Christopher of Oldenburg
Encyclopedia
Christopher of Oldenburg (Christoffer) (c. 1504 – August 4, 1566). German Count, regent in Eastern Denmark during the Count's War (or The Count's Feud) 1534–36 which was named after him.
He was the grandson of Count Gerhard of Oldenburg, a brother of King Christian I of Denmark
. As a young man he was educated a clergyman but probably because of economic problems he later on chose a military career participating in wars in Germany. He was described an "intellectual condottiere" possessing a classic Greek knowledge but apparently no great military talent.
As a grand-cousin of both Christian II
and Christian III
he took interest in Scandinavian politics. When the civil war broke out in Denmark 1534 after the death of Frederick I
Christopher, who had converted to Protestantism
, was hired by Lübeck
as the military leader of the alliance of Danish commoners, Lübeck and Protestants against Christian III and the Danish nobility. The formal purpose of this alliance was the restoration of Christian II. Christopher's own zeal seems to have been the Danish crown.
After a promising start in which he became the master of Zealand and Scania
with the title of a regent and conquered Funen he had severe setbacks and quarrelled with his allies. Furthermore Lübeck involved the Duke Albrecht of Mecklenburg
in the alliance offering him the Danish crown which created jealousy between the two war lords. Christian III's conquest of both Jutland
and Funen
and the defection of Scania meant the breakdown of Christopher's position and he was besieged in Copenhagen
1535–36 together with his rival Albrecht until their capitulation.
After his defeat he returned to Oldenburg but several times he intervened into wars and struggles in Northern Germany. Among other things, he planned an invasion in Sweden and supported the Schmalkaldic League
. During his last years he lived in a monastery.
He was the grandson of Count Gerhard of Oldenburg, a brother of King Christian I of Denmark
Christian I of Denmark
Christian I was a Danish monarch, king of Denmark , Norway and Sweden , under the Kalmar Union. In Sweden his short tenure as monarch was preceded by regents, Jöns Bengtsson Oxenstierna and Erik Axelsson Tott and succeeded by regent Kettil Karlsson Vasa...
. As a young man he was educated a clergyman but probably because of economic problems he later on chose a military career participating in wars in Germany. He was described an "intellectual condottiere" possessing a classic Greek knowledge but apparently no great military talent.
As a grand-cousin of both Christian II
Christian II of Denmark
Christian II was King of Denmark, Norway and Sweden , during the Kalmar Union.-Background:...
and Christian III
Christian III of Denmark
Christian III reigned as king of Denmark and Norway. He was the eldest son of King Frederick I and Anna of Brandenburg.-Childhood:...
he took interest in Scandinavian politics. When the civil war broke out in Denmark 1534 after the death of Frederick I
Frederick I of Denmark
Frederick I of Denmark and Norway was the King of Denmark and Norway. The name is also spelled Friedrich in German, Frederik in Danish, and Fredrik in Swedish and Norwegian...
Christopher, who had converted to Protestantism
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
, was hired by Lübeck
Lübeck
The Hanseatic City of Lübeck is the second-largest city in Schleswig-Holstein, in northern Germany, and one of the major ports of Germany. It was for several centuries the "capital" of the Hanseatic League and, because of its Brick Gothic architectural heritage, is listed by UNESCO as a World...
as the military leader of the alliance of Danish commoners, Lübeck and Protestants against Christian III and the Danish nobility. The formal purpose of this alliance was the restoration of Christian II. Christopher's own zeal seems to have been the Danish crown.
After a promising start in which he became the master of Zealand and Scania
Scania
Scania is the southernmost of the 25 traditional non-administrative provinces of Sweden, constituting a peninsula on the southern tip of the Scandinavian peninsula, and some adjacent islands. The modern administrative subdivision Skåne County is almost, but not totally, congruent with the...
with the title of a regent and conquered Funen he had severe setbacks and quarrelled with his allies. Furthermore Lübeck involved the Duke Albrecht of Mecklenburg
Mecklenburg
Mecklenburg is a historical region in northern Germany comprising the western and larger part of the federal-state Mecklenburg-Vorpommern...
in the alliance offering him the Danish crown which created jealousy between the two war lords. Christian III's conquest of both Jutland
Jutland
Jutland , historically also called Cimbria, is the name of the peninsula that juts out in Northern Europe toward the rest of Scandinavia, forming the mainland part of Denmark. It has the North Sea to its west, Kattegat and Skagerrak to its north, the Baltic Sea to its east, and the Danish–German...
and Funen
Funen
Funen , with a size of 2,984 km² , is the third-largest island of Denmark following Zealand and Vendsyssel-Thy, and the 163rd largest island of the world. Funen is located in the central part of the country and has a population of 454,358 inhabitants . The main city is Odense, connected to the...
and the defection of Scania meant the breakdown of Christopher's position and he was besieged in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
1535–36 together with his rival Albrecht until their capitulation.
After his defeat he returned to Oldenburg but several times he intervened into wars and struggles in Northern Germany. Among other things, he planned an invasion in Sweden and supported the Schmalkaldic League
Schmalkaldic League
The Schmalkaldic League was a defensive alliance of Lutheran princes within the Holy Roman Empire during the mid-16th century. Although originally started for religious motives soon after the start of the Protestant Reformation, its members eventually intended for the League to replace the Holy...
. During his last years he lived in a monastery.