Canute Lavard

Canute Lavard (1096–1131) was the only legitimate son of Eric I of Denmark. In 1115 his uncle King Niels enfeoffed him with Schleswig to defend the border against Slavic raiders. He pacified it and became Duke of Holstein and a vassal of the emperor, who recognized him as lord over the Wends.

His standing made him a possible successor to Niels but alarmed Niels's son Magnus the Strong, who in 1131 trapped and slew him in Haraldsted Forest. His posthumous son Valdemar I secured his canonization in 1170.