Niels of Aarhus was a Danish prince, the illegitimate son of King Canute V, who chose to live an ascetic life. Rather than remaining at the royal court, he moved to the village of Skibby near Aarhus to build a church and assist the local population. He is remembered for his piety and for a spring that reportedly appeared following his prayers. Although he was never formally canonized, he was venerated as a saint in the Aarhus region for several centuries.