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Eric IV of Denmark

Type Figure Region Denmark Time 1216–1250 Also known as Eric Plovpenning

Eric IV of Denmark (1216–1250) was King of Denmark, eldest son of Valdemar II, acceding in 1241, nicknamed 'Plovpenning' (Plough Penny) for his curre…

Timeline

  1. 1241–1245Copenhagen · ZealandHe acceded after his father Valdemar II died in 1241, as the legitimate heir of the Valdemar dynasty. Early on he devoted himself to tidying up finances and strengthening royal power, granting the Estonian fief to his brother Christopher while remaining wary of his brother Abel, who held the Duchy of Schleswig.
  2. 1245–1250Roskilde · ZealandTo cover war and court expenses he carried out currency reform, minting new plough-shaped silver coins and increasing taxes on the church and nobility, hence his nickname 'Plovpenning'. This aroused strong dissatisfaction from the archbishop and regional magnates; conflicts with his brother Abel and the Counts of Holstein sharpened, and the kingdom fell into internal division.
  3. 1250Schleswig · Schleswig-HolsteinOn 10 August 1250 Eric IV was murdered by nobles near Schleswig, traditionally linked to Abel and Holstein factions. The king died without heirs and was succeeded by his brother Abel, beginning a brief period of brothers succeeding one another on the Danish throne.

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