List of Danish monarchs
This is a list of
Danish monarchs, that is, the Kings and ruling Queen of
Denmark, including
Regents of the
Kalmar Union. This includes:
* The Kingdom of Denmark (up to
1396)
**
Personal union of Denmark and Norway (
1380-
1396)
** The Kalmar Union (
1397-
1536)
***Kings of Denmark claiming (sometimes successfully) the Crown of
Sweden (
1397-
1523)
***Kings of Denmark claiming (mostly successfully) the Crown of
Norway (
1397-
1536)
* The Kingdom of
Denmark-Norway (
1536-
1814)
* The Kingdom of Denmark (
1814 to present)
** With
Iceland (since the union between
Denmark and
Norway in
1387. Independent in a personal union with Denmark
1918-
1944. Independent republic since
1944)
** With
Greenland (since the union between
Denmark and
Norway in
1387. Effective Danish control began in
1721).
** With the
Faroe Islands (since the union between
Denmark and
Norway in
1387)
Gorm the Old's father Harthacnut is the first Danish monarch who is definitely established as a "real" person. All reigns before him are dubious. Denmark has one of the longest running unbroken lines of succession in the world, second only to that of the
Japanese emperors.
The house of
Oldenburg held the Danish Crown between
1448 and
1863, when it passed to the house of
Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg. The kingdom had been elective until
1660, and until
1864 it was also united in personal union with the duchies of
Schleswig and
Holstein. Danish name forms are given in parenthesis.
List of Danish monarchs
Prior to House of Harthacnut
See Legendary Danish kings.
=This house has been recorded by
Adam of Bremen through
Sweyn Estridson, who claimed that its founder was a Swede. As far as
Sigtrygg Gnupasson is concerned his existence has been confirmed by two runestones. However, Danish historians prefer to start the line of Danish kings with the first ethnically Danish kings.
*late
9th century:
Olof the Brash*late
9th century and early
10th century:
Gyrd and Gnupa*
10th century:
Sigtrygg GnupassonHouse of Harthacnut
*
917?-
948? :
Harthacnut (Hardeknud)
*
948?-
958? :
Gorm the Old (Gorm den Gamle)
*
958 or
959-
986? :
Harold Bluetooth (Harald Blåtand)
*
986?-
1014 :
Sweyn I Forkbeard (Svend Tveskæg)
*
1014-
1018 :
Harold II (Harald II Svendsen)
*
1018-
1035 :
Canute the Great (Knud II den Store)
*
1035-
1042 :
Canute the Hardy (Knud III Hardeknud)
*
1042-
1047 :
Magnus I (Magnus den Gode)
House of Sweyn Estridson
This house appears to have been a branch of the
Swedish House of Munsö, as Sweyn's father was
Ulf Jarl, who was the son of
Thorgils Sprakalägg, the son of the desinherited Swedish prince
Styrbjörn the Strong. Sweyn had Danish Royal Blood in him through his mother, a daughter of Sweyn I.
*
1047-
1076 :
Sweyn Estridson (Svend II Estridsen)
*
1076-
1080 :
Harald III (Harald III Hen)
*
1080-
1086 :
Canute the Saint (Knud IV den Hellige)
*
1086-
1095 :
Olaf I (Oluf I Hunger)
*
1095-
1103 :
Eric I (Erik I Ejegod)
*
1104-
1134 :
Niels*
1134-
1137 :
Eric II (Erik II Emune)
*
1137-
1146 :
Eric III (Erik III Lam)
*
1146-
1157 :
Sweyn III (Svend III Grathe),
Canute V (Knud V) and
Valdemar the Great (Valdemar I den Store)
*
1157-
1182 :
Valdemar I,
the Great (Valdemar I den Store)
*
1182-
1202 :
Canute VI (Knud VI)
*
1202-
1241 :
Valdemar II,
the Victorious (Valdemar II Sejr)
*
1241-
1250 :
Eric IV (Erik IV Plovpenning)
*
1250-
1252 :
Abel (Abel)
*
1252-
1259 :
Christopher I (Christoffer I)
*
1259-
1286 :
Eric V (Erik V Glipping)
*
1286-
1320 :
Eric VI (Erik VI Menved)
*
1320-
1326 :
Christopher II (Christoffer II)
*
1326-
1329 :
Valdemar III (Valdemar III)
*
1329-
1332 :
Christopher II (Christoffer II)
*
1332-
1340 : (nobody) (Interregnum)
*
1340-
1376 :
Valdemar Atterdag (Valdemar IV Atterdag)
*
1376-
1387 :
Olaf III (Oluf III)
*
1387-
1412 :
Margaret I (Margrete I)
*
1412-
1439 :
Eric of Pomerania (Erik VII af Pommern)
*
1440-
1448 :
Christopher III (Christoffer III af Bayern)
*
1448-
1481 :
Christian I (Christian I)
*
1481-
1513 :
John (Hans)
*
1513-
1523 :
Christian II (Christian II)
*
1523-
1533 :
Frederick I (Frederik I)
*
1534-
1559 :
Christian III (Christian III)
*
1559-
1588 :
Frederick II (Frederik II)
*
1588-
1648 :
Christian IV (Christian IV)
*
1648-
1670 :
Frederick III (Frederik III)
*
1670-
1699 :
Christian V (Christian V)
*
1699-
1730 :
Frederick IV (Frederik IV)
*
1730-
1746 :
Christian VI (Christian VI)
*
1746-
1766 :
Frederick V (Frederik V)
*
1766-
1808 :
Christian VII (Christian VII)
*
1808-
1839 :
Frederick VI (Frederik VI)
*
1839-
1848 :
Christian VIII (Christian VIII)
*
1848-
1863 :
Frederick VII (Frederik VII)
*
1863-
1906 :
Christian IX*
1906-
1912 :
Frederick VIII*
1912-
1947 :
Christian X*
1947-
1972 :
Frederick IX*Since
1972 :
Margrethe II*
List of Succession to the Danish Throne*
List of Icelandic rulers*
List of Norwegian monarchs*
List of Swedish monarchs*
lists of incumbents*
Danish monarchs family tree*
Danish Orders of Chivalry*
List of dubious Danish kings 
