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)
- 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
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 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 Gnupasson
House 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)
House of Oldenburg
- 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)
House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg
- 1863-1906 : Christian IX
- 1906-1912 : Frederick VIII
- 1912-1947 : Christian X
- 1947-1972 : Frederick IX
- Since 1972 : Margrethe II