CANUTE II OF DENMARK (1074)

KNUD DEN HELLIGE

King of Denmark from 1080, revered as that country´s patron saint.

The son of King Sweyn II Estrithson of Denmark, he engaged in Viking raids against England and the Baltic countries, unsuccessfully leading such an expedition to Northumbria in 1075. He succeeded his brother Harold Hen and oposing the aristocracy, kept a close association with the church in attempting to create a powerful and centralized monarchy.

Canute ettempted an administrative reform, particularly an enforced levying of tithes, that incurred the wrath of the rural aristocracy.

In 1085 he reasserted the Danish claims to England and with the count of Flanders and King Olaf III of Norway prepared a massive invasion fleet that alarmed the Engish king, William I the Conqueror. Canute´s plan had to be anandoned suddenly for those aristocrats who opposed his tax policy revolted as he embarked for England. He fled from the rebels, led by his brother Prince Olaf to St. Alban´s Church, Odense, which he had founded, and was assassinated there with the entire royal party, including his brother Prince Benedict.

In ecclesiastical matters, Canute generously patronized several churches, including the cathedral of Lund, Denmark´s archbishopric; established a Benedictine abbey at Odense; and zealously supported apostolic preaching throughout Denmark.

Canute was buried in St. Alban´s, renamed c. 1300 St Canute´s cathedral. Miracles were recorded at his tomb and at the request (1099) of King Erik III Evergood of Denmark, he was canonized (1101) by Pope Paschal II.

Traditionally venerated as the patron saint of Denmark, he is often confused with his nephew St. Lnud Lavard (feast day January 7), duke of South Jutland, who was murdered in 1131 and who became the patron saint of Danish guilds.

Canute´s feast days are January 19 (translation of relics) and July 10 (day of death).
His symbols are either a lance or arrows.

The earliest biographies are those written by Aelnoth, a monk of Canterbury, Kent, in 1105 and by the celebrated Danis historian Saxo Grammaticus in his Gesta Danorum.