The Danish Monarchy 1319-1332
King Christoffer II
Jan 3, 2009 Julie Refnov Mortensen
During Erik Menved’s reign, his brother Christoffer fought him for the throne to no avail. Eventually Erik managed to force Christoffer out of the country and into exile. After Erik’s death, Christoffer was brought back from exile as the only natural heir to the throne.
The Reign
Since most of the country was mortgaged and pawned off, the noblemen, who controlled the land, wanted to keep the royal power weak so they could keep the land as their personal property.
They therefore forced Christoffer to sign an agreement, which would limit the power of the king greatly. Taxes were no longer to be raised upon the king’s liking and the church became independent of the kings power. No man was to be imprisoned without proven guilty of a crime and Christoffer was to pay of his brother’s debts.
Unfortunately Christoffer had no intention of keeping any of these promises. He continued to raise taxes and is described in history as an unfair king, who ruled like a tyrant and did as it pleased him. Christoffer was soon at conflict with both nobility and church.
Count Gert and Valdemar
As a result of Christoffer’s lies and tyrant leadership, the wronged noblemen rebelled. Leading them was Count Gert of Rendsburg and Count Johan of Kiel, who along with other noblemen managed to force Christoffer out of the country and drive him into exile.
Under Count Gert’s guardianship was his nephew, 10-year-old Valdemar, whom Gert succeeded in getting elected as king in 1326. It was obvious why Gert had chosen his nephew for the throne, as Valdemar was far too young to rule the country on his own. He was therefore king by name only and Gert elected regent in charge.
Christoffer lived in exile in Germany until 1329 when he was brought back to Denmark and restored as king. It was only by name however, as the kingdom of Denmark was in severe debt and many parts of the country was still mortgaged or pawned off.
It is said that the large peninsula of Jutland was mortgaged for 100.000 silver marks, which was to be paid at once or it could not be redeemed, an absolutely impossible task for the king to fulfill. King Christoffer, although king of name, became a puppet to the creditors, who claimed the country of Denmark as their personal property.
In 1332 Christoffer died a broken man and for the next eight years following his death, Denmark was without a king and seized to exist as a kingdom.
For more on the Danish Monarchy read: The Danish Monarcy-The Beginning and The Danish Monarchy 1340-1375, King Valdemar Atterdag
Sources:
www.kongehuset.dk
www.kongernesjelling.dk
www.kingsofdenmark.dk
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