Valdemar I

The duke was aided in this work by the alliance of Valdemar I., king of Denmark, and, it is said, by engines of war brought from Italy.

During his twenty years’ reign Denmark advanced steadily along the path of greatness and prosperity marked out for her by Valdemar I., consolidating and extending her dominion over the North Baltic coast and adopting a more and more independent attitude towards Germany.

Equally short-lived was the Danish dominion in England, which originated in a great Viking expedition of King Sweyn I. The period between the death of Canute the Great and the accession of Valdemar I. was a troublous time for Denmark.

Some of the more powerful kings, such as Valdemar�I. and�II., and Canute�VI., had quarrels with the Emperors of Germany, and invaded some provinces of their empire.

Valdemar was the son of Valdemar I., and brother of King Knud, for whom as a prince he fought bravely, putting down the Sleswick rebels, who had been stirred to rebellion by the German emperor, and conquering his enemy, Count Adolf of Holstein.