Canute, Lawrence, Saint, Martyr

CANUTO, LAWARD, saint, martyr. - B. in 1096, d. in 1131; son of the Danish king Erik Ejegod, he fought the Wends before and after his appointment as count or duke (according to German usage) of Schleswig in 1125. His ability and energy in government won him, in 1129, imperial recognition as protector of the Wends. Upon the death of Queen Margherita Fredkulla he lost all support at the Danish court; and King Nils and his son Magno, fearing that he might advance claims to the crown of Denmark, had him barbarously assassinated on 7 Jan. 1131. The occurrence of miracles at his tomb caused him to be regarded as a martyr. Canonized in 1169, he was declared patron of Sjaelland. Already in some ancient necrologies and later in the Martirolgio romano this Saint was confused with the martyr of the same name, Canuto IV; thus this canonized Saint does not appear in the Martirolgio.