Margaret (1353-1412) ruled Denmark, Norway, and Sweden from the late 1300’s until her death on Oct. 28, 1412. She was one of the most powerful and effective rulers in Scandinavian history. Her extensive territories also included Greenland and Iceland, which were part of Norway, and much of Finland, which was controlled by Sweden.
Margaret, also spelled Margareta or Margrethe, was born in 1353. She was the daughter of King Valdemar IV Atterdag of Denmark. When she was 10, she married Haakon VI of Norway. From her marriage until age 16, she lived in the household of Mereta, the daughter of Saint Bridget of Sweden and the wife of a Norwegian noble. There, Margaret was educated and came in contact with people and issues from all over Scandinavia. In 1370, she gave birth to her only child, Olav.
In 1375, Margaret’s father died with no direct male heir. The Danish nobles elected young Olav king in 1376 and appointed Margaret regent (temporary ruler) on the child’s behalf. In 1380, Haakon died. Olav inherited his father’s throne, and Margaret also became regent of Norway.
In the mid-1380’s, some Swedish nobles began to negotiate with Margaret to have Olav, who was also descended from Swedish kings, replace their unpopular ruler. In 1387, Olav died suddenly, and there was no clear successor. The nobles of Denmark and Norway declared Margaret the rightful ruler and regent in each of those countries. In early 1388, the Swedes hailed Margaret as regent, too. The next year, her army defeated and imprisoned the Swedish king.
No woman had ever reigned in her own right in Scandinavia. Margaret was a queen by her marriage to Haakon VI but was never crowned as a ruling queen. She governed as regent and adopted her sister’s young grandson Erik of Pomerania as her heir and successor.
In 1397, the leaders of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden gathered at Kalmar, Sweden, to crown Erik. They also drew up an agreement, later known as the Union of Kalmar, that said the kingdoms would be united forever under one monarch, but each country would keep its own council and laws. Margaret remained the real ruler of the union until her death. Her dedication, skill, and diplomacy kept her subjects’ loyal support, even while she increased royal power. But her policy of appointing Danes to many administrative posts in Norway and Sweden helped lead to rebellion against her successors.
See also Bridget, Saint; Erik of Pomerania; Kalmar, Union of; Valdemar IV Atterdag.
