List of monarchs of Denmark

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) Personal union of Denmark and Norway (1380–1397) 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

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 Hygelac— 515 AD, mentioned by Gregory of Tours (538–594). Ongendus (Angantyr): Saint Willibrord wrote about when he visited the Danes, at the time ruled by Ongendus. 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").Karsten Krambs: Det frisiske folk (2015 – version 1.2) (p. 8) Sigfred: 770s–790s Gudfred: 804–810, mentioned as Danish king. Alternative spellings: Godfred, Göttrick (German), Godric(Anglicized English), Gøtrik (Danish), Gudrød (Danish) Hemming: 810–812. 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: Harald Klak and his brothers Ragnfrid and Hemming Halfdansson: 812–813 and again from 819/827. From 826 he was in exile with Louis the Pious. Sons of Gudfred (Godrik): 814–820s Horik I: (814) 827–854. Horik II: 854–860s. Late 9th century kings Bagsecg: Halfdan: 871–877 Sigfred: . 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. 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. Harrison, Dick (2009) Sveriges historia 600-1350. Stockholm: Norstedts, p. 121. Erik Segersäll Sture Bolin https://sok.riksarkivet.se/sbl/Mobil/Artikel/15407

Semi-legendary kings

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 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)

NamePortraitBirthMarriagesDeath Gorm the Old(Gorm den Gamle)by c. 936 – 958/64 Non-contemporary ?son of Harthacanute I Thyrafour children 958/64 Harald I Bluetooth(Harald Blåtand)958/64–985/6 Non-contemporary 932son of Gorm the Old and Thyra (1) Gunhild(perhaps identical with Tove)(2) Tove of the ObotritesJanuary 963(3) Gyrid of Sweden[legendary] 1 November 985 (or 986 or 987)Jomsborgaged 53 Sweyn I Forkbeard(Svend Tveskæg)986–1014 Non-contemporary 17 April 963son of Tove of the Obotrites and Harald Bluetooth (1 & 2) Gunhild of Wenden and Sigrid the Haughtyeight children 3 February 1014Gainsborough, Lincolnshireaged 50 Harald II Svendsen1014–1018(?) Non-contemporary ?son of Sweyn Forkbeard and Gunhild unknown Cnut II the Great(Knud den Store)1019–1035 son of Sweyn Forkbeard and Gunhild (1) Ælfgifu of Northamptontwo children(2) Emma of Normandy2/31 July 1017three children 12 November 1035Shaftesburyaged about 40–50 Cnut III or Harthacnut III(Hardeknud)1035–1042 Non-contemporary Englandson of Cnut the Great and Emma of Normandy never married 8 June 1042Lambethaged 21–22

House of Fairhair (1042–1047) NamePortraitBirthMarriagesDeath Magnus the Good(Magnus den Gode)1042–1047 1024Norwayillegitimate son of Olaf II of Norway and Alfhild never marriedone daughter 25 October 1047Zealandaged 23

House of Estridsen (1047–1375)

NamePortraitBirthMarriagesDeath Sweyn II Estridsson(Svend Estridsen)1047–1076 1019Englandson of jarl Ulf Torgilsson and Estrid Svendsdatter (daughter of Sweyn I Forkbeard) (1) Gyda of Sweden 1048(2) Gunnhildr Sveinsdóttir 1050 28 April 1076Søderupaged 57–58 Harald III the Soft(Harald Hén)1076–1080 Non-contemporary 1040illegitimate son of Sweyn II Margareta Hasbjörnsdatterno issue 17 April 1080aged 40 Cnut IV the Holy(Knud den Hellige)1080–1086 Non-contemporary 1042illegitimate son of Sweyn II Adela of Flanders 1080three children 10 July 1086St. Alban's Prioryaged 43–44 Olaf I Hunger(Oluf Hunger)1086–1095 Non-contemporary 1050illegitimate son of Sweyn II Ingegerd of Norway 1070one daughter 18 August 1095aged 44–45 Eric I Evergood(Erik Ejegod)1095–1103 Non-contemporary 1060Slangerupillegitimate son of Sweyn II Boedil Thurgotsdatterbefore 1086one son 10 July 1103Paphos, Cyprusaged 42–43 Niels1104–1134 Non-contemporary 1065illegitimate son of Sweyn II (1) Margaret Fredkulla 1105two sons(2) Ulvhild Håkansdotter 1130no issue 25 June 1134Schleswigaged 68–69 Eric II the Memorable(Erik Emune)1134–1137 Non-contemporary 1090illegitimate son of Eric I Malmfred of Kiev 1130no issue 18 July 1137Urnehovedaged 46–47 Eric III Lamb(Erik Lam)1137–1146(abdicated) Non-contemporary 1120son of Hakon Sunnivasson and Ragnhild Eriksdatter (she was daughter of Eric I) Lutgard of Salzwedel 1144no issue 27 August 1146St. Canute's Abbeyaged 25–26 Sweyn III Grathe(Svend Grathe)1146–1157 Non-contemporary 1125 son of Eric II Adela of Meissen 1152two children 23 October 1157Grathe Heathaged 31–32 Cnut V(Knud 5.)1146–1157 1129eldest son of Magnus Nielsen and Richeza of Poland Helena of Sweden 1156no issue 9 August 1157Roskildeaged 27–28 Valdemar I the Great(Valdemar den Store)1154–1182 14 January 1131only son of Canute Lavard (who was son of Eric I) and Ingeborg of Kiev Sophia of Minsk 1157Viborg Cathedraleight children 12 May 1182Vordingborg Castleaged 51 Cnut VI(Knud 6.)1170–1202 1163eldest son of Valdemar I and Sophia of Minsk Gertrude of BavariaFebruary 1177Lund Cathedralno issue 12 November 1202aged 38–39 Valdemar II the Victorious(Valdemar Sejr)1202–1241 9 May/28 June 1170second son of Valdemar I and Sophia of Minsk (1) Dagmar of Bohemia 1205Lübeckone son(2) Berengaria of Portugal18/24 May 1214four children 28 March 1241Vordingborg Castleaged 70 Valdemar the Young ("Valdemar III") (Valdemar den Unge)1215–1231 1209only son of Valdemar II and Dagmar of Bohemia Eleanor of Portugal24 June 1229Ribe Cathedralone child 28 November 1231Refsnæsaged 21–22 Eric IV Ploughpenny(Erik Plovpenning)1232–1250 1216eldest son of Valdemar II and Berengaria of Portugal Jutta of Saxony17 November 1239six children 9 August 1250on the Schleiaged 33–34 Abel1 November1250 – 1252 Non-contemporary 1218second son of Valdemar II and Berengaria of Portugal Matilda of Holstein25 April 1237Schleswig Cathedralfour children 29 June 1252Eiderstedtaged 33–34 Christopher I(Christoffer 1.)25 December1252 – 1259 Non-contemporary 1219third son of Valdemar II and Berengaria of Portugal Margaret Sambiria 1248five children 29 May 1259Ribeaged 39–40 Eric V Klipping(Erik Klipping)1259–1286 1249eldest son of Christopher I and Margaret Sambiria Agnes of Brandenburg11 November 1273Schleswig Cathedralseven children 22 November 1286Finderupaged 36–37 Eric VI Menved(Erik Menved)1286–1319  1274eldest son of Eric V and Agnes of Brandenburg Ingeborg of SwedenJune 1296Kärnan Castlefourteen children 13 November 1319Roskildeaged 44–45 Christopher II(Christoffer 2.)25 January1320 – 1326(deposed) 29 September 1276second son of Eric V and Agnes of Brandenburg Euphemia of Pomerania 1300six children 2 August 1332Nykøbing Castleaged 55 Eric(Erik Christoffersen)1321–1326(deposed) 1307eldest son of Christopher II and Euphemia of Pomerania Elizabeth of Holstein-Rendsburg1330no issue early 1332aged approximately 25 Valdemar III(Valdemar 3.)1326–1329(deposed) Non-contemporary 1314only son of Eric II, Duke of Schleswig and Adelaide of Holstein-Rendsburg Richardis of Schwerintwo sons 1364aged 49–50 Christopher II(Christoffer 2.)1329–1332(restored) 29 September 1276second son of Eric V and Agnes of Brandenburg Euphemia of Pomerania 1300six children 2 August 1332Nykøbing Castleaged 55 Eric(Erik Christoffersen)1329–1331/32 1307eldest son of Christopher II and Euphemia of Pomerania Elizabeth of Holstein-Rendsburg1330no issue late 1331 or early 1332aged approximately 25 Interregnum (1332–1340) Valdemar IV Atterdag(Valdemar Atterdag)21 June1340 – 1375 1320third son of Christopher II and Euphemia of Pomerania Helvig of Schleswig 1340Sønderborg Castlesix children 24 October 1375Gurre Castleaged 54–55

House of Bjälbo (1376–1387)