List of Danish monarchs

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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.

1 List of Danish monarchs
2 See also

[edit] List of Danish monarchs

[edit] Prior to House of Harthacnut

See Legendary Danish kings.

[edit] House of Olaf

This house has been recorded by Adam of Bremen through Sweyn Estridson, who claimed that its founder was a Swede. As far as Gnupa and Sigtrygg Gnupasson are concerned their existence has been confirmed by the two Sigtrygg 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 Gnupasson

[edit] House of Harthacnut

917?-948? : Harthacnut (Hardeknud)
948?-958? : Gorm the Old (Gorm den Gamle) (Considered the first king of Denmark by Danes, since he is the first documented monarch, cf. the Jelling Stones)
958 or 959-986? : Harald Bluetooth (Harald Blåtand)
986?-1014 : Sweyn Forkbeard (Svend Tveskæg)
1014-1018 : Harald II (Harald II)
1018-1035 : Canute the Great (Knud II den Store)
1035-1042 : Harthacanute (Hardeknud or Knud III)
1042-1047 : Magnus the Good (Magnus den Gode)

[edit] 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 disinherited Swedish prince Styrbjörn the Strong. Sweyn had Danish Royal Blood in him through his mother, a daughter of Sweyn I.