Esbern Snare

In 1192, during the Crusades and after the fall of Jerusalem, he led a small group of Danish soldiers to the Holy Land.

[2][3] Esbern's mother, Lady Inge,[2] was the daughter of Eric, the Jarl of Falster [dk][4] and Princess Cecilia Knutsdatter.

He was the grandson of Skjalm Hvide and great-grandson of Canute IV of Denmark (c. 1042 – 10 July 1086), the first Danish king (1080–1086) to be canonized.

[2] His brother was Absalon (c. 1128–1201), who became a powerful warrior leader and main advisor to Danish kings, and also Bishop of Roskilde and later Archbishop of Lund.

Esbern gave a farm, Ovre (Aworthe), located in Hvidovre to Sorø Abbey around 1170, and it was later passed on to Absalon.

[2] In 1180, Esbern faced a rebellion because his brother, elected archbishop to the Roskilde see, had brought relatives into powerful positions.

[13] Esbern delivered a speech stating that the Danish people had been sliding into a period of depravity and decline, he called the crusade to Jerusalem to be of noble effort, as requested by the Pope, who was of a superior position.