List of monarchs of Denmark

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Kings of Denmark)
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Template:Short description

File:Royal Banner of Denmark (14th Century).svg
Royal Banner of the Kings of Denmark (circa 1300s).

Template:Sidebar with collapsible lists This is a list of monarchs of Denmark, that is, the kings and queen regnants of Denmark. This includes:

  • The Kingdom of Denmark (up to 1397)
  • The Kalmar Union (1397–1536)
    • Union of Denmark, Norway and Sweden (1397–1523)
    • Union of Denmark and Norway (1523–1536/1537)
  • The United Kingdoms of Denmark–Norway (1536/1537–1814)
  • The Kingdom of Denmark (1814–present)
    • Iceland (since the union between Denmark and Norway in 1380; independent kingdom in a personal union with Denmark 1918–1944; a sovereign republic since 1944)
    • Greenland (since the union between Denmark and Norway in 1380; effective Danish–Norwegian control began in 1721; integrated into the Danish Realm in 1953; internal home rule introduced 1979; self-rule assumed in 2009; Greenland has two out of 179 seats in the Danish parliament Folketinget)
    • Faroe Islands (since the union between Denmark and Norway in 1380; County of Denmark 1816–1948; internal home rule introduced 1948; The Faroe Islands have two out of 179 seats in the Danish parliament Folketinget)

The House of Oldenburg held the Danish Crown between 1448 and 1863, when it passed to the House of Glücksburg, a cadet branch of the same house, patrilineally descended from King Christian III of Denmark. The kingdom had been elective (although the eldest son or brother of the previous king was usually elected) until 1660 when it became hereditary and absolutist. Until 1864, Denmark was also united in a personal union with the duchies of Holstein and Saxe-Lauenburg (1815–1864), and in a political and personal union with the Duchy of Schleswig.

Pre-Knýtlinga Danish monarchs

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote".

File:Small Sigtrygg stone.jpg
The Sigtrygg Runestones of the "House of Olaf" was raised after king Sigtrygg by his mother. 934 AD.
File:Canut I (of Denmark).jpg
King Cnut I (Harthacnut). 17th century engraving.

The exact date of origin of the Kingdom of Denmark is not established, but names of Danish kings begins to emerge in foreign sources from the 8th century and onwards. Danish and Nordic legendary stories, chronicles and sagas often have accounts of Danish kings and dynasties stretching further back in time than the 7th century, but the historicity of the content and interpretations of these stories are often put to doubt.

  • Chochilaicus—see Hugleik and Hygelacc.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 515 AD, mentioned by Gregory of Tours (538–594).[1][2][3] Hugleik, according to the written sources, suffered a defeat in 515 during a naval expedition to the Frankish Empire. Hugleik is the first Danish king mentioned in European sources.[4]
  • Ongendus (Angantyr): c.Template:TrimScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Saint Willibrord wrote about when he visited the Danes, at the time ruled by Ongendus.[5]
  • Harald, named as former king in relating 9th-century events, perhaps model for legendary Harald Wartooth. Related to the Frisian king Redbad II who in 754 had to flee to "the land of the Danes" where King Harald reigned ("Daniae Regi Heraldi").[6]
  • Sigfred: 770s–790s
  • Gudfred: 804–810, mentioned as Danish king in the Treaty of Heiligen 811.[1] Alternate spellings: Godfred, Göttrick (German), Godric(Anglicized English), Gøtrik (Danish), Gudrød (Danish)
  • Hemming: 810–811/812 The Treaty of Heiligen was signed in 811 between the Danish King Hemming and Charlemagne.[1]
  • Sigfred, nephew of Gudfred, and Anulo (Anlaufr), grandson or nephew of Harald, fought for the throne and both were killed, perhaps model for the legendary Sigurd Hring: c.Template:TrimScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Harald Klak and his brothers Ragnfrid and Hemming Halfdansson: 812–813 and again from 819/827. From 826 he and his household lived in exile with the Frankish emperor Louis the Pious, he was baptized by the bishop of Mainz in Ingelheim am Rhein. The last reference of Harald in the written sources are in the Annals of Fulda which records his execution for treason in 852.[7]
  • Sons of Gudfred (Godrik): 814–820s
    • Horik I: (814) 827–854, King of the Danes (at first ruling jointly with his unnamed brothers). The Frankish annals mention Horik on numerous occasions during the next couple of decades.[5]
  • Horik II: 854–860s. He is believed to have been the immediate successor of Horik I, but the annals are silent about the name of the Danish king for a few years after the disaster of 854. In 857, Horik II allowed Rorik to occupy the part of the kingdom between the sea and the Eider. Horik II was still alive in 864, when a letter was addressed to him by Pope Nicholas I.[5]
  • Late 9th century kings
    • Bagsecg: c.Template:TrimScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
    • Halfdan: 871–877
    • Sigfred: c.Template:TrimScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".. It is generally assumed that he was the immediate successor of Horik II, although that is not certain. His year of succession is unknown, but it was between 864 (when Horik II was still king) and his first appearance as king in the Frankish annals in 873. Sigifrid was baptized in 882.[5]
    • Gudfred: 880s
    • Heiligo (Halga): 890s (?), described by Adam of Bremen as the immediate predecessor of the House of Olof.
  • The "House of Olaf": late 9th century and early 10th century. This dynasty is described by Adam of Bremen, and members of this claimed dynasty are commemorated by the two Sigtrygg Runestones, which represent contemporary evidence that some of these kings controlled at least part of Denmark.[8]
    • Olof, said by Adam to have come from Sweden and defeated Heiligo, taking the crown.
    • Gyrd and Gnupa, sons and joint successors of Olof, according to Adam. Gnupa is named by Widukind of Corvey as leader of the Danes in 934, and appears on the Sigtrygg Runestones. The Danish medieval annals, on the other hand, doesn't mention Gnupa at all, whereas Gyrd is stated in several of these annals as being a nephew of and successor to Olof.
    • Sigtrygg, son of Gnupa, memorialized on the Sigtrygg Runestones, presumably dating from shortly after 934.
  • Eric the Victorious of Sweden mentioned by Adam of Bremen and Saxo Grammaticus as ruling Denmark after an invasion by Sweden together with Slavic warriors. Adam of Bremen got the information from Danish king Sweyn II. The Stone of Eric also describes an attack on Hedeby from the same period. Since Eric also, according to another source of Adam of Bremen, invaded the Holy Roman Empire. It virtually requires Eric to have been the king of Denmark. Therefore two independent sources describe Eric as the king of Denmark.[9][10]

Semi-legendary kings

File:Genealogia Regum Daniæ.jpg
Genealogia Regum Daniæ.
  • Ragnar Lodbrok, a legendary king probably in the 9th century, only appears in sagas and late histories, and these accounts are wildly inconsistent. He may be a composite character, a chimera of several historical kings and Vikings.
  • Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye (da: Sigurd Orm-i-øje or Snogeøje). Mentioned by late Script error: No such module "Lang". and Ragnarssona þáttr. Said to be king of Zealand and Scania, and son of Ragnar Lodbrok. He may be inspired by late 9th century King Sigfred (above).
  • Harthacnut I (Hardeknud). According to the sagas he is son of Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye, but some historians identify him with Adam's Hardegon, Svein's son, who invaded Denmark from Northmannia and supplanted the House of Olof. He may have ruled only part of Denmark, as Adam places the commencement of his long reign between 909 and 915, while the House of Olof was still ruling at least part of Denmark as late as 934. He was father of Gorm the Old.

List of monarchs of Denmark

House of Gorm (c. 936–1042)

Template:Sticky header

House of Fairhair (1042–1047)

Name Portrait Birth Marriages Death
Magnus the Good
(Magnus den Gode)
1042–1047
File:Magnus-den-gode.jpg c.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 1024
Norway
illegitimate son of Olaf II of Norway and Alfhild
never married
one daughter
25 October 1047
Zealand
aged 23

House of Estridsen (1047–1375)

Template:Sticky header

House of Bjälbo (1376–1387)

Name Portrait Birth Marriages Death
Olaf II
(Oluf 2.)
3 May
1376 – 1387
File:Oluf 2 of Denmark (Kronborg tapestries) cropped.jpg
Non-contemporary
December 1370
Akershus Castle
only son of King Haakon VI of Norway and Sweden and Margaret I
never married 3 August 1387
Falsterbo Castle
aged 16

House of Estridsen (1387–1412)

Name Portrait Birth Marriages Death
Margaret I
(Margrete 1.)
1387–1412 (de facto)
File:Margaret of Denmark, Norway & Sweden (1389) effigy 2010 (2).jpg c.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".  1353
Søborg Castle
youngest daughter of Valdemar IV and Helvig of Schleswig
Haakon VI of Norway
9 April 1363
Church of Our Lady
one son
28 October 1412
Ship on Flensburg Fjord
aged 58–59

House of Griffin (1396–1439)

House of Wittelsbach, Palatinate-Neumarkt branch (1440–1448)

House of Oldenburg (1448–1863)

Template:Sticky header

Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg branch (1863–present)

Timeline of Danish monarchs

<timeline> ImageSize=width:1250 height:auto barincrement:12 PlotArea=top:10 bottom:30 right:130 left:20 AlignBars=justify

DateFormat=yyyy Period=from:940 till:2025 TimeAxis=orientation:horizontal ScaleMajor=unit:year increment:100 start:950 ScaleMinor=unit:year increment:25 start:950

Colors=

 id:canvas      value:rgb(1,1,1)
 id:al     value:yellow
 id:du     value:green
 id:fa     value:rgb(1,0.5,0.5)
 id:ba     value:red
 id:br     value:rgb(0.5,0.5,1)
 id:sw     value:rgb(0.85,0.35,0)
 id:su     value:orange
 id:cw     value:rgb(0.8,0.8,0.8)
 id:eon    value:Black

Backgroundcolors=canvas:canvas

BarData=

 barset:Rulers
 bar:eon

PlotData=

 align:center textcolor:black fontsize:8 mark:(line,black) width:25 shift:(0,-5)
 bar:eon color:eon
 from: 940   till:    1042   color: al   text:Gorm
 from: 1042   till:    1047   color: du   text:Fairhair
 from: 1047   till:    1375   color: fa   text:Estridsen
 from: 1376   till:    1387   color: ba   text:Bjelbo
 from: 1387   till:    1412   color: fa   text:Estridsen
 from: 1396   till:    1439   color: br   text:Pomerania
 from: 1440   till:    1448   color: cw   text:Palatinate-Neumarkt
 from: 1448   till:    1863   color: sw   text:Oldenburg
 from: 1863   till:    2025   color: su   text:Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg
 width:5 align:left fontsize:S shift:(5,-4) anchor:till
 barset:Rulers
 from: 940 till: 964 color:al text:Gorm the Old
 from: 964 till: 985 color:al text:Harald I Bluetooth
 from: 986 till: 1014 color:al text:Sweyn I Forkbeard
 from: 1014 till: 1018 color:al text:Harald II Svendsen
 from: 1018 till: 1035 color:al text:Cnut the Great
 from: 1035 till: 1042 color:al text:Harthacnut
 from: 1042 till: 1047 color:du text:Magnus the Good
 from: 1047 till: 1076 color:fa text:Sweyn II Estridsson
 from: 1076 till: 1080 color:fa text:Harald III the Soft
 from: 1080 till: 1086 color:fa text:Canute IV the Holy
 from: 1086 till: 1095 color:fa text:Olaf I Hunger
 from: 1095 till: 1103 color:fa text:Eric I Evergood
 from: 1104 till: 1134 color:fa text:Niels
 from: 1134 till: 1137 color:fa text:Eric II the Memorable
 from: 1137 till: 1146 color:fa text:Eric III Lamb
 from: 1146 till: 1157 color:fa text:Sweyn III Grathe
 from: 1146 till: 1157 color:fa text:Canute V
 from: 1154 till: 1182 color:fa text:Valdemar I the Great
 from: 1170 till: 1202 color:fa text:Canute VI
 from: 1202 till: 1241 color:fa text:Valdemar II the Victorious
 from: 1215 till: 1231 color:fa text:Valdemar the Young
 from: 1232 till: 1250 color:fa text:Eric IV Ploughpenny
 from: 1250 till: 1252 color:fa text:Abel
 from: 1252 till: 1259 color:fa text:Christopher I
 from: 1259 till: 1286 color:fa text:Eric V Klipping
 from: 1286 till: 1319 color:fa text:Eric VI Menved
 from: 1320 till: 1326 color:fa text:Christopher II
 from: 1321 till: 1326 color:fa text:Erik Christoffersen
 from: 1326 till: 1329 color:fa text:Valdemar III
 from: 1329 till: 1332 color:fa text:Christopher II (restored)
 from: 1329 till: 1331 color:fa text:Erik Christoffersen (restored)
 from: 1332 till: 1340 color:fa text:Interregnum
 from: 1340 till: 1375 color:fa text:Valdemar IV Atterdag
 from: 1376 till: 1387 color:ba text:Olaf II
 from: 1376 till: 1412 color:fa text:Margrethe I
 from: 1396 till: 1439 color:br text:Eric VII
 from: 1440 till: 1448 color:cw text:Christopher III
 from: 1448 till: 1481 color:sw text:Christian I
 from: 1481 till: 1513 color:sw text:John
 from: 1513 till: 1523 color:sw text:Christian II
 from: 1523 till: 1533 color:sw text:Frederick I
 from: 1533 till: 1534 color:sw text:Interregnum
 from: 1534 till: 1559 color:sw text:Christian III
 from: 1559 till: 1588 color:sw text:Frederick II
 from: 1588 till: 1648 color:sw text:Christian IV
 from: 1648 till: 1670 color:sw text:Frederick III
 from: 1670 till: 1699 color:sw text:Christian V
 from: 1699 till: 1730 color:sw text:Frederick IV
 from: 1730 till: 1746 color:sw text:Christian VI
 from: 1746 till: 1766 color:sw text:Frederick V
 from: 1766 till: 1808 color:sw text:Christian VII
 from: 1784 till: 1808 color:sw text:Frederick VI (as regent)
 from: 1808 till: 1839 color:sw text:Frederick VI
 from: 1839 till: 1848 color:sw text:Christian VIII
 from: 1848 till: 1863 color:sw text:Frederick VII
 from: 1863 till: 1906 color:su text:Christian IX
 from: 1906 till: 1912 color:su text:Frederik VIII
 from: 1912 till: 1947 color:su text:Christian X
 from: 1947 till: 1972 color:su text:Frederik IX
 from: 1972 till: 2024 color:su text:Margrethe II
 from: 2024 till: 2024 color:su text:Frederick X
 barset:skip

</timeline>

See also

Template:Portal bar

Notes

<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />

  1. a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  3. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  4. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  5. a b c d Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  6. Karsten Krambs: Det frisiske folk (2015 – version 1.2) (p. 8)
  7. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  9. Harrison, Dick (2009) Sveriges historia 600-1350. Stockholm: Norstedts, p. 121.
  10. Erik Segersäll Sture Bolin https://sok.riksarkivet.se/sbl/Mobil/Artikel/15407
  11. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  13. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  16. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Further reading

Script error: No such module "Navbox".

Template:Country topics