Eric Longbone, Lord of Langeland
Encyclopedia
Erik Eriksøn, also known as Eric Longbone , (1272–1310), Lord of Langeland
, was the second son of Eric I, Duke of Schleswig
and younger brother of Valdemar IV, Duke of Schleswig
.
, by his wife Margaret of Rugia. He held the island of Langeland
in fief and inherited the properties of the ducal family in southern Funen
, just as his uncle, Abel, Lord of Langeland, had before him. He is mentioned for the first time as responsible for the killing of the seneschal Skjalm Stigsen on 23 August 1292. The murder was probably a result of the enmity caused when King Eric VI of Denmark
, after coming of age, confiscated the fief of Langeland
and the properties of the ducal family in southern Funen
.
Together with his brother, Duke Valdemar
, he joined the king's enemies. In 1993, there was a class between the two parties at Sommersted Heath near Haderslev
which resulted in a compromise where Eric received Langeland as a fief.
Subsequently, he married Sophia of Querfurt, a daughter of Jutta of Saxony
, widow of King Eric IV of Denmark
in her second marriage to Burchard VIII, Count of Querfurt-Rosenburg. Sophia was thus a half-sister of King Eric IV's daughters, among which were the deceased Queen Ingeborg of Norway
, mother of King Eric II of Norway. The marriage thus connected Eric to the king of Norway, who knighted him, and also led to a new conflict with King Eric VI, who retained his wife's inheritance from her half-sisters.
On 3 February 1296 a compromise was entered in Vordingborg
, in which the king promised to hand over Sophia's inheritance, but where the ducal family's properties in southern Funen, which had formerly belonged to Abel, Lord of Langeland, were kept by the king as lawfully acquired from Abel's daughter. Only the city of Rudkøbing
was transferred to become part of the fief of Langeland, and Eric confirmed the city's rights on the same day.
Eric died in 1310. In 1315, Sophia, in the presence of the king and several noblemen, donated the inheritance of her sisters to Saint Agnes' Priory in Roskilde
, keeping only the city of Skælskør
for herself.
of Magdeburg
and Jutta of Saxony
, widow of Eric IV of Denmark
. The marriage was childless.
Langeland
Langeland is a Danish island located between the Great Belt and Bay of Kiel. The island measures 285 km² and, as of 1 January 2010, has a population of 13,277. The island produces grain and is known as a recreational area. A bridge connects it to Tåsinge via Siø - a small island with a...
, was the second son of Eric I, Duke of Schleswig
Eric I, Duke of Schleswig
Eric I Abelsøn was Duke of Schleswig from 1260 until his death in 1272. He was the second son of King Abel of Denmark, Duke of Schleswig and Mechtild of Holstein.-Early life:...
and younger brother of Valdemar IV, Duke of Schleswig
Valdemar IV, Duke of Schleswig
Valdemar IV Eriksøn was Duke of Schleswig from 1283 until his death in 1312. He was the eldest son of Duke Eric I of Schleswig and Margaret of Rugia.-Early life:At the death of his father Duke Eric I in 1272, Valdemar was only about 10 years old...
.
Life
Eric was born in 1272 as the second son of Eric I, Duke of SchleswigEric I, Duke of Schleswig
Eric I Abelsøn was Duke of Schleswig from 1260 until his death in 1272. He was the second son of King Abel of Denmark, Duke of Schleswig and Mechtild of Holstein.-Early life:...
, by his wife Margaret of Rugia. He held the island of Langeland
Langeland
Langeland is a Danish island located between the Great Belt and Bay of Kiel. The island measures 285 km² and, as of 1 January 2010, has a population of 13,277. The island produces grain and is known as a recreational area. A bridge connects it to Tåsinge via Siø - a small island with a...
in fief and inherited the properties of the ducal family in southern Funen
Funen
Funen , with a size of 2,984 km² , is the third-largest island of Denmark following Zealand and Vendsyssel-Thy, and the 163rd largest island of the world. Funen is located in the central part of the country and has a population of 454,358 inhabitants . The main city is Odense, connected to the...
, just as his uncle, Abel, Lord of Langeland, had before him. He is mentioned for the first time as responsible for the killing of the seneschal Skjalm Stigsen on 23 August 1292. The murder was probably a result of the enmity caused when King Eric VI of Denmark
Eric VI of Denmark
Eric VI Menved was King of Denmark and a son of Eric V and Agnes of Brandenburg.He became king in 1286 at age 12, when his father was murdered 20 November by unknown assailants...
, after coming of age, confiscated the fief of Langeland
Langeland
Langeland is a Danish island located between the Great Belt and Bay of Kiel. The island measures 285 km² and, as of 1 January 2010, has a population of 13,277. The island produces grain and is known as a recreational area. A bridge connects it to Tåsinge via Siø - a small island with a...
and the properties of the ducal family in southern Funen
Funen
Funen , with a size of 2,984 km² , is the third-largest island of Denmark following Zealand and Vendsyssel-Thy, and the 163rd largest island of the world. Funen is located in the central part of the country and has a population of 454,358 inhabitants . The main city is Odense, connected to the...
.
Together with his brother, Duke Valdemar
Valdemar IV, Duke of Schleswig
Valdemar IV Eriksøn was Duke of Schleswig from 1283 until his death in 1312. He was the eldest son of Duke Eric I of Schleswig and Margaret of Rugia.-Early life:At the death of his father Duke Eric I in 1272, Valdemar was only about 10 years old...
, he joined the king's enemies. In 1993, there was a class between the two parties at Sommersted Heath near Haderslev
Haderslev
Haderslev is a town and municipality on the east coast of the Jutland peninsula in south Denmark. Also included is the island of Årø as well as several other smaller islands in the Little Belt. The municipality covers and has a population of 56,414 . Its mayor is Jens Christian Gjesing,...
which resulted in a compromise where Eric received Langeland as a fief.
Subsequently, he married Sophia of Querfurt, a daughter of Jutta of Saxony
Jutta of Saxony
Jutta of Saxony was a Danish Queen consort, spouse of King Eric IV of Denmark. Jutta was the daughter of Albert I, Duke of Saxony. She married king Erik in 1239, and became junior queen consort, since her husband was junior king, even though there were no senior queen at the time...
, widow of King Eric IV of Denmark
Eric IV of Denmark
Eric IV, also known as Eric Ploughpenny , was king of Denmark from 1241 until his death in 1250. He was the son of King Valdemar II of Denmark by his wife, Infanta Berengária of Portugal, and brother to King Abel and King Christopher I.-Early life:...
in her second marriage to Burchard VIII, Count of Querfurt-Rosenburg. Sophia was thus a half-sister of King Eric IV's daughters, among which were the deceased Queen Ingeborg of Norway
Ingeborg of Denmark, Queen of Norway
Ingeborg Eriksdotter was a Danish princess. She was married to King Magnus VI of Norway and was Queen consort of Norway. Later as Queen dowager, she played an important part in politics during the minority of her son King Eirik II of Norway.-Biography:Ingeborg was born the daughter of Eric IV of...
, mother of King Eric II of Norway. The marriage thus connected Eric to the king of Norway, who knighted him, and also led to a new conflict with King Eric VI, who retained his wife's inheritance from her half-sisters.
On 3 February 1296 a compromise was entered in Vordingborg
Vordingborg
Vordingborg is a municipality in Region Sjælland on the southeast coast of the island of Zealand in south Denmark. The municipality includes the island of Masnedø, and covers an area of 621 km². It has a total population of 46,600...
, in which the king promised to hand over Sophia's inheritance, but where the ducal family's properties in southern Funen, which had formerly belonged to Abel, Lord of Langeland, were kept by the king as lawfully acquired from Abel's daughter. Only the city of Rudkøbing
Rudkøbing
Rudkøbing is a town on the island of Langeland in Denmark with a population of 4,697 belonging to Langeland municipality .-References:...
was transferred to become part of the fief of Langeland, and Eric confirmed the city's rights on the same day.
Eric died in 1310. In 1315, Sophia, in the presence of the king and several noblemen, donated the inheritance of her sisters to Saint Agnes' Priory in Roskilde
Roskilde
Roskilde is the main city in Roskilde Municipality, Denmark on the island of Zealand. It is an ancient city, dating from the Viking Age and is a member of the Most Ancient European Towns Network....
, keeping only the city of Skælskør
Skælskør
Skælskør is a town in Slagelse municipality on the Danish island of Zealand. The town has a population of 6,358 . Administratively, the town is in Region Sjælland and is home to one of Denmark's largest breweries, the Harboe Brewery....
for herself.
Marriage and issue
Eric married Sophia of Querfurt, a daughter of Burchard VIII, Count of Querfurt-Rosenburg, BurgraveBurgrave
A burgrave is literally the count of a castle or fortified town. The English form is derived through the French from the German Burggraf and Dutch burg- or burch-graeve .* The title is originally equivalent to that of castellan or châtelain, meaning keeper of a castle and/or fortified town...
of Magdeburg
Magdeburg
Magdeburg , is the largest city and the capital city of the Bundesland of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Magdeburg is situated on the Elbe River and was one of the most important medieval cities of Europe....
and Jutta of Saxony
Jutta of Saxony
Jutta of Saxony was a Danish Queen consort, spouse of King Eric IV of Denmark. Jutta was the daughter of Albert I, Duke of Saxony. She married king Erik in 1239, and became junior queen consort, since her husband was junior king, even though there were no senior queen at the time...
, widow of Eric IV of Denmark
Eric IV of Denmark
Eric IV, also known as Eric Ploughpenny , was king of Denmark from 1241 until his death in 1250. He was the son of King Valdemar II of Denmark by his wife, Infanta Berengária of Portugal, and brother to King Abel and King Christopher I.-Early life:...
. The marriage was childless.