Eric was born in the town of
Slangerup in North
Zealand - the largest Danish island. During the rule of his half-brother
Canute IV he was an eager supporter of the king, but he was spared during the rebellion against Canute. Eric remained at the royal farm instead of accompanying Canute to
St Albans priory in Odense, where Canute was killed. Eric talked his way off the farm and fled to Zealand and then to
Scania, which was part of Denmark during that time.
Olaf I Hunger was elected King of Denmark, but his reign was short. At last Eric was elected as a king at the several
landsting assemblies in 1095. Eric 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 Eric was the right king for Denmark. Medieval chroniclers, such as
Saxo Grammaticus, and myths portrayed Eric a "strapping fellow" appealing to the common people. He could keep his place when four men tried their best to move him. Eric was a good speaker, and people went out of their way to hear him. After a
ting assembly concluded, he went about the neighborhood greeting men, women and children at their homesteads. He had a reputation as a loud man who liked parties and who led a rather dissolute private life. Though a presumed supporter of a strong centralized royal power, he seems to have behaved like a diplomat, 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
canonization for his late brother, Canute IV, and an
archbishopric for Denmark (now
Lund in
Scania), instead of being under the
Archbishop of Hamburg-Bremen. Bishop
Asser then became the first
Archbishop of Lund. King Eric announced at the Viborg assembly that he had decided to go on pilgrimage to
the Holy Land. The cause, according to
Saxo in
Danmarks Riges Krønike, was Eric's killing of four of his own
hirdmen in a fit of madness caused by a musician who claimed his playing could drive men to insanity. Despite the pleas of his subjects, he would not be deterred. Eric appointed his son,
Harald Kesja, and
Bishop Asser as regents. Eric and Boedil and a large company traveled through Russia to
Constantinople where he was a guest of the emperor. While there, he became ill, but took ship for Cyprus anyway. He died at
Paphos, Cyprus in 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 Boedil also became ill, but made it to Jerusalem where she died. She was buried at the foot of the
Mount of Olives in the
Valley of Josaphat. ==Family==