Valdemar IV of Denmark
Encyclopedia
Valdemar IV of Denmark or Waldemar (c. 1320 – 24 October 1375); (the epithet
meaning "A New Dawn"), was King of Denmark
from 1340 to 1375.
and spent most of his childhood and youth in exile at the court of Louis IV, Holy Roman Emperor
in Bavaria
after the defeats of his father. Here he acted as a pretender
waiting for a comeback.
Following the assassination of Count Gerhard III
by Niels Ebbesen
and his brothers, Valdemar was proclaimed King of Denmark at the Viborg Assembly (landsting) on St Hans Day, 21, June 1340 led by Niels Ebbesen
. By his marriage with Helvig
, the daughter of Eric II, Duke of Schleswig
and what was left to him by his father, he controlled about one quarter of the territory of Jutland
north of the Kongeå
river. He was not compelled to sign a charter as his father had done, probably because Denmark had been without a king for years, and no one expected the twenty year old king to be any more trouble to the great nobles than his father had been. But Valdemar was a clever and determined man and realized that the only way to rule Denmark was to get control of its territory. Ebbesen attempted to liberate central Jutland from the Holstein
ers at the siege of Sønderborg Castle
on 2 November 1340, but Ebbesen and his brothers were killed.
Valdemar next set his sights on Zealand. The bishop of Roskilde
, who owned Copenhagen Castle
and town, gave both to Valdemar providing a secure base from which to gather taxes on trade through the Sound. He was the first Danish king to rule Copenhagen
, a possession of the Bishop of Roskilde. Valdemar was able to capture or buy other castles and fortresses until he could force the Holsteiners out. When he ran out of money, he took Kalundborg
and Søborg Castle
s by force. While in the midst of that campaign, he went to Estonia
to negotiate with the Teutonic Knights
who controlled Estonia. Danes had never migrated there in any numbers, and so for 19,000 marks Valdemar gave up Denmark's eastern province which allowed him to pay off mortgages of parts of Denmark which were more important to him.
Around 1346 Valdemar IV initiated a crusade against Lithuania
. Franciscan chronicler Detmar von Lübeck noted that Valdemar IV traveled to Lübeck
in 1346, then turned to Prussia
together with Erich II of Saxony
in order to fight the Lithuanians
. However, the crusade against the Lithuanians came to nothing, instead Valdemar went on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem (without Papal permission). He succeeded and was made a Knight of the Holy Sepulchre
in honor of his accomplishment. He was censured by Pope Clement VI
for not getting prior approval for such a journey.
Upon his return, Valdemar gathered an army and proceeded to take back Vordingborg Castle
, the Holsteiners main headquarters, in 1346. By the end of the year, Valdemar could claim all of Zealand as his own. He made Vordingborg
his personal residence and expanded the castle and built the Goose Tower which has become the symbol of the town. Valdemar's reputation for ruthlessness against those who opposed him made many think carefully about switching sides. His tax policy crushed the peasants who feared to do anything but pay up. By 1347 Valdemar had thrown out the Germans and once again Denmark was a nation.
With his increased income, Valdemar was able to pay for a larger army and by treachery came into possession of Nyborg
Castle and eastern Funen
Island and the smaller islands. Valdemar's attention had just turned to Skåne
which was still under the control of the king of Sweden when disaster struck the entire region.
(then known as the "Black Death") arrived unexpectedly. Tradition has it that plague came to Denmark on a ghost ship that beached itself on the coast of northern Jutland. Those who went aboard found the dead swollen and black faced, but stayed long enough to take everything of value from it and thereby introduced the fleas that carried the disease into the population. People began to die by the thousands. During the next two years plague swept through Denmark like a forest fire. In Ribe
twelve parishes ceased to exist in a single diocese. A few towns simply died with no one left alive. The general figures for plague in 1349–50 ranges between 33% and 66% of the people of Denmark. City dwellers were often harder hit than farm folk leading many people to abandon towns altogether. Valdemar remained untouched and took advantage of the deaths of his enemies to add to his growing lands and properties. He refused to reduce the taxes the following year though fewer peasants farmed less land. Nobles, too, felt their incomes shrink and the tax burdens fell heavier on them as well. Uprisings flared up in the following years.
and worked out a peace settlement among the parties. The terms of the charter said that the Danehof was to meet at least once a year on St. John's Day, 21 June. The old system established in 1282 was reinstated and everyone's rights reverted to the traditional ones from before Christopher II's charter which gutted the powers of the king. Valdemar responded by raising an army and march through southern Jutland taking still more pieces of the lands that German counts had pried away form Denmark in the previous years. Rebellion spread quickly through Funen and he ravaged the Holsteiner's remaining territories and took the rest of the island. The charter proved to be useless when the king ignored the terms and the sporadic rebellions continued. That same year there was a monetary crisis which caused panic all over northern Europe.
There is a famous poem about Valdemar's mistress, Tove, who was killed on the orders of Queen Helvig, though that particular story saga originally seems to be connected with his ancestor Valdemar I of Denmark
.
In 1358 Valdemar went back to Funen to try to reconcile with Niels Bugge and several other nobles and two bishops. The king refused to meet their terms, so they left the meeting in disgust. When they reached the town of Middelfart
to find a ship to carry them over to Jutland, the fishermen they hired to transport them, murdered them. King Valdemar was blamed and the restive people of Jutland came out in open rebellion once again. They agreed to support each other in their fight to restore the rights the king once again had abrogated.
Valdemar turned once again to Skåne which still lay under Swedish rule. Prince Erik of Sweden
had rebelled against his father, King Magnus III of Sweden
, taking Skåne and other parts of Sweden. King Magnus turned to Valdemar for help promising to give him Helsingborg Castle
if Valdemar would assist in putting down Erik's rebellion. Erik suddenly died and King Magnus tried to renege on his promise. Valdemar couldn't accept such an arrangement. He crossed the Sound with an army and forced Magnus to give up Helsingborg in 1360. WIth the taking of Helsingborg, Valdemar for all intents regained Skåne. Magnus wasn't strong enough to hold Skåne, so it passed back to Danish control. Valdemar was proclaimed Lord of Halland, Blekinge
, and Skåne.
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What Valdemar could do little about was the increasing power of the Hanseatic League
which had already become a major power in the region. Even before the conclusion of the small conflict with King Magnus, Valedemar decided to attack the Swedish island of Gotland
, specifically the town of Visby
which Valdemar hated because he had heard that they sang songs to mock him. He raised an army loaded on ships and invaded Gotland in 1361. Valdemar fought the Gotlanders and defeated them in front of the city killing 1800 men. The city surrendered, and Valdemar tore down part of the wall to make his entry. Once in possession, he set up three huge beer barrels and informed the city fathers that if the barrels weren't filled with silver and gold within three days, he would turn his men loose to pillage the town. To Valdemar's surprise the barrels were filled before nightfall of the first day passed. The churches were stripped of their valuables and the riches were loaded on Danish ships and carried home to Vordingborg, Valdemar's residence. Valdemar added "King of Gotland" to his title list. But his action against Visby, a member of the Hanseatic League
, would have dire consequences later.
Valdemar tried to interfere with the succession in Sweden by capturing Countess Elizabet who was to marry Crown Prince Håkon of Sweden
. She was forced into a nunnery and Valdemar convinced King Magnus that his son should marry Valdemar's daughter, Margrethe
. The king agreed, but the nobles did not and forced Magnus to abdicate. They elected Albrecht of Mecklenburg
, one of Valdemar's sworn enemies, as King of Sweden. Albrecht immediately went to work to stop Valdemar in his tracks. He persuaded the Hansa states to work with him because Valdemar threatened their access through the Sound and to the lucrative herring
trade. Valdemar attacked the Hansa fleet trying force them out of the Sound fishing grounds. The Hansa member states demanded action. With Lübeck
in the lead they wrote to Valdemar complaining about his interference with trade. He dismissed their complaints as the "mewling of cats". In 1362 the Hansa states, Sweden, and Norway ganged up on Valdemar to teach him a lesson. The Hansa sent a fleet and an army to ravage the coasts of Denmark, and they succeeded in capturing and pillaging Copenhagen and parts of Skåne. Combined with the rebellious nobles on Jutland, they forced Valdemar out of Denmark at Easter in 1368. He appointed his friend and advisor Henning Podebusk
to negotiate with the Hanseatic League in his absence. They agreed to a truce so long as Valdemar acknowledged their right to free trade and fishing rights in the Sound. They took control of several towns on the coast of Skåne and the fortress at Helsingborg for 15 years. They also forced the king to grant the Hanseatic League a say in Denmark's succession after Valdemar's death. Valdemar was forced to sign the Treaty of Stralsund in 1370 which acknowledged Hansa rights to participate in the herring trade and tax exemptions for its trading fleet. The king was able to return to Denmark after an absence of four years. Valdemar received Gotland, however, so even in defeat he was able to salvage something for himself and Denmark.
who agreed to excommunicate rebellious Danes. But before anything along those lines was done, Valdemar died at Gurre Castle
in north Zealand on 24 October 1375. Valdemar was buried at Sorø Abbey
in 1375. When Podebusk died, he was buried next to Valdemar at Sorø Abbey.
(prime minister) from 1365 to 1388.
Valdemar IV is often regarded as one of the most important of all Danish medieval kings. The sources give the impression of an intelligent, cynical, reckless and clever Machiavellian ruler with a talent for both politics and economy. His grandson Albert
by his eldest daughter Ingeborg
was offered unsuccessfully by his grandfather Albert II, Duke of Mecklenburg as Valdemar's successor. Instead his grandson Olaf II
, the offspring of his daughter Margaret
and Haakon VI of Norway
, son of Magnus II of Sweden, was elected as his successor.
His nickname "Atterdag" is usually interpreted as "day again" (its literal meaning in Danish), indicating that he brought new hope to the realm after a dark period of bad kingship. The epithet has also been suggested as a misinterpretation of the Middle Low German
phrase "ter tage" ("these days"), which can best be interpreted as "what times we live in!"
Many stories, ballads, and poems have been made about Valdemar. He was "reinvented' as one of the Danish hero kings during the mid-19th century when Denmark was fighting Germany for its traditional southern Jutland region.
, who he married in 1340;
Epithet
An epithet or byname is a descriptive term accompanying or occurring in place of a name and having entered common usage. It has various shades of meaning when applied to seemingly real or fictitious people, divinities, objects, and binomial nomenclature. It is also a descriptive title...
meaning "A New Dawn"), was King of Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
from 1340 to 1375.
Ascension to the throne
He was the youngest son of Christopher IIChristopher II of Denmark
Christopher II was king of Denmark from 1320 to 1326 and again from 1329 until his death. He was son of Eric V. His name is connected with national disaster, as his rule ended in an almost total dissolution of the Danish state.-Biography:Being the brother of King Eric VI, Christopher was a...
and spent most of his childhood and youth in exile at the court of Louis IV, Holy Roman Emperor
Louis IV, Holy Roman Emperor
Louis IV , called the Bavarian, of the house of Wittelsbach, was the King of Germany from 1314, the King of Italy from 1327 and the Holy Roman Emperor from 1328....
in Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
after the defeats of his father. Here he acted as a pretender
Pretender
A pretender is one who claims entitlement to an unavailable position of honour or rank. Most often it refers to a former monarch, or descendant thereof, whose throne is occupied or claimed by a rival, or has been abolished....
waiting for a comeback.
Following the assassination of Count Gerhard III
Gerhard III
Gerhard III of Holstein . Sometimes called “Gerhard the Great”. In Denmark also known as “Count Gert” or “den kullede greve” . A German prince who was the ruler of most part of Denmark during the Interregnum 1332–1340.His father was Henry I of Schauenburg and Holstein-Rendsburg...
by Niels Ebbesen
Niels Ebbesen
Niels Ebbesen was a Danish squire and national hero, known for his killing of Count Gerhard III.Little is known of Ebbesen's background. He seems to have belonged to the Jutlandish gentry...
and his brothers, Valdemar was proclaimed King of Denmark at the Viborg Assembly (landsting) on St Hans Day, 21, June 1340 led by Niels Ebbesen
Niels Ebbesen
Niels Ebbesen was a Danish squire and national hero, known for his killing of Count Gerhard III.Little is known of Ebbesen's background. He seems to have belonged to the Jutlandish gentry...
. By his marriage with Helvig
Hedwig of Schleswig
Helvig of Schleswig was a Danish Queen consort, spouse of King Valdemar IV of Denmark. She was the mother of Queen Margaret I of Denmark, Norway and Sweden.- Biography :...
, the daughter of Eric II, Duke of Schleswig
Eric II, Duke of Schleswig
Eric II Valdemarsøn was Duke of Schleswig from 1312 until his death in 1325. He was the only son of Valdemar IV, Duke of Schleswig.-Early life:...
and what was left to him by his father, he controlled about one quarter of the territory of 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...
north of the Kongeå
Kongeå
The river Kongeå defines the border between North and South Jutland in Jutland in Denmark.In 1864-1920 it was the border between Denmark and Germany....
river. He was not compelled to sign a charter as his father had done, probably because Denmark had been without a king for years, and no one expected the twenty year old king to be any more trouble to the great nobles than his father had been. But Valdemar was a clever and determined man and realized that the only way to rule Denmark was to get control of its territory. Ebbesen attempted to liberate central Jutland from the Holstein
Holstein
Holstein is the region between the rivers Elbe and Eider. It is part of Schleswig-Holstein, the northernmost state of Germany....
ers at the siege of Sønderborg Castle
Sønderborg Castle
Sønderborg Castle is located in the town of Sønderborg, Denmark on the island of Als in South Jutland. It houses a museum focusing on the history and culture of the area. The castle is located in the middle of the town, in a park setting overlooking Als Fjord...
on 2 November 1340, but Ebbesen and his brothers were killed.
Mortgage of Denmark
Under Christopher II, Denmark went bankrupt and was mortgaged out in parcels. Valdemar sought to repay the debt and reclaim the lands of Denmark. The first opportunity came with the money Helvig brought with her into the marriage. The mortgage on the rest of northern Jutland was paid off by taxes collected from Valdemar's peasants above the Kongeå. He was able to get North Friesland back in 1344, which he immediately taxed to pay off the debt on southern Jutland, 7000 silver marks. The over-taxed peasants grew restive under the constant demands for money.Valdemar next set his sights on Zealand. The bishop of Roskilde
Roskilde
Roskilde is the main city in Roskilde Municipality, Denmark on the island of Zealand. It is an ancient city, dating from the Viking Age and is a member of the Most Ancient European Towns Network....
, who owned Copenhagen Castle
Copenhagen Castle
Copenhagen Castle was a castle on Slotsholmen in Copenhagen, Denmark, built in the late 14th century at the site of the current Christiansborg Palace....
and town, gave both to Valdemar providing a secure base from which to gather taxes on trade through the Sound. He was the first Danish king to rule 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...
, a possession of the Bishop of Roskilde. Valdemar was able to capture or buy other castles and fortresses until he could force the Holsteiners out. When he ran out of money, he took Kalundborg
Kalundborg
Kalundborg is a city with a population of 16,434 in Kalundborg municipality in Denmark and the site of its municipal council. Kalundborg is on the main island Zealand, with Copenhagen, but opposite on the far western edge....
and Søborg Castle
Søborg Castle
Søborg Castle , in its heyday, was the strongest castle in Denmark ,and was also used as a prison . It was inhabited until the Count's Feud in 1535, when it is speculated that it was destroyed...
s by force. While in the midst of that campaign, he went to Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
to negotiate with the Teutonic Knights
Teutonic Knights
The Order of Brothers of the German House of Saint Mary in Jerusalem , commonly the Teutonic Order , is a German medieval military order, in modern times a purely religious Catholic order...
who controlled Estonia. Danes had never migrated there in any numbers, and so for 19,000 marks Valdemar gave up Denmark's eastern province which allowed him to pay off mortgages of parts of Denmark which were more important to him.
Around 1346 Valdemar IV initiated a crusade against Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
. Franciscan chronicler Detmar von Lübeck noted that Valdemar IV traveled to 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...
in 1346, then turned to Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
together with Erich II of Saxony
Eric II, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg
Eric II of Saxe-Lauenburg was a son of Duke Eric I of Saxe-Lauenburg and Elisabeth of Pomerania , daughter of Bogislaw IV, Duke of Pomerania...
in order to fight the Lithuanians
Lithuanians
Lithuanians are the Baltic ethnic group native to Lithuania, where they number around 2,765,600 people. Another million or more make up the Lithuanian diaspora, largely found in countries such as the United States, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Russia, United Kingdom and Ireland. Their native language...
. However, the crusade against the Lithuanians came to nothing, instead Valdemar went on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem (without Papal permission). He succeeded and was made a Knight of the Holy Sepulchre
Order of the Holy Sepulchre
The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem is a Roman Catholic order of knighthood under the protection of the pope. It traces its roots to Duke Godfrey of Bouillon, principal leader of the First Crusade...
in honor of his accomplishment. He was censured by Pope Clement VI
Pope Clement VI
Pope Clement VI , bornPierre Roger, the fourth of the Avignon Popes, was pope from May 1342 until his death in December of 1352...
for not getting prior approval for such a journey.
Upon his return, Valdemar gathered an army and proceeded to take back Vordingborg Castle
Vordingborg Castle
The Vordingborg Castle ruins are located in the town of Vordingborg, Denmark and are the town's most famous attraction.-History:...
, the Holsteiners main headquarters, in 1346. By the end of the year, Valdemar could claim all of Zealand as his own. He made Vordingborg
Vordingborg
Vordingborg is a municipality in Region Sjælland on the southeast coast of the island of Zealand in south Denmark. The municipality includes the island of Masnedø, and covers an area of 621 km². It has a total population of 46,600...
his personal residence and expanded the castle and built the Goose Tower which has become the symbol of the town. Valdemar's reputation for ruthlessness against those who opposed him made many think carefully about switching sides. His tax policy crushed the peasants who feared to do anything but pay up. By 1347 Valdemar had thrown out the Germans and once again Denmark was a nation.
With his increased income, Valdemar was able to pay for a larger army and by treachery came into possession of Nyborg
Nyborg
Nyborg is a city in central Denmark, located in Nyborg Municipality on the island of Funen and with a population of 16,492 . Nyborg is one of the 14 large municipalities created on 1 January 2007...
Castle and eastern 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...
Island and the smaller islands. Valdemar's attention had just turned to Skåne
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...
which was still under the control of the king of Sweden when disaster struck the entire region.
The plague
In 1349 Bubonic PlagueBubonic plague
Plague is a deadly infectious disease that is caused by the enterobacteria Yersinia pestis, named after the French-Swiss bacteriologist Alexandre Yersin. Primarily carried by rodents and spread to humans via fleas, the disease is notorious throughout history, due to the unrivaled scale of death...
(then known as the "Black Death") arrived unexpectedly. Tradition has it that plague came to Denmark on a ghost ship that beached itself on the coast of northern Jutland. Those who went aboard found the dead swollen and black faced, but stayed long enough to take everything of value from it and thereby introduced the fleas that carried the disease into the population. People began to die by the thousands. During the next two years plague swept through Denmark like a forest fire. In Ribe
Ribe
Ribe , the oldest extant Danish town, is in southwest Jutland and has a population of 8,192 . Until 1 January 2007, it was the seat of both the surrounding municipality, and county...
twelve parishes ceased to exist in a single diocese. A few towns simply died with no one left alive. The general figures for plague in 1349–50 ranges between 33% and 66% of the people of Denmark. City dwellers were often harder hit than farm folk leading many people to abandon towns altogether. Valdemar remained untouched and took advantage of the deaths of his enemies to add to his growing lands and properties. He refused to reduce the taxes the following year though fewer peasants farmed less land. Nobles, too, felt their incomes shrink and the tax burdens fell heavier on them as well. Uprisings flared up in the following years.
The final pieces
In 1354 the King and nobles met together as the DanehofDanehof
Danehof was the name of the Danish medieval parliament which played a certain role between c. 1250 and 1413.The precondition of the Danehof – like that of the Håndfæstning - was the growing power and opposition among the Danish magnates after 1250. They wanted limitations of the royal power,...
and worked out a peace settlement among the parties. The terms of the charter said that the Danehof was to meet at least once a year on St. John's Day, 21 June. The old system established in 1282 was reinstated and everyone's rights reverted to the traditional ones from before Christopher II's charter which gutted the powers of the king. Valdemar responded by raising an army and march through southern Jutland taking still more pieces of the lands that German counts had pried away form Denmark in the previous years. Rebellion spread quickly through Funen and he ravaged the Holsteiner's remaining territories and took the rest of the island. The charter proved to be useless when the king ignored the terms and the sporadic rebellions continued. That same year there was a monetary crisis which caused panic all over northern Europe.
There is a famous poem about Valdemar's mistress, Tove, who was killed on the orders of Queen Helvig, though that particular story saga originally seems to be connected with his ancestor Valdemar I of Denmark
Valdemar I of Denmark
Valdemar I of Denmark , also known as Valdemar the Great, was King of Denmark from 1157 until 1182.-Biography:...
.
In 1358 Valdemar went back to Funen to try to reconcile with Niels Bugge and several other nobles and two bishops. The king refused to meet their terms, so they left the meeting in disgust. When they reached the town of Middelfart
Middelfart
Middelfart is a town in central Denmark, with a population of 14,781 . The town is the municipal seat of Middelfart municipality on the island of Funen .-Overview:The Middelfart municipality has a population of 37,701 people as of 2011...
to find a ship to carry them over to Jutland, the fishermen they hired to transport them, murdered them. King Valdemar was blamed and the restive people of Jutland came out in open rebellion once again. They agreed to support each other in their fight to restore the rights the king once again had abrogated.
Valdemar turned once again to Skåne which still lay under Swedish rule. Prince Erik of Sweden
Eric, Duke of Södermanland
Eric Magnusson was a Swedish prince, Duke of Svealand, Södermanland, Dalsland, Västergötland, Värmland and North Halland and heir to the throne of Sweden. He was the father of King Magnus who became king of both Norway and Sweden.-Background:...
had rebelled against his father, King Magnus III of Sweden
Magnus III of Sweden
Magnus III Ladulås of Sweden, Swedish: Magnus Birgersson or Magnus Ladulås was King of Sweden from 1275 until his death in 1290....
, taking Skåne and other parts of Sweden. King Magnus turned to Valdemar for help promising to give him Helsingborg Castle
Kärnan
Kärnan is a medieval tower in Helsingborg, Scania, in southern Sweden. It is the only part remaining of a larger Danish fortress which, along with the fortress Kronborg on the opposite of Oresund, controlled the entranceway to the Baltic Sea.-History:...
if Valdemar would assist in putting down Erik's rebellion. Erik suddenly died and King Magnus tried to renege on his promise. Valdemar couldn't accept such an arrangement. He crossed the Sound with an army and forced Magnus to give up Helsingborg in 1360. WIth the taking of Helsingborg, Valdemar for all intents regained Skåne. Magnus wasn't strong enough to hold Skåne, so it passed back to Danish control. Valdemar was proclaimed Lord of Halland, Blekinge
Blekinge
' is one of the traditional provinces of Sweden , situated in the south of the country. It borders Småland, Scania and the Baltic Sea.The name "Blekinge" comes from the adjective bleke, which corresponds to the nautical term for "dead calm"....
, and Skåne.
Foreign policy after 1360
Hanseatic League
The Hanseatic League was an economic alliance of trading cities and their merchant guilds that dominated trade along the coast of Northern Europe...
which had already become a major power in the region. Even before the conclusion of the small conflict with King Magnus, Valedemar decided to attack the Swedish island of Gotland
Gotland
Gotland is a county, province, municipality and diocese of Sweden; it is Sweden's largest island and the largest island in the Baltic Sea. At 3,140 square kilometers in area, the region makes up less than one percent of Sweden's total land area...
, specifically the town of Visby
Visby
-See also:* Battle of Visby* Gotland University College* List of governors of Gotland County-External links:* - Visby*...
which Valdemar hated because he had heard that they sang songs to mock him. He raised an army loaded on ships and invaded Gotland in 1361. Valdemar fought the Gotlanders and defeated them in front of the city killing 1800 men. The city surrendered, and Valdemar tore down part of the wall to make his entry. Once in possession, he set up three huge beer barrels and informed the city fathers that if the barrels weren't filled with silver and gold within three days, he would turn his men loose to pillage the town. To Valdemar's surprise the barrels were filled before nightfall of the first day passed. The churches were stripped of their valuables and the riches were loaded on Danish ships and carried home to Vordingborg, Valdemar's residence. Valdemar added "King of Gotland" to his title list. But his action against Visby, a member of the Hanseatic League
Hanseatic League
The Hanseatic League was an economic alliance of trading cities and their merchant guilds that dominated trade along the coast of Northern Europe...
, would have dire consequences later.
Valdemar tried to interfere with the succession in Sweden by capturing Countess Elizabet who was to marry Crown Prince Håkon of Sweden
Haakon VI of Norway
Haakon VI of Norway was King of Norway from 1343 until his death and King of Sweden from 1362 until 1364, when he was deposed by Albert of Mecklenburg in Sweden.-Background:...
. She was forced into a nunnery and Valdemar convinced King Magnus that his son should marry Valdemar's daughter, Margrethe
Margaret I of Denmark
Margaret I was Queen of Denmark, Norway and Sweden and founder of the Kalmar Union, which united the Scandinavian countries for over a century. Although she acted as queen regnant, the laws of contemporary Danish succession denied her formal queenship. Her title in Denmark was derived from her...
. The king agreed, but the nobles did not and forced Magnus to abdicate. They elected Albrecht of Mecklenburg
Albert of Sweden
Albert was King of Sweden from 1364 to 1389 and Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin from 1384 to 1412.-Background:...
, one of Valdemar's sworn enemies, as King of Sweden. Albrecht immediately went to work to stop Valdemar in his tracks. He persuaded the Hansa states to work with him because Valdemar threatened their access through the Sound and to the lucrative herring
Herring
Herring is an oily fish of the genus Clupea, found in the shallow, temperate waters of the North Pacific and the North Atlantic oceans, including the Baltic Sea. Three species of Clupea are recognized. The main taxa, the Atlantic herring and the Pacific herring may each be divided into subspecies...
trade. Valdemar attacked the Hansa fleet trying force them out of the Sound fishing grounds. The Hansa member states demanded action. With 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...
in the lead they wrote to Valdemar complaining about his interference with trade. He dismissed their complaints as the "mewling of cats". In 1362 the Hansa states, Sweden, and Norway ganged up on Valdemar to teach him a lesson. The Hansa sent a fleet and an army to ravage the coasts of Denmark, and they succeeded in capturing and pillaging Copenhagen and parts of Skåne. Combined with the rebellious nobles on Jutland, they forced Valdemar out of Denmark at Easter in 1368. He appointed his friend and advisor Henning Podebusk
Henning Podebusk
Henning Podebusk was a German-Slavic statesman, the last drost of Denmark, who died . He served under King Valdemar IV, King Oluf II, and Queen Margaret I, and he was the de facto ruler of Denmark from 1368 to 1370. Podebusk, whose personal character is unknown, is now considered one of the most...
to negotiate with the Hanseatic League in his absence. They agreed to a truce so long as Valdemar acknowledged their right to free trade and fishing rights in the Sound. They took control of several towns on the coast of Skåne and the fortress at Helsingborg for 15 years. They also forced the king to grant the Hanseatic League a say in Denmark's succession after Valdemar's death. Valdemar was forced to sign the Treaty of Stralsund in 1370 which acknowledged Hansa rights to participate in the herring trade and tax exemptions for its trading fleet. The king was able to return to Denmark after an absence of four years. Valdemar received Gotland, however, so even in defeat he was able to salvage something for himself and Denmark.
Death
Even while dealing with the Hansa states, Valdemar was trying to suppress rebellious nobles who tried to assert the rights they had forced Valdemar's father to concede, and fight the Swedes and Norgwegians. He was in the process of taking gradual control of southern Jutland when he fell ill. Valdemar enlisted the help of Pope Gregory XIPope Gregory XI
Gregory XI was pope from 1370 until his death.-Biography:He was born Pierre Roger de Beaufort, in Maumont, in the modern commune of Rosiers-d'Égletons, Limousin around 1336. He succeeded Pope Urban V in 1370, and was pope until 1378...
who agreed to excommunicate rebellious Danes. But before anything along those lines was done, Valdemar died at Gurre Castle
Gurre Castle
Gurre Castle was a royal castle in North Zealand in Denmark which lies on the outskirts of Helsingør towards the town of Tikøb on the lake at Gurre . The castle, now a ruin, was built in the 12th century and added 4 towers and a perimeter wall in the 1350s; it was excavated in the 19th century and...
in north Zealand on 24 October 1375. Valdemar was buried at Sorø Abbey
Sorø Abbey
Sorø Abbey was the preeminent and wealthiest monastic house in all of Denmark during the Middle Ages. It was located in the town of Sorø in central Zealand.- History :...
in 1375. When Podebusk died, he was buried next to Valdemar at Sorø Abbey.
Legacy
King Valdemar was a pivotal figure in Danish history; he gradually reacquired the lost territories that had been added to Denmark over the centuries. His heavy handed methods, endless taxation, and usurpation of rights long held by noble families led to uprisings throughout Valdemar's reign. His attempt to recreate Denmark as a power in northern Europe was welcomed by the Danes in the beginning, but Valdemar's policies met with bitter opposition by the great landed families of Jutland. He expanded the powers of the king based upon his military prowess and the loyal nobility that became the foundation of Danish rulers until 1440. Many foreigners were appointed as court officials and councillors. The most important of them was the German-Slavic nobleman Henning Podebusk who was drostDrost
Seneschal of the Realm, Riksdrots , Rigsdrost , or Valtakunnandrotsi is a Danish and Swedish name of a supreme state official, with at least a connotation to administration of judiciary, who in medieval Scandinavia was often a leader in the government.The word drots/drost...
(prime minister) from 1365 to 1388.
Valdemar IV is often regarded as one of the most important of all Danish medieval kings. The sources give the impression of an intelligent, cynical, reckless and clever Machiavellian ruler with a talent for both politics and economy. His grandson Albert
Albert IV, Duke of Mecklenburg
Albert IV, Duke of Mecklenburg was co-regent of Mecklenburg from 1383 to 1388. He was the son of the Duke Henry III of Mecklenburg and Ingeborg of Denmark....
by his eldest daughter Ingeborg
Ingeborg of Denmark, Duchess of Mecklenburg
Ingeborg of Denmark was the eldest surviving daughter of Valdemar IV of Denmark and his wife Helvig of Schleswig. By marriage she was Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, although she died before her husband's succeed her father-in-law...
was offered unsuccessfully by his grandfather Albert II, Duke of Mecklenburg as Valdemar's successor. Instead his grandson Olaf II
Olaf II of Denmark
Olaf Haraldsen was a Danish anti-king who ruled Scania for a few years from 1139. He never won control over the rest of Denmark, and he is not included in the list of Danish monarchs used by the Danish monarchy or Den Store Danske Encyklopædi...
, the offspring of his daughter Margaret
Margaret I of Denmark
Margaret I was Queen of Denmark, Norway and Sweden and founder of the Kalmar Union, which united the Scandinavian countries for over a century. Although she acted as queen regnant, the laws of contemporary Danish succession denied her formal queenship. Her title in Denmark was derived from her...
and Haakon VI of Norway
Haakon VI of Norway
Haakon VI of Norway was King of Norway from 1343 until his death and King of Sweden from 1362 until 1364, when he was deposed by Albert of Mecklenburg in Sweden.-Background:...
, son of Magnus II of Sweden, was elected as his successor.
His nickname "Atterdag" is usually interpreted as "day again" (its literal meaning in Danish), indicating that he brought new hope to the realm after a dark period of bad kingship. The epithet has also been suggested as a misinterpretation of the Middle Low German
Middle Low German
Middle Low German is a language that is the descendant of Old Saxon and is the ancestor of modern Low German. It served as the international lingua franca of the Hanseatic League...
phrase "ter tage" ("these days"), which can best be interpreted as "what times we live in!"
Many stories, ballads, and poems have been made about Valdemar. He was "reinvented' as one of the Danish hero kings during the mid-19th century when Denmark was fighting Germany for its traditional southern Jutland region.
Issue
With his wife Hedwig of SchleswigHedwig of Schleswig
Helvig of Schleswig was a Danish Queen consort, spouse of King Valdemar IV of Denmark. She was the mother of Queen Margaret I of Denmark, Norway and Sweden.- Biography :...
, who he married in 1340;
- Christopher, Duke of Lolland (1344–1363)
- Margaret (1345–1350); betrothed to Henry III, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
- IngeborgIngeborg of Denmark, Duchess of MecklenburgIngeborg of Denmark was the eldest surviving daughter of Valdemar IV of Denmark and his wife Helvig of Schleswig. By marriage she was Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, although she died before her husband's succeed her father-in-law...
(1347–1370); married Henry III, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, and was the maternal grandmother of King Eric VII of DenmarkEric of PomeraniaEric of Pomerania KG was King Eric III of Norway Norwegian Eirik, King Eric VII of Denmark , and as Eric King of Sweden... - Catherine (1349); died young
- Valdemar (1350); died young
- Margaret I of DenmarkMargaret I of DenmarkMargaret I was Queen of Denmark, Norway and Sweden and founder of the Kalmar Union, which united the Scandinavian countries for over a century. Although she acted as queen regnant, the laws of contemporary Danish succession denied her formal queenship. Her title in Denmark was derived from her...
(1353–1412)