Gunhilda (Knudsdottir) Salian (abt. 1020 - 1038)

Born about 1020 in England

Ancestors

Wife of Heinrich Salier — married 1036 in Nijmegen, Holy Roman Empire

Died 18 Jul 1038 at about age 18 in Italy

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Germany Project WikiTree [send private message]

Gunnhild (Knudsdottir) Salian is managed by the Germany Project. Join: Germany Project Discuss: germany

Biography

Gunhilda (also Gunhild/Gunnhilde), daughter of Knut, King of Denmark and England, and his wife Emma of Normandy, and full sister of Harthacnut was born about 1020.^[1] Her father had only been King of England since 1017 when he had wrested the country from the Anglo-Saxon kings.^[2] Emma, her mother, had previously been married to King Æthelred and had sons still in exile in Normandy. ^[3] Her father had created for himself a great northern Empire of Denmark, Norway and England and set about consolidating his position by becoming a Christian.

In 1035 Gunnhild was betrothed to Heinrich, son of the Holy Roman Emperor, Konrad II and his wife, Gisele of Schwabia. ^[4] Then on 12 November her father died at Shaftesbury and was taken to Winchester for burial. At the time Harthcnut was in Denmark and Harold Harefoot, son of Cnut by Aelfgifu of Northampton became King. He seized Emma's great treasure and Emma, presumably with Gunnhild, shut herself up in Winchester to await events. ^[5] In 1036 Gunnhild was married to Heinrich at Nijmegen, then in 1038 Heinrich and Gunnhild went to Italy where she died of the pestilence. ^[6][7]

Notes

• There is no evidence that she was ever married to Liudolph. Connection removed.

• The marriage to Haakaon Earl of Lade should also be disregarded. Probably the result of a bad merge. Haakon died about 1030 ^[8]when Gunnhild was about ten years old.

Sources

1. ↑ Cawley: Knud Svendson
2. ↑ Wikipedia: Cnut the Great
3. ↑ Wikipedia:Emma of Normandy
4. ↑ The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography: Cnut (Canute)(d. 1035)
5. ↑ The Anglo Saxon Chronicles translated and edited by Michael Swanton, Phoenix Press 1996 ISBN 1 84212 003 4: Abingdon Manuscript 1035
6. ↑ Wikipedia: Henry III, Holy Roman Emperor
7. ↑ The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography: Cnut (Canute)(d. 1035)
8. ↑ Wikipedia: Haakon Ericsson