The saying is that it's good to be king. It was not, however, always healthy. In mediaeval times, perhaps nine out of ten rulers were murdered, many by members of their own families. Above: The conspirators ride away from Finderup Barn after having murdered King Erik Glipping of Denmark on 22 November 1286. Nine nobles were accused of the crime and convicted in absentia as they fled to Norway and later helped the king of that country in raids on their native land. Several members of the group built castle strongholds on small Danish islets from where they raided, plundered and terrorized the countryside, burning towns and cities to the ground. Return to Index of "Brief Histories"