Editing Eric II of Denmark (section)

==Early life==
Eric was born around 1090, to King [[Eric I of Denmark]] and an unknown concubine.<ref name="pajung">Stefan Pajung, [http://www.danmarkshistorien.dk/leksikon-og-kilder/vis/materiale/erik-emune-ca-1090-1137/ Erik Emune ca. 1090–1137], danmarkshistorien.dk, [[Aarhus University]], 20 January 2010</ref> He was given some Danish isles by his half-brother [[Canute Lavard]],<ref name="bricka">[[Carl Frederik Bricka|Bricka, Carl Frederik]], ''Dansk Biografisk Lexikon'', vol. IV [Clemens – Eynden], 1890, [https://runeberg.org/dbl/4/0542.html pp.540–542].</ref> and was ''[[earl|jarl]]'' of [[Møn]], [[Lolland]], and [[Falster]].<ref name="hansen">Palle Birk Hansen, [http://net.naestved.dk/875/JubilaeumsLogo/Logohistorier/Peder%20Bodilsen.aspx Forside > Jubilæumslogo > Logohistorier > Peder Bodilsen] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719130616/http://net.naestved.dk/875/JubilaeumsLogo/Logohistorier/Peder%20Bodilsen.aspx |date=2011-07-19 }}, [[Næstved Municipality]]</ref> When Lavard was murdered in 1131, Eric joined his half-brother [[Harald Kesja]] in a rebellion against the responsible king [[Niels of Denmark]].<ref name="gyldendal">[http://www.denstoredanske.dk/Danmarks_geografi_og_historie/Danmarks_historie/Danmark_f%C3%B8r_Reformationen/Erik_2._Emune Erik 2. Emune] at Gyldendals Åbne Encyklopædi</ref> Eric was elected Danish [[Antiking]] in [[Scania]] in April 1131, which prompted Kesja to support Niels in jealousy.<ref name="pajung"/>

Eric's army lost several battles against Niels and his son [[Magnus the Strong]],<ref name="gyldendal"/> including [[Jelling]] in [[Jutland]] in 1131 and [[Værbro]] on [[Zealand (Denmark)|Zealand]], and he fled to [[Scania]]. His retreat earned him the nickname ''Harefoot''.<ref name="bricka"/> Eric unsuccessfully tried to convince [[Lothair III, Holy Roman Emperor]] to support his bid for kingship,<ref name="gyldendal"/> and had no luck asking [[Magnus IV of Norway]] for help.<ref name="bricka"/> He returned to Scania in 1134, where [[Asser of Lund|Archbishop Asser of Lund]] joined his cause, and Lothair eventually supported him as well.<ref name="pajung"/> In 1134, he defeated king Niels' entire army at the [[Battle of Fotevik]] in Scania, with the crucial help of German mounted [[mercenaries]],<ref name="hansen"/> and Niels died within the year.<ref>{{cite web|url =https://runeberg.org/dbl/1/0386.html|title=   Asser, –1137, Ærkebiskop|publisher = 	Dansk biografisk Lexikon 
|access-date=September 1, 2018}}</ref>