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| Image of Charles I on his reliquary in the Sint-Salvatorskathedraal, Bruges, Belgium |
He lived between 1083 and 1127 and was born in Denmark to King Canute IV who is also known as Saint Canute, and Adela of Flanders and was their only son. When he was five years old, his father was assassinated in Odense Cathedral. His mother fled to Flanders with Blessed Charles and he grew up in the royal court of that country. He and his maternal grandfather, a Count, went to the crusade in the Holy Land. When his grandfather died, he became an advisor to the next count who was his uncle. After his uncle died, Charles himself became a Count. He was known for his virtue and holiness. He was against the practice of hoarding grain and selling it at very high prices, which was common at that time. He was also opposed to the Erembald family who became very wealthy from doing this. He was killed on 2 March 1127 by soldiers loyal to the Erembald family while he was in the church praying. His manner of death was very similar to how his father also died. His death consequently caused an uprising against the Erembald family.
