DENMARK
Lions and Hearts
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Erik II, the Memorable |
1134-1137 |
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Ericus, rex Danorum. 1140 Petersen 4a-b Seal of Majesty. The
king with crown, sceptre and orb Counterseal:
Equestrian seal of invisible charge on the shield |
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Canute V |
1146-1157 |
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as
co-regent in shifting alliances with Sweyn
III and Valdemar
I. Canute was
killed at the so-called Bloodfeast of Roskilde in 1157.
Bracteate with
crowned kings’ bust L.: CANUT REX |
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Svend III |
1146-1157 |
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Sven (Sweyn)
III Grathe (ca. 1125 -
1157) was king of Denmark between 1146 and 1157. He served as a co-regent with
Canute V of Denmark from 1152 until 1154 and again 1157. Sweyn was the
illegitimate son of Erik II Emune and a mistress. At the abdication of Eric
III in 1146 Sweyn was elected a king on Zealand but for the next years he had
to fight against his rival Canute V who ruled in Jutland. Sweyn participated
in the Wendish Crusade of 1147. An Imperial German intervention made Sweyn
“first king” with Canute as a co-ruler but Sweyn's position was undermined by
his alleged tyrant manners and pro-German behaviour. 1154 he was overthrown
by a co-operation between Canute and Valdemar I of Denmark, the latter having
until then been his supporter. After some years of exile Sweyn was 1157 by
German military help able to force through a tripartition of the kingdom making
himself the ruler of Scania. At a banquet
(the so-called Bloodfeast at Roskilde) 1157 Sweyn is said to have
tried to put his two co-rulers out of the way. Canute was killed, Valdemar
escaped to Jutland and on 23 October Sweyn was defeated at the Battle of
Grathe Heath (hence his nickname) and was killed during his escape.
DENMARK. Svend III
Grathe, Knud V, and Valdemar I den Store (the Great). 1146-1157. AR
Breacteate (15 mm, 0.16 g). Mint in Nørrejylland (Northern Jutland). Two
helmeted, confronted busts in stylized ship, each holding sword over
shoulder; annulets above / Incuse of obverse. Hauberg 1; Hauberg Collection
1434 = Hede III, 75. Good VF, toned, slightly ragged flan. Rare. Vassal of Frederick Barbarossa, 1152. |
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Valdemar I the Great Canute VI |
1157-1182 co regent 1165-1182 |
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Canute VI |
1182-1202 |
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Seal and counterseal of Canute VI, ca 1190, Petersen 5a-b Seal of Majesty: The King on his throne with
crown, sword and orb L.: (completed): kanutus dei gracia danorum sclauorum que rex. Arms: Strewn with hearts, three lions
passant guardant Legend: …………q rex. |
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Valdemar II the
Victorious Valdemar the Younger Erik IV Ploughpenny |
*1170-†1241 King 1202-1241 *1209-†1231 co regent 1215-1231 co regent 1232-1241 |
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Equestrian seal of Waldemar II, 1203 Petersen
6 Arms: (strewn with hearts) three lions passant,
in his left hand the staff of a banner L.: [..MINVS NORThA...]
Seal and counterseal of Waldemar II, 1216 Petersen
7b Arms: Strewn with hearts three lions
passant. L.: X CLIPEVS W ...... GIS DANORVM . Seal and counterseal of Waldemar II, 1230 Petersen
9b Arms: Strewn with hearts three lions passant guardant L.: X CLIPEV....DEMAR :RE |
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Erik IV, Ploughpenny |
*1216-†1250 co regent t 1232-1241 King 1241-1250 |
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Seal and counterseal of Erik IV, 1232 Petersen
10b Arms: Strewn with hearts, three lions passant (co-regent) L.: S : DE....A : DANOR[V]M : SCL[AVORV]M q” :
R[EG...]
Seal and counterseal of Erik IV, 1241 Petersen
11b Arms: Strewn with hearts, three lions
passant L.: X CLIPEVS : ERICII : DANORVM
[:SCLAVOR]VM ::q’ :: R[EG]IS
Eric Plovpenning, Sct. Bendts
Kirke, Ringsted |
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Abel |
*1218-†1252 Duke of Jutland King 1250-1252 |
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Seal and counterseal, 1250 Petersen
12b Arms: Strewn with hearts, three lions
passant L.: CLIPE[VS ..........SCLAVORVM
q’ REG]IS |
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Christopher I |
1252-1259 |
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Seal and counterseal 1253 Petersen
15b Arms: Strewn with hearts, three lions
passant guardant L.: [†CLIPE ...] SCLAVORVM q’ REGIS |
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Erik V Klipping |
1259-1286 |
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Representation of
a King ~1260 alias St. Canute Mural painting in Dädesjö church (Växjö)
Walford's Roll
(1275), 12: Le
roy de Hungrey, d'or estenzelé a trois leons passans d'azure. That is.: The King of Hungary, Or
scintillated, three lions passant Azure. Camden Roll
(1280) D. 15:
Le rey de Denemarche, l'escu de goules od treis haches d'or.
Seal and counterseal, 1283 Petersen
19b Arms: Strewn with hearts, three lions
passant guardant L.: † CLIPEVS : ERICII . DANORVM
. SCLAVORVM: q’. REGIS |
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Erik VI, Menved |
1286-1319 |
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Seal and
counterseal, of Erik VI, 1288 Petersen
21b Arms: Strewn with hearts, three crowned
lions passant guardant, between two eagles L.: † CLIPEVS :
ERICII . DANORVM . SCLAVORVM: q’. REGIS |
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Seal and
counterseal 1290 Petersen
22b Arms: Strewn with hearts, three lions
passant guardant L.: X CLIPEVS ERICII DAN[ORVM SCLAVORVM q´ R]EGIS
King Erik
Menved was buried in St. Bend’s church in Ringsted next to his queen
Ingeborg. Over their grave was a brass plate, truly royal ornamented,
and almost three meters in length. |
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Christopher II |
*1276-†1332 1st term 1320-1326 |
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Brother of preceding
Seal of Christoforus, son of Erik V Clipping 1293 Petersen 28 Helmet with
crest of ox horns set with peacock feathers L.: [† S'] KRISTOFORI,
ERICI : REGIS DA[NORVM] F ILII. (Christopher,
son of king Eric (V Clipping))
Seal and counterseal of
Christoffer II, 1320-1330 Petersen
30a-30b 30 a King in majesty between wo lions sejant. In base a lin
couchant L.: X
CRISTO[FO]RVS - DEI - GRA- DANORVM - SCLAVOR'-q-
REX. 30b
Counterseal: Crested Helmet. X GALGA : CRISTOFORI - DEI
GRA- DANOR' - SCLAVORV Q'- REGIS. |
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Erik Christoffersen |
*1307-†1332 co-regent 1st term 1321-1326 |
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Eric Christoffersen (~1307 – ~1332) was king of
Denmark from 1321 until his death, jointly with his father, King Christopher
II. He was a member of the House of Estridsen. Eric was
the eldest son of King Christopher II and Euphemia of Pomerania. In 1321, he
was elected king and crowned in alongside his father as his junior co-ruler
in 15 August 1324. In 1325, his father asked him to
halt the Counts of Holstein and their allies, but was deserted by his troops,
taken prisoner and confined in Haderslev Castle. His father was forced to
abdicate and go into exile, while the 12-year-old Duke Valdemar of Southern
Jutland was made
king of Denmark under the regent, Count Gerhard III of Holstein. After a period of
chaos in the "magnates’ republic" of Denmark, King Christopher was
restored as a puppet
monarch in 1329
through the help of his half-brother Count John III |
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Valdemar III of
Schleswig |
*~1314-†1364 Duke of Schleswig 1325-1326 King of Denmark
1326-1329 Duke of Schleswig
1330-1364 |
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Valdemar III (1314–1364) was a king of Denmark from 1326 to
1329 briefly when underage, as well as in 1325–26 and from 1330 to 1364 Duke
of Schleswig as Valdemar V. He was a rival king set up against the
unsuccessful Christopher II and was widely opposed by his many subjects. His
term was ended when he abdicated. Sometimes the earlier king Valdemar the
Young is called Valdemar III instead. Biography Valdemar's father was Duke Eric II of Schleswig and his mother was
Adelaide, daughter of Henry I of Rendsborg. When his distant kinsman and the head of the rival royal branch
Christopher II of Denmark was exiled from his kingdom, the Holsteiner and
Danish high nobles got to choose a new king. Their choice fell to 11-year old
Duke Valdemar V of Schleswig, who was the head of the branch descended from
king Abel of Denmark. Due to his young age, his maternal uncle, the mighty
Count Gerhard of Rendsborg (Gerhard III of Holstein) who also was the biggest
pawnholder of mortgaged Denmark, was appointed as the Regent and guardian (“grev Gert” or “Den kullede Greve”). Valdemar's ascension promissory was at least as strict as Christopher's
had been. There were some new stipulations, such as all royal castles in
Scania should be demolished, and all nobles received the right to fortify
their homesteads. The most important agreement however was so-called
Constitutio Valdemariana that promised that in the future, the same person
could never be both ruler of Slesvig and Denmark simultaneously. Valdemar accordingly gave up his patrimony, Schleswig, and entfeoffed it
to his uncle and guardian, whereby the first Holsteinian became a Duke:
Gerhard, Duke of Jutland (or Southern Jutland or Schleswig). Denmark was now held totally by certain nobles, in practice. That was not
popular among peasants. A portion of the nobles were foreigners, and many set
up new taxes. In 1328, peasants in Zealand rose to rebellion, which though
was quelled. In 1329, was Jutland's turn to rebel. They had a better success,
but were also quelled in the end. Finally, count Gerhard gave up in the name
of his king, and in 1329 Christopher II was allowed to return to the throne.
Valdemar became again Duke of Schleswig. In 1340, he gave his only sister Helvig of Schleswig to marriage with
Valdemar IV, the new king of Denmark. During the rest of his rule he led a
changeable policy towards Denmark by which war alternated with co-operation. Valdemar died in 1364. He was married to Richardis of Schwerin (died
1384), daughter of Count Günzelin VI of Schwerin-Wittenburg. They had two
sons, Valdemar (1338–1360) and Henry (1342–1375). Henry succeeded as Duke of
Schleswig when his father died.
Seal of Waldemar III By E Rondahl (1858-1914) – From: Danmarks Riges Historie, vol. 2 edited
by Kr. Erslev
(1852-1930).
Armorial Bellenville
fol. 4v The arms of
Denmark (Valdemar IV, 1340-1375) and the arms of Schleswig: strewn
with hearts (Valdemar III/ V). (1330-1364) In the right-hand corner a representation of the
arms of the Holy Roman Empire. |
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Christopher II |
1320-1332 2nd term 1330-1332 |
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Erik Christoffersen |
Co-regent 2nd term
1330-1332 |
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Photo H.d.V. 2017 Crested arms of Erik
Christofferson On the folding table of
Lüneburg, 1330 ca from the ducal castle on the Kalkberg. Museum Lüneburg Arms: Or, three lions passant Azure Crest: On lambrequines Azure and Or, two ox horns set with
peacock-feathers proper. Eric was released in 1330, on the condition
he married Elizabeth of Holstein-Rendsburg, dowager duchess of Saxe-Lauenburg
and sister of his father's enemy, Count Gerhard III, by whom he had no
children. The marriage was dissolved the next year as war again erupted
between his father and Count John III and his brother-in-law Gerhard III. He predeceased his father, fighting in the
battles, which subsequently broke out between his father and Holstein. In 30
November 1331, Eric was defeated at the battle at Danevirke, but managed to
escape to Kiel, where he died of his battle wounds, a few months afterward,
either in late 1331 or early 1332. Eric was buried at Sorø Abbey, later his
remains were transported to the St. Bendt's Church. Upon his father's death
in the same year, Denmark ceased being a formal kingdom, and for the next
eight years it was subdued by various mortgagees to German military rule. His
younger brother would later regain Denmark from the Holsteiners and succeed
as Valdemar IV of Denmark. |
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Interregnum 1332-1340 |
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Valdemar IV Atterdag |
*1320-†1375 King of Denmark
1340-1375 Duke of Estonia
1344-1346 |
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Arms and Crested Arms 1333-1343 Petersen
35-36 35 Otto, (brother of Erik, ~*1310-†1346) dei gracia
Danorum domicellus, Estonia et Lalandie dux. (Lord of Estonia and Laalandia) Arms: Three lions passant L: X SECRETV OTTONIS DEI GRA6 DOMICEL ...... RVM. D.: 1333 10.06 36 Woldemar (IV), (brother
of Erik) van der gnade gods des hochgeborn fursten konig Cristoffers sun von
Denemarken. (King
Christoffers’son) Arms: Three lions passant Crest: Bulls horsn set with peacock-feathers L.: X 'SECRETV-WALDEMARI - DEI-
GRA - DOMICELLI - DANOR D.: 1340, 1341, 1343
Crest of Waldemar IV, 1346 Letter of Waldemar IV. ( Reg. Archief Zutphen (NL))
Gelre fol. 55v
n° 548. (Bergshammer n° 3292:
as with Gelre) 1364 Arms: Or, strewn with hearts
Gules, three lions passant guardanr
Azure. Crest: On a helmet lamrequined a pair of horns
ermine set with four little discs Gules sete wit peacock-feathers
proper. L.: Die conīc vā Denemarcke. And a
representation of the Danebrog:
Gules, a cross Argent |
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King Valdemar Atterdag of Denmark (1340-’75) On a fresco in St.
Peter’s Church in Naestved, painted shortly after his death. The date reads: X anno milleno tercio septuageno quinto (1375) Valdemar
Atterdag represented on a limestone painting in Sankt Peders Church in
Næstved. The fresco was created shortly after the king's death in 1375, later
over-calcified and rediscovered at the end of the 19th century. Parts of the
painting have been reconstructed, especially the three lions in the coat of
arms are 19th century reconstructions based on the same king’s seal. On this fresco the
hearts from the arms are on the purple tunic of the king. The lambrequines
are strewn with black hearts instead of being ermine which is quite
unusual. Arms: Or, three lions passant guardant Azure. Crest: On a crowned helmet lambrequine Argent strewn with
hearts Sabel, a pair of ox-horns set with peacock-feathers The arms strewn
with hearts was borne by his father Waldemar III, deposed in 1330 and since
then Duke of Schleswig (†1364) |
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House of Pomerania |
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Erik VII of
Pomerania |
*1382-†1459 King of Denmark 1396-1439 |
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Erik VII was a a si-dau-so of Margareta)
Photo H.d.V.
08.1993 Choir stalls of Roskilde Cathedral Arms of Erik VII
*1382-†1459 Arms: Three crowned lions passant
guardant. Crest: a crowned helmet and two
buffalo’s horns set with peacock-feathers.
Arms: Or, three lion guardant Azure,
crowned and clawed Gules Crest: On a helmet labrequined Azure, a
crown Or and two buffalo’s horns ermine set with peacocks feathers proper. L.: denemerken. (Bergshammer n° 4) |
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Christian I |
1448-1481 |
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From Grünebergs Wappenbuch, 1483 (n° 42) With and early representation of the collar
of the Order of the Elephant founded
by Christian I |
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Interregnum |
1481-1483 |
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Hans |
1483-1513 |
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Rei Ÿ d Ÿ Danemarche Livro do Almeiro Mor, (20) 1506, |
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Christian II |
*1481-†1559 1513-1523 King of Sweden 1520-1521 164th knight of the Fleece, Barcelona 1519 deposed 1523 |
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Arms:
¼ Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Wenden (the field Azure). Over alles
heen een wit kruis met rode rand. H.: ¼ 1&4 Schleswig; 2. Holstein; 3. Stormarn. H. Oldenburg.
(Trespassé) Also on his seal Pet. n 98. Royal arms in the Knight´s Hall of
Rosenborg. Castle Kopenhagen. |
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The arms
of the kingdom of Denmark are: Gules, a cross Argent. As a flag it is called
the Dannabrog. Square crosses
are common all over christian Europe, in connection with Denmark they are
known from the 11th century.
1016
1042
1046 A white
cross on red was used, among others, by Charles the Good of Flanders
(1119-1127), by the German and Roman King Henry VII and by the Order of St. John
(1259). King Rudolf of Habsburg (1273-'91) also used red banner with a white
cross. From 1285 a white cross on a red field were the arms of the Counts of
Savoy.[1]
The banner of Henry VI Red, a golden
square cross [2] The banner in the
hands of the ensign is the banner of the Eastern Roman Empire. A banner with
a white cross on a yellow field of the same shape is represented on an other
leaf. A banner with a red
medallion charged with a square cross is preserved in Bamberg.
The Banner preserved in Bamberg Bayerische
Staatsbibliothek, München, Hss
Cod.icon. 391, Fol.86 The inscription reads: Der fan zu Bamberg den man holdt fur
den rechten fannen des hailligen riters und martterers sand Jörgen Hingegen
andere wollen den Ursprung auf des Bambergischen Bisthums fundation
referieren, welche von dem Römischen Kayser Heinrich dem Anderen zu Anfang
des XI. Seculi ſecundum Cruſium Annal: Suev. p. 2: l. 6; c. 2. p.
176. beſchehen indeme neben andern Reliquien die Fahne des Ritter St.
Jörgens dahin verehrt worden, wie ſie dann von solche Zeit an ſecundùm
Bruſchiu de Epiſcop. Germ apud Limnæ. cix d. l. n. 35. zu Bamberg solle verwahret worden
seyn. [3] ....By some however the banner is ascribed to
Henry II (1014-‘24) but it may date as well from the time of king Henry VII
(1222-‘35). |
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The banner of the Order of St. John and of he
Templars At the battle of Gaza, 1239
(by Matthew Paris) |
Seal of
Jan van Zierik, bishop of Utrecht.
1291 The arms are
Gules a cross Argent |
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Resurrection of Christ Psalterium, about
1335 Stiftsbibliothek
Engelberg, CH
During the rule of Waldemar IV the arms and flag of the realm
of Denmark in the form of a square cross were designed
Seal and counterseal, 1356 Petersen 41 a.b. A Arms:
Strewn with roses, a cross edged, charged with roses and their tendrils, in the quarters WAL DE MA RVS B Arms:
Chequered per bend sinister, each diamond charged with a rose and a bend
sinister, inscribed TYL DANALOGh. between two bendlets set with roses.
Seal and counterseal 1367 Petersen 42a-b 42a Waldemarus, dei gracia Danorum sclavorvm
gotorum que rex. Arms: Strewn with stars and crosses, WALDE MARVS IIII
REX square cross
charged with nine crowns Counterseal: Arms: Strewn with crosslets a listel
inscribed TIL DANELOGh
per bend Date: 1367.05.23 |
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In two 14th century Armorials the white cross
on a red field is described within a danish context:
The arms of the duke of Schleswig and of the Holy
Roma Empire in the Armorial Bellenville (1330-1364)
The banner of the kingdom in the Armorial of Gelre
(1340-1375) This is the oldest
representation of the Imperial flag in a danish context and the origin of the
Dannabrog |
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Achievement, 1369 Petersen 60 Emblem:
Square cross Crown: A royal crown Supporters: D.: Lion S.: Griffin L: [signetu erici dei gra re] gis
et ducis pom et c. In 1378 the arms of the parts of the Empire
of Emperor Charles IV (1346/’55-1378) are described in the Augsburg Chronicle (1368-1406)
reporting his funeral: Darnach fürt man den fan des haligen richs, ain wizz crütz mit ainem langen zagel in ainem
rotten feld (The
banner of the Holy Empire: Red, a
white cross). Ten years after the
imperial funeral queen Margarete used a seal ad causas figuring the cross of the Empire charged with a crown
for difference:
Seal of Margarete
ad causas, 1388-01-21 Petersen 54 Rimmed
cross charged with a crown L.: sigillum
regni dacie ad causas Thes arms mean: A queen/king
of the Holy Roman Empire
Seal of Erik ad
causas 1399-1436 Petersen 63 Arms: Rimmed cross charged with an escutcheon of
three crowned ions passant guardant L.: X sigillu erici Ÿ dei
gracia regis Ÿ danorum ad causas These arms mean: The king of Denmark of the Holy Roman Empire. In the 15th century the cross became an integral part of the royal
arms until th present day. At first it was straight and reaching to the
bottom of the first four quarters. From the end of the 17th century it is a
rimmed cross patée reachting to the bottom of the shield (see below).
Nowadays it is strait again
The cross on the royal
arms from Christian V until 1972 after: Poul Bredo Grandjean, Tavle II [4] The
Dannabrog itself was adopted officially by Christian IV in 1625. At the time
the Holy Roman Empire was replaced by the German Nation of the Holy Roman
Empire. Therefore Denmark is cosidered here as a remnant of the H.R.E. and
not a part of the G.N.H.R.E.
Flags on danish ships at the
Battle of Køge Bay (1677)
Ensign and flag of Christian V (1670-1699) From: Dankertsz,
1700 ca [5] In 1748
the flag was officially described Forordning om Coffardi-Skibes og Commis-Farernes samt de octrojerede Compagniers Skibes Flag og Giøs, samt Vimpeler og Fløie. 11 juni 1748 1. Det danske Coffardi-Flag skal være rødt
med hvidt Kors uden Split; Og skal, naar Flagets Brede ved Stangen sættes som
Basis og Grund for Proportionen, det hvide Kors være 1/7 af Flagets Brede ved
Stangen; De 2de agterste røde Qvarterer være en lige Fiirkant, og de forreste
røde Qvarterer være 6/4 af de agterste Fiirkanter. 2. Coffardie-Fløien skal være uden Split af
een Couleur, eller med et hvidt Kors; I Længden fra 2 til 5 Alen, efter
Fartøjets Beskaffenhed, og Breden 1/16 af Længden. 6. Alle Kongens egne Coffardie-Skibe skal
føre Coffardie-Flaget fra Campagnen, men fra Bogspydet en Konge-Giøs, og fra
Toppen Konge-Fløie; og alle andre Undersaatternes Coffardie-Skibe alene
Coffardie-Flag fra Campagnen, og fra Toppene Coffardie-Fløie. 9. Alle Flagmagere og Skippere skal rette
sig efter denne Fr., og ingen Flage, Giøs, Vimpler eller Fløie, uden efter
foranførte Proportion, enten forfærdige eller lade forfærdige, eller paa
Coffardie-Skibene uden efter denne Fr. føre, alt under Straf efter Fr. om
Vimpel-Føringen 17 Febr. 1741, som herved igientages; og skal med Angivelse,
Processer og Bødernes Inddrivelse denne Fr. angaaende i alle Maader
forholdes, som i Fr. om Vimpel-Føringen er anordnet. The elongated cross reflects the
use as maritime flag in the 18th century. The flag became popular as national flag in the early 19th century.
Its private use was outlawed in 1834, and again permitted in a regulation of
1854. The flag holds the world record of being the oldest
continuously used national flag
From: Admiralty, Drawings of Flags, 1915 |
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From: Flags of All Nations. London 1955 |
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to Part 3 |
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© Hubert de Vries
Heraldry of the World