Christopher I of Denmark

Christopher I
Christopher I
	Estridsen
Father	Valdemar II of Denmark
Mother	Berengaria of Portugal

Christopher I (

Christmas Day

1252.

King of Denmark

Christopher began organizing the effort to have his brother

Abel of Denmark

. If recognized by the pope, the murder would exclude Abel's sons from the succession and guarantee Christopher's own sons Denmark's crown. This meant that Christopher as a younger son tried to keep the sons of his older brothers from ruling Denmark, which went against prevailing customs.

The king spent most of his reign fighting his many opponents. By allowing Abel's son,

excommunicated

the king to show that he wasn't about to surrender to the king's will.

After an incursion into

Zealand.^[2]

Christopher tried to have his brother Eric IV canonized, but without Archbishop Jacobs' support it came to naught. When Duke Valdemar died, King Christopher tried to prevent Valdemar's brother, Eric Abelsøn, from taking the duke's place. Valdemar's widow encouraged a few counts of northern Germany to rebel. In the confusion, Christopher fled to Southern Jutland to stay with the Bishop of Ribe.

The King died unexpectedly after taking

Holy Communion. According to contemporary sources, King Christopher died after drinking poisoned communion wine from the hands of abbot Arnfast of Ryd Abbey in revenge for his mistreatment of Archbishop Erlendsen and the king's oppression of the church. King Christopher's excommunication had no effect, and he was buried in front of the high altar of Ribe Cathedral immediately after his death on 29 May 1259. The king may have died of natural causes; Christopher's allies, however, called him Krist-Offer ("Christ's sacrifice"). Christopher was succeeded by his son Eric, as Eric V of Denmark

.

Legacy

The Danehof became an institution during his rule. It functioned like a national council which had limited advisory and judicial functions.

Christopher married Margaret Sambiria, the daughter of Count Sambor II of Pomerania, in 1248 and had at least three children:

King Eric V of Denmark. (1249–1286)
Niels (d. 21 December 1259), died young
Valdemar, died young
Matilda (1250–1299/1300), married to Albert III, Margrave of Brandenburg-Salzwedel
Margaret (c. 1257–1306), married to John II, Count of Holstein-Kiel

References

Media related to Christopher I of Denmark at Wikimedia Commons

^ Monarkiet i Danmark – Kongerækken Archived November 18, 2009, at the Wayback Machine at The Danish Monarchy
^ Huitfeldt, Arild. Danmark's Riges Krønike

Regnal titles
Christopher I of Denmark House of Estridsen Born: 1219 Died: 29 May 1259
Preceded by Abel	King of Denmark Duke of Estonia 1252–1259	Succeeded by Eric Klipping

[1] Monarkiet i Danmark – Kongerækken Archived November 18, 2009, at the Wayback Machine at The Danish Monarchy

[2] Huitfeldt, Arild. Danmark's Riges Krønike

[2]

Authority control databases
International	VIAF
National	Germany
People	Deutsche Biographie