Saint Knud

Also known as

• Canute
• Canute IV
• Canutus
• Cnut
• Knud IV
• Knut
• Knute

Memorial

• 19 January
• 13 January (Sweden and Finland)

Profile

Illegimate son of King Sweyn Estrithson of Denmark. Nephew of King Knud of England. King of Denmark as Knud IV c.1080. Married to Adela, sister of Count Roberts of Flanders (in modern Belgium. He spread the gospel through his kingdom, supported missionaries, and built churches. Tried and failed to conquer England to press his claim to the throne which he saw as his through his kinship to his uncle, King Knud. Following his defeat, he fled to the island of Fünen. Murdered with his brother and 17 followers while kneeling at an altar immediately following confession. Miracles reported at his tomb.

Died

• murdered in 1086 in the church of Saint Alban on the island of Fünen, Denmark

Canonized

• 1101 by Pope Paschal II

Patronage

• Denmark

Prayers

• Prayer to Saint Knud

Representation

• Nordic king with royal insignia, dagger, lance or arrow
• barefoot king with his hair in a fillet
• with Saint Charles Borromeo
• being murdered at the altar

Additional Information

• Book of Saints, by the Monks of Ramsgate
• Catholic Encyclopedia
• Catholic Online
• Katherine Rabenstein
• Lives of the Saints, by Father Alban Butler
• Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints
• Pictorial Lives of the Saints
• Wikipedia

MLA Citation

• “Saint Knud“. Saints.SQPN.com. 18 January 2013. Web. 21 May 2013. <>