Svend III Grathe of Denmark

• Preferred Name: Svend III Grathe of Denmark^{[1] [2]}
  
• Alternate Name: "Grathe", King of Denmark Svand III
  
• Gender: M
  
• Burial: 1157 in Grathe Kapel, Grågårde, Thorning, Viborg, Denmark at LATI: N6.2866 LONG: E0.3325 with note: As written in the Sources tagged (He was later burried in Viborg Cathedral)
  
• Death: 23 OCT 1157 in Grathe Hede, Grathe, Kjellerup, Viborg, Denmark at LATI: N6.25 LONG: E0.4333 with note: As written in the Source tagged
  
• Birth: omkring 1125 in Denmark at LATI: N6 LONG: E0 with note: As written in the Sources tagged
  
• FSID: GHYQ-X98
  
• Notes:

  === Life Sketch ===
  Sweyn III Grathe (Danish: Svend III Grathe) (c. 1125 – 23 October 1157) was the King of Denmark between 1146 and 1157, in shifting alliances with Canute V and his own cousin Valdemar I. In 1157, the three agreed a tripartition of Denmark. Sweyn attempted to kill his rivals at the peace banquet, and was subsequently defeated by Valdemar I at the Battle of Grathe Heath and killed.
  
  Sweyn was the illegitimate son of King Erik II the Memorable and the concubine Thunna. Sweyn travelled with Eric II to Norway in the mid-1130s, when his father fought King Niels to win the Danish throne. When Eric II died in 1137, he was succeeded by Eric III, and Sweyn was sent to the court of Conrad III of Germany. Here he befriended Conrad's nephew Frederick.
  
  Sweyn travelled to Denmark, where he and his cousin Valdemar sought to canonize Sweyn's uncle and Valdemar's father Canute Lavard in 1146, under protest from Archbishop Eskil of Lund in Scania. At the abdication of Eric III in 1146, Sweyn was elected king by the magnates on Zealand while Canute V was crowned by their counterparts in Jutland.
  
  For the next years, Sweyn fought a civil war against Canute for the kingship of Denmark, supported by Valdemar. Canute was supported by Archbishop Eskil, but Sweyn moved to secure Eskil's loyalty by granting the Archbishop of Lund land holdings in Scania and Bornholm. Sweyn subsequently defeated Canute on Zealand, to confine him to Jutland. In 1147, Sweyn and Canute united to support the Wendish Crusade. As Sweyn engaged the Wends in naval battle, he received little support from Canute, and lost his flagship. The civil war was soon re-ignited.
  
  After several battles, Sweyn conquered Funen and parts of Jutland, and set Valdemar up as Duke of Schleswig. Sweyn then campaigned with Etheler von Dithmarschen against Adolf II of Holstein, a supporter of Canute. Sweyn succeeded in banishing Canute in 1150, and Canute's re-entry with German troops in 1151 was also repulsed. Both Canute and Sweyn sought the support of Conrad III of Germany. In 1152, Frederick I was crowned King of Germany, and he brokered a deal in Merseburg later that year. The deal made Sweyn "premier king", with Canute eligible to receive a substantial portion of Denmark, and Valdemar keeping the Duchy of Schleswig. However, Sweyn only granted Canute small holdings, breaking the agreement, and Sweyn's position in Denmark was further undermined by his alleged tyrant manners and his pro-German behaviour.
  
  In 1154, Sweyn was overthrown by an alliance between Canute and Valdemar, who was crowned Canute's co-ruler as Valdemar I. Eskil and the majority of Sweyn's other supporters deserted him, and he went into exile in Germany. Sweyn spent three years seeking support for a reconquest, and returned to Denmark in 1157 with the support of German duke Henry the Lion. This prompted the Danish magnates to force through a tripartition of the kingdom into Jutland, Zealand, and Scania. Sweyn chose first, and was made the ruler of Scania. At the peace banquet in Roskilde on 9 August 1157, Sweyn planned on killing his two co-rulers, and succeeded in having Canute killed. The incident became known as the Bloodfeast of Roskilde.
  
  Valdemar escaped to Jutland, and on 23 October 1157, Sweyn and his army faced and met him at the Battle of Grathe Heath, which gave him his nickname Grathe. Sweyn's army was defeated, and he was killed by peasants who caught him when his horse was sucked into a bog while he fled from the battle.
  
  In 1152, Sweyn married Adela of Meissen, daughter of Conrad, Margrave of Meissen, and Luitgard of Ravenstein. They had a short-lived son, possibly named Eric, and a daughter, Luitgard, who married Berthold I of Istria.
  
  === Gegenkg. v. Dänemark 1146-1157 ===
  Gegenkg. v. Dänemark 1146-1157
  
  === From Ancestral File (TM), data as of 2 J ===
  From Ancestral File (TM), data as of 2 January 1996. From Ancestral File (TM), data as of 2 January 1996.
  
  === BETHAMIS GENEALOGICAL TABLES (GS NUMBER ===
  BETHAMIS GENEALOGICAL TABLES (GS NUMBER Q929.2 B465G) TAB 435;
  
  === !#552-v2-t99; ===
  !#552-v2-t99;
  
  === Cause of Death: Killed. ===
  Cause of Death: Killed.
  
  === !NOTE: The Church of Jesus Christ of Lat ===
  !NOTE: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Ancestral File (TM); ; June 1998 (c), data as of 5 JAN 1998; ; , Family History Library, 35 N West Temple Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84150 USA
  
  === Still Living. ===
  Still Living.
  
  === ?? Line 107539: (New PAF RIN=12884) 1 NA ===
  ?? Line 107539: (New PAF RIN=12884) 1 NAME Svend III, King Of /DENMARK/ ?? Line 136431: (New PAF MRIN=5691) 1 MARR 2 DATE 1152 ENGAGED (?) ?? Line 44133: (New PAF RIN=22635) 1 NAME Svend III, King Of /DENMARK/ ?? Line 53359: (New PAF MRIN=8739) 1 MARR 2 DATE 1152 ENGAGED (?)
  
  === Line 126182 from GEDCOM File not recogni ===
  Line 126182 from GEDCOM File not recognizable or too long: MARR DATE 1152 ENGAGED (?)
  
  === From Ancestral File (TM), data as of 2 J ===
  From Ancestral File (TM), data as of 2 January 1996. Line 55106 from GEDCOM File not recognizable or too long: MARR DATE 1152 ENGAGED (?)

• m. 1152

1. Title: en.Wikipedia Sweyn III of Denmark
   Author: Sweyn III Grathe King of Denmark Reign 1146–1157[1] Predecessor Eric III Lamb Successor Valdemar I the Great Born c. 1125[2] Died 23 October 1157 (aged 31–32) Grathe Heath, Denmark Burial Gradehede, then Viborg Cathedral Consort Adela of Meissen Issue Unnamed son Luitgard, Margravine of Istria Names Sweyn Eriksen House Estridsen Father Eric II the Memorable Mother Thunna Religion Roman Catholicism
   Publication: Name: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweyn_III_of_Denmark;
   Note: Sweyn III Grathe[Note 1] (Danish: Svend III Grathe) (c. 1125 – 23 October 1157) was the King of Denmark between 1146 and 1157, in shifting alliances with Canute V and his own cousin Valdemar I. In 1157, the three agreed a tripartition of Denmark. Sweyn attempted to kill his rivals at the peace banquet, and was subsequently defeated by Valdemar I at the Battle of Grathe Heath and killed. Early life: Sweyn was the illegitimate son of King Erik II the Memorable and the concubine Thunna. Sweyn travelled with Eric II to Norway in the mid-1130s, when his father fought King Niels to win the Danish throne. When Eric II died in 1137, he was succeeded by Eric III, and Sweyn was sent to the court of Conrad III of Germany. Here he befriended Conrad's nephew Frederick.[2] Sweyn travelled to Denmark, where he and his cousin Valdemar sought to canonize Sweyn's uncle and Valdemar's father Canute Lavard in 1146, under protest from Archbishop Eskil of Lund in Scania.[2] At the abdication of Eric III in 1146, Sweyn was elected king by the magnates on Zealand while Canute V was crowned by their counterparts in Jutland.[3] Civil war: For the next years, Sweyn fought a civil war against Canute for the kingship of Denmark, supported by Valdemar. Canute was supported by Archbishop Eskil, but Sweyn moved to secure Eskil's loyalty by granting the Archbishop of Lund land holdings in Scania and Bornholm. Sweyn subsequently defeated Canute on Zealand, to confine him to Jutland. In 1147, Sweyn and Canute united to support the Wendish Crusade. As Sweyn engaged the Wends in naval battle, he received little support from Canute, and lost his flagship. The civil war was soon re-ignited.[2] After several battles, Sweyn conquered Funen and parts of Jutland, and set Valdemar up as Duke of Schleswig. Sweyn then campaigned with Etheler von Dithmarschen against Adolf II of Holstein, a supporter of Canute. Sweyn succeeded in banishing Canute in 1150, and Canute's re-entry with German troops in 1151 was also repulsed. Both Canute and Sweyn sought the support of Conrad III of Germany. In 1152, Frederick I was crowned King of Germany, and he brokered a deal in Merseburg later that year.[2] The deal made Sweyn "premier king", with Canute eligible to receive a substantial portion of Denmark, and Valdemar keeping the Duchy of Schleswig.[3] However, Sweyn only granted Canute small holdings, breaking the agreement, and Sweyn's position in Denmark was further undermined by his alleged tyrant manners and his pro-German behaviour.[2] Tripartition: In 1154, Sweyn was overthrown by an alliance between Canute and Valdemar, who was crowned Canute's co-ruler as Valdemar I.[3] Eskil and the majority of Sweyn's other supporters deserted him, and he went into exile in Germany. Sweyn spent three years seeking support for a reconquest, and returned to Denmark in 1157 with the support of German duke Henry the Lion.[2] This prompted the Danish magnates to force through a tripartition of the kingdom into Jutland, Zealand, and Scania.[3] Sweyn chose first, and was made the ruler of Scania. At the peace banquet in Roskilde on 9 August 1157, Sweyn planned on killing his two co-rulers, and succeeded in having Canute killed. The incident became known as the Bloodfeast of Roskilde.[2] Valdemar escaped to Jutland, and on 23 October 1157, Sweyn and his army faced and met him at the Battle of Grathe Heath, which gave him his nickname Grathe. Sweyn's army was defeated, and he was killed by peasants who caught him when his horse was sucked into a bog while he fled from the battle.[2] Marriage and issue In 1152, Sweyn married Adela of Meissen, daughter of Conrad, Margrave of Meissen, and Luitgard of Ravenstein. They had a short-lived son, possibly named Eric, and a daughter, Luitgard, who married Berthold I of Istria.[2] Notes: 1. For the significance of the epithet, see Tripartition References: Media related to Sweyn III of Denmark at Wikimedia Commons 1. Monarkiet i Danmark – Kongerækken Archived 2009-11-18 at the Wayback Machine at The Danish Monarchy 2. Bricka, Carl Frederik (ed.), Dansk Biografisk Lexikon, vol. XVII [Svend Tveskjæg – Tøxen], 1903. "Svend Grade", Hans Olrik, pp. 5–7. 3. Svend 3. Grathe at Gyldendals Åbne Encyklopædi This page was last edited on 7 August 2021, at 09:19 (UTC).
   
2. Title: da.Wikipedia Svend Grathe
   Author: Svend 3. Grathe Konge af Danmark Regerede Sjælland 1146-1154 Skåne 1157 Danmark 1152-1157 Forgænger Erik 2. Emune Regent Svend 3. Grathe Medkonger Knud 5. Valdemar 1. den Store Efterfølger Valdemar 1. den Store Ægtefælle Adele af Meissen Børn Erik af Danmark Luitgard af Danmark Hus Jellingdynastiet Far Erik Emune Mor Thunna Født ca. 1125 Død 23. oktober 1157 Grathe Hede Hvilested Muligvis Grathe Kapel ved Grågårde i Thorning. Kapellet er nedrevet, men stedet er markeret med Grathe-stenen.
   Publication: Name: https://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/Svend_Grathe;
   Note: Svend Grathe (Svend 3.) (1125–23. oktober 1157) var dansk konge sammen med Knud 5. og Valdemar under borgerkrigen 1146-1157. Ved faderen Erik Emunes drab i 1137 var Svend for ung til at blive konge, og Erik Lam, der fik kronen, sendte ham til Konrad 3. af Frankens hof, hvor han blev ven med kongens brodersøn, den unge Frederik af Schwaben. Tyske kilder fra denne tid kalder Svend for Peter, idet han som flere af kongeslægten har haft et dobbeltnavn. Tronstrid: Sidst i Erik Lams kongetid var han atter i Danmark, hvor han og hans fætter Valdemar trods ærkebiskop Eskils indsigelse skrinlagde Knud Lavards ben (1146). Samme år trak Erik sig tilbage og døde, og straks greb Svend efter kronen. Det lykkedes ham at vinde sjællændere og skåninger, men hovedmassen af jyderne samledes om Knud Magnussen, og en voldsom tronkamp begyndte. Eskil nærmede sig til Knud, men Svend overvandt ærkebispen og holdt ham fanget i hans egen domkirke; snart reddedes han dog ved sin egen dristighed og købte sig Eskils tilgivelse og tilslutning ved at skænke ærkesædet gods i Skåne og en stor del af Bornholm. Heldig slog han nu Knud ved Slangerup og drev ham tilbage til Jylland. Under påvirkning af den store europæiske korstogsbevægelse sluttede kongerne sig sammen til fælles tog mod venderne (1147), men udrettede kun lidt. Jyderne så med glæde venderne nedhugge skåningerne og tage Svends kongeskib, og Svend var for mistroisk over for Knud til at ville sejle hjem på hans skib, så kongekrigen brød løs igen. Atter var Knud den angribende og overrumplede Roskilde, men tabte i kampen ved Tåstrup, hvor Svend personlig dog ikke udmærkede sig (1148). Svend havde nu overtaget, bemægtigede sig Fyn, satte Valdemar til hertug i Slesvig og hjemsøgte, støttet af ditmarskeren Edeler, grev Adolf af Holstens lande, fordi denne havde sluttet sig til Knud, men kunne ikke afværge Edelers fald i en ulige kamp med holstenerne. Senere sejrede Svend ved Viborg (1150) og jog Knud af landet, og da hans medbejler kom igen med tyske hjælpetropper, tilføjede han ham et nyt nederlag ved Gedbæk (1151). Æren for disse sejre tilkom dog mest Valdemar. Lensmand for Frederik Barbarossa: Svend søgte at sikre sit herredømme over Danmark ved en ydmyg henvendelse til Konrad 3., hos hvem Knud forgæves søgte om hjælp. Endnu en gang satte Knud sig fast på dansk grund ved at vinde friserne, men Svend indtog hans friserborg. Knud tyede til den ny tyske konge, Frederik 1., der stævnede sin ungdomsven til mødet i Merseburg (1152). Kronen tildømtes Svend, men han blev Frederiks lensmand og måtte love at give Knud Sjælland til len. Da han alligevel kun gav ham spredte forleninger, krænkede han Valdemar, som havde garanteret forliget, og lagde grunden til sin egen ulykke. Under medgangen havde han trods biskop Elias' råd skånet sine fangne fjender, endog sin faders banemand Plov, men dette højsind havde en stærk tilsætning af overmod, der gjorde ham blind for virkeligheden og lod ham undervurdere sine modstandere. Dertil kom de store mangler i hans styrelse. Under tronkampene var venderne blevet højst farlige for de danske farvande, og ganske vist opkastede Svend nogle kystvolde til værn imod dem, tilføjede dem også enkelte nederlag, men nøjedes ellers med at give store summer til hertugen af Sachsen, Henrik Løve, for at holde venderne borte, hvad Henrik dog ikke gjorde, og samlede ikke sine kræfter om et stort, nationalt forsvar. En fornærmelse, som var tilføjet jarlen Carl af den svenske kongesøn Jon Sverkerson, var ham derimod påskud til et indfald i Sverige, men på grund af vinterkulden måtte han vende tilbage uden at have udrettet noget (1153). Med Eskil havde han stadig strid, og ved upålidelighed og udsugelser vakte han uvilje hos mange. Nogle uroligheder i Skåne kvalte han i blod, og sine egne venner forurettede han ofte. Tyske herrer optog han i sit følge, og han fandt sig i deres frække færd over for landets børn. Tilmed satte hans forkærlighed for tysk retsskik (tvekamp) og hofskik ondt blod hos alle. Tyske spillemænd var hans gæster, men en islandsk skjald fik ikke løn for sit kongekvad. Knud og Valdemar går sammen: Under disse forhold sluttede Valdemar og Knud sig nærmere til hinanden. Svend søgte at rydde Valdemar af vejen eller i det mindste uskadeliggøre ham ved at lokke ham i tysk fangenskab, men planen mislykkede. Eskil forlod Svend, selv mange af hans tidligere tro tilhængere faldt fra ham, og under sine krigeres hån flygtede han til Tyskland. Henved 3 år flakkede han om uden at kunne finde hjælpere i kampen. Ved gyldne løfter fik han endelig Henrik Løve til at ruste sig. De bestak Dannevirkes portvagt, slap ind til Slesvig, brandskattede byen og plyndrede handelsflåden i Slien, men drog tilbage uden at afvente fjendens komme. Henrik Løve lod imidlertid de vender, der var ham underlagte, hærge Fyn og dernæst føre Svend til den hårdt hjemsøgte ø, der også hyldede ham. De andre konger drog imod ham, men der indledtes forhandlinger i Odense og aftaltes fredsmøde på Lolland, hvor Valdemar ved kendelse tredelte riget og selv valgte Jylland. Svend fik ret at vælge før Knud og tog de skånske lande for ikke at være indeklemt mellem sine medbejlere. Knud fik altså Sjælland. Det endelige opgør For at fejre afslutningen på mange års stridigheder indbød Knud sine medkonger til et forsoningsgilde i Roskilde (Blodgildet i Roskilde). Det fandt sted den 9. august 1157. Det endte med, at Svends folk myrder Knud, mens det lykkedes den sårede Valdemar at undslippe. Den 23. oktober samme år mødtes de i et kort, men voldsomt slag på Grathe Hede. Det endte med, at Svend flygtede ud i nogle sumpe, hvor han mistede våben og udrustning. Han blev taget til fange og dræbt med et øksehug af en person, der vist havde et personligt opgør med kongen. Herefter var Valdemar dansk enekonge. Gravsted Ifølge lokale overleveringer blev Svend Grathe "jordet", der hvor han blev slået ihjel, og siden skulle der være opført et kapel på stedet. Kapellet menes at være det nu nedrevne "Grathe Kapel" ved Grågårde i nærheden af Thorning. Digteren Thor Lange opsatte i 1892 et stenkors – Grathe-stenen – på stedet hvor kapellet lå. I 2015 fandt arkæologer ved Museum Silkeborg resterne af Grathe Kapel. Tilbage fra midten at 1800-tallet er der en række beretninger om kapeltomtens tilstand. Formentlig var den helt sløjfet i 1860 og stenene genbrugt andre steder.[1] Eksterne kilder og henvisninger Svend Grathe på gravsted.dk Arkæologer finder kapellet fra mordet på kong Svend politiken.dk 4. aug. 2015 Sven 3. Grathe (1146 - 1157)på natmus.dk Svend Grathe i Dansk Biografisk Leksikon (1. udgave, bind 17, 1903) Denne side blev senest ændret den 17. april 2021 kl. 12:23