascend to the throne of Sweden and Norway and Canute IV's blood returned to the Danish throne in the person of [[Olaf II of Denmark]].

===King of Denmark===
Canute quickly proved himself to be a highly ambitious king as well as a devout one. He enhanced the authority of the church, and demanded austere observation of church holidays.<ref name="bricka"/> He gave large gifts to the churches in [[Dalby, Lund|Dalby]], [[Odense]], [[Roskilde]], and [[Viborg, Denmark|Viborg]], and especially to [[Lund]].<ref name="bricka"/> Ever a champion of the Church, he sought to enforce the collection of [[tithes]].<ref name="pajung"/> His aggrandizement of the church served to create a powerful ally, who in turn supported Canute's power position.<ref name="bricka"/>
[[File:Ecclesiastical_map_of_Denmark_(900-1100).png|left|thumb|240x240px|Ecclesiastical map of Denmark from the tenth to twelfth century]]
In May 1085, Canute wrote a letter of donation to [[Lund Cathedral]], which was under construction, granting it large tracts of land in [[Scania]], [[Zealand (Denmark)|Zealand]], and [[Amager]].<ref name="donation" /> He founded [[Lund Cathedral School]] at the same time.<ref name="bricka" /> Canute had gathered the land largely as pay for the pardon of [[outlaw]]ed subjects. The clerics at Lund got extended [[Prerogative|prerogatives]] of the land, being able to tax and fine the [[peasant]]ry there. However, Canute kept his universal [[royal rights]] to [[pardon]] the outlaws, impose fines on subjects who failed to answer his ''[[leding]]'' call to war, and demand transportation for his [[retinue]].<ref name="donation">[http://www.danmarkshistorien.dk/leksikon-og-kilder/vis/materiale/knud-den-helliges-gavebrev-1085/ Knud den Helliges gavebrev 1085] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120723165404/http://www.danmarkshistorien.dk/leksikon-og-kilder/vis/materiale/knud-den-helliges-gavebrev-1085/ |date=23 July 2012 }}, danmarkshistorien.dk, [[Aarhus University]], 6 June 2010</ref>

His reign was marked by vigorous attempts to increase royal power in Denmark, by stifling the [[Danish nobility|nobles]] and keeping them to the word of the law.<ref name="bricka"/> Canute issued edicts [[arrogation|arrogating]] to himself the ownership of [[common land]], the [[Law of salvage|right to the goods from shipwrecks]], and the right to inherit the possessions of foreigners and [[Kinlessness|kinless]] folk. He also issued laws to protect freed [[thrall]]s as well as foreign [[Clergy|clerics]] and merchants.<ref name="pajung"/> These policies led to discontent among his subjects, who were unaccustomed to a king claiming such powers and interfering in their daily lives.<ref name="bricka"/>

===Planned attempt on England===
However, Canute's ambitions were not purely domestic. As the grandnephew of [[Canute the Great]], who had ruled [[England]], [[Denmark]] and [[Norway]] until 1035, Canute considered the crown of England to be rightfully his and regarded [[William the Conquerer]] as a [[usurper]]. In 1085, with the support of his father-in-law, Count Robert, and [[Olaf III of Norway]], Canute planned an invasion of England and called his fleet in ''leding'' at the [[Limfjord]].<ref name="bricka"/> The fleet never set sail, as Canute was preoccupied in [[Schleswig]] by the potential threat of [[Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor]] with whom both Denmark and Flanders were on unfriendly terms. Canute feared an invasion by Henry, whose enemy [[Hermann of Salm]] had sought refuge in Denmark.<ref name="bricka"/>

The warriors of the fleet, mostly made up of peasants who needed to be home for the harvest season, got weary of waiting and elected Canute's brother Olaf (the later [[Olaf I of Denmark]]) to argue their case. That raised the suspicion of Canute, who had Olaf arrested and sent to Flanders. The ''leding'' was eventually dispersed, and the peasants tended to their harvests.<ref name="bricka"/>

===Death===
Before the fleet could reassemble, a [[peasant revolt]] broke out in [[Vendsyssel]],<ref name="pajung"/> where Canute was staying, in early 1086. Canute first fled to Schleswig and eventually to [[Odense]]. On 10 July 1086, Canute and his men took refuge inside the wooden [[St. Canute's Cathedral|St. Alban's Priory]], in Odense. The rebels stormed into the church and slew Canute, along with his brother Benedict and seventeen of their followers, before the altar.<ref name="pajung"/> According to the chronicler [[Ælnoth of Canterbury]], Canute died following a [[lance]] thrust in the [[Flank (anatomy)|flank]].<ref name="ct"/> He was succeeded by Olaf as [[Olaf I of Denmark]].

==Canonization==
Because of his [[martyrdom]] and advocacy of the Church, Canute quickly began to be considered a saint. Under the reign of Olaf, Denmark suffered from crop failure, which was seen as [[divine retribution]] for the [[sacrilege|sacrilegious]] killing of Canute. [[Miracle]]s were soon reported as taking place at his grave,<ref name=dictionary>{{cite book|last=Farmer|first=David Hugh|title=The Oxford dictionary of saints|year=1997|publisher=Oxford Univ. Press|location=Oxford [u.a.]|isbn=9780192800589|pages=87|edition=4.}}</ref> and his canonization was already being sought during the reign of Olaf.<ref name="pajung"/>

On 19 April 1101, persuaded by the envoys from [[Eric I of Denmark]], [[Pope Paschal II]] confirmed the "cult of Canute" that had arisen, and King Canute IV was canonized.<ref name="donation"/> He was the first Dane to be canonized.<ref name="pajung"/> 10 July is recognised by the Catholic Church as his feast day. In Sweden and [[Finland]] he is historically, however, partially associated with [[St. Knut's Day]], which in reality was celebrated in the memory of the death of his [[nephew]], [[Canute Lavard]].<ref name=tjugo>Axelsson, M: ''[http://hogtider.wordpress.com/2007/01/13/tjugo-dagar-efter-jul/ Tjugo dagar efter jul]'', published 13 January 2007 (in Swedish)</ref><ref name=murder>''The Scandinavian Remedy: [http://www.thescandinavianremedy.com/2009/01/today-is-878-years-ago-since-murder-in.html The murder at Haraldsted]'' (3 January 2009) {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120316230655/http://www.thescandinavianremedy.com/2009/01/today-is-878-years-ago-since-murder-in.html |date=16 March 2012 }}'', retrieved 8 January 2012.</ref>

In 1300, his remains and those of his brother Benedict were interred in [[Saint Canute's Cathedral]], built in his honour, where his remains are on display.<ref name="pajung"/>

== Cult ==
Canute was viewed as a martyr following his death and there were reports of miracles received through his intercession. Many people who made pilgrimages to his tomb in Odense were cured of illnesses and maladies.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Archconfraternity ~ Festival Blog |url=https://www.aihmary.com/433753005_5446172.html |access-date=19 January 2025 |website=The Archconfraternity |language=en-US}}</ref> As such his cult spread throughout Denmark. The English monk Aelnoth of Canterbury wrote his biography which helped spread devotion to him in England.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jul 10 - St Canute of Denmark (1043-86) |url=https://www.catholicireland.net/saintoftheday/st-canute-of-denmark-1043-86/ |access-date=19 January 2025 |website=Catholicireland.net |language=en-US}}</ref> The Benedictine monastery at Odense served as the cult centre for Canute.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |last=Steffen |date=31 May 2019 |title=My Albion: Stenløse Church |url=https://my-albion.blogspot.com/2019/05/stenlse-church.html?m=1 |access-date=19 January 2025 |website=My Albion}}</ref> During the 1120s or 1130s devotion to the martyred king reached its pinnacle in Denmark.<ref name="auto"/> Among the evidence for the saints cult in Denmark he was depicted in Næstved Church with a beautiful statue and a screen with images illustrating his life, dating to the 15th century.

==Legacy==
The reign of Canute has been interpreted differently through the times; from a violent king who tyrannized his subjects, to a strict but fair ruler who devotedly supported the Roman Catholic Church and fought for justice without regard to his own person.<ref name="gyldendal"/> He was never a thoroughly popular saint in Denmark, but his sainthood granted the Danish monarchy an aura of [[Divine right of kings|divine legitimacy]].<ref name="pajung"/> The cause of the rebellion which killed Canute is unknown, but has been speculated as originating in fines issued to the peasants breaking the ''leding'' of 1085 as specified in the [[Chronicon Roskildense]], or as a result of his vigorous tithe policy.<ref name="gyldendal"/>

The document of his donation to Lund Cathedral was the oldest comprehensive text from Denmark, and provided broad insights into Danish post-[[Viking Age]] society.<ref name="donation"/> The donation might have had the aim of establishing the Danish [[Archdiocese of Lund]] according to Sweyn II Estridsson's wishes,<ref name="bricka"/> which was finally achieved in 1104. Canute's son Carl became Count of Flanders from 1119 to 1127, ruling as [[Charles the Good]]. Like his father, Charles was slain in a church by rebels (in [[Bruges]], 1127), and later [[Beatification|beatified]] by the Catholic church.<ref name="bricka"/> According to Niels Lund, Lecturer in Medieval History at the [[University of Copenhagen]], Canute's abortive invasion of England "marked the end of the Viking Age."{{cn|date=April 2019}}

In 2008, an [[X-ray computed tomography]] was taken of Canute, which showed that he was right-handed and of a slender build. It also specified his cause of death as a thrust to the [[sacrum]] through the [[abdomen]], negating Ælnoth's account. He had no injuries indicating he fought against multiple enemies, which can be seen as supporting an account saying he faced his death without a struggle.<ref name="ct">[http://ing.dk/artikel/86289 CT-scanning af Knud den Hellige afslører nyt om kongemord] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080313154419/http://ing.dk/artikel/86289 |date=13 March 2008 }}, ''Ingeniøren'', 8 March 2008</ref>

==Popular culture==
In parts of Spain, Canute's feast day has reportedly become a [[tongue-in-cheek]] "holiday" for the [[marijuana]] legalization movement, appropriating the Spanish version of his name, ''Canuto'', which coincidentally is also the word for a marijuana cigarette.<ref name="canuto">{{Cite news | url = https://www.elpais.com/articulo/andalucia/honor/San/Canuto/elpepiautand/20030120elpand_29/Tes| work = El País| date = 20 January 2003| title = En honor a San Canuto| language = Spanish| last1 = Rincón| first1 = Reyes}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Saints}}
*[[List of Catholic saints]]
*[[List of Danish monarchs]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==Further reading==
{{commons category}}
*''Royal Blood. The Passion of St Cnut, King and Martyr.'' Odense, 2025, {{ISBN|978-87-90267-72-8}}.
*''The Oxford Illustrated History of the Vikings''. Ed., Peter Sawyer. Oxford University Press, New York, 1997. Chapter Seven: "The Danish Empire and the End of the Viking Age" by Niels Lund. The quote is from page 181.
*''The Oxford Dictionary of Saints''. Ed David High Farmer. Oxford University Press, 2004. See the entry on St Canute.

{{s-start}}
{{s-hou|[[House of Estridsen]]||c. 1042|July 10|1086||name=Canute the Saint}}
{{s-reg}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Harald III of Denmark|Harald III]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[King of Denmark]]|years=1080–1086}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Olaf I of Denmark|Olaf I]]}}
{{s-end}}
{{Monarchs of Denmark}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Canute 04 of Denmark}}
[[Category:1040s births]]
[[Category:1086 deaths]]
[[Category:Year of birth uncertain]]
[[Category:People from Odense]]
[[Category:House of Estridsen]]
[[Category:Danish Roman Catholic saints]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic royal saints]]

[[Category:11th-century kings of Denmark]]

[[Category:11th-century murdered monarchs]]

[[Category:11th-century Christian saints]]
[[Category:11th-century Christian martyrs]]
[[Category:Burials at St. Canute's Cathedral]]
[[Category:Illegitimate children of Sweyn II]]
[[Category:Sons of kings]]
[[Category:Danish royal saints]]