 Recent excavations have shown that from the early 11th century , the town developed in the area around Albani Torv , Fisketorvet , Overgade and Vestergade . By 1070 , Odense had already grown into a city of stature in Denmark . Canute IV of Denmark , generally considered to be the last Viking king , was murdered by unruly peasants , discontent with the high taxes he imposed on the town , in Odense 's St Alban 's Priory on 10 July 1086 . He was canonized in 1100 . The priory no longer exists , although a church has been situated on the site since about 900 . At the beginning of the 12th century , Benedictine monks from England founded St Canute 's Abbey . It was here the English monk Ælnoth wrote Denmark 's first literary work , Vita et Passio S. Canuti ( The Life and Passion of St Canute ) . Canute 's shrine in Odense Cathedral ( which was attached to the priory ) attracted pilgrims throughout the Middle Ages . 
