Valdemar I (1131-1182), known as Valdemar the Great, was king of Denmark from 1157 to 1182. He ended an era of civil war and made Denmark the strongest power in the Baltic region. His name is also spelled Waldemar.
Valdemar was the grandson of Erik I, who had ruled Denmark from 1095 to 1103. At that time, assemblies chose the Danish kings from among the male members of the royal family, which often led to rivalries and wars over the crown. Valdemar’s father was murdered in 1131 as a result of such rivalries. Valdemar was born a week later, on Jan. 14, 1131. A nobleman named Asser Rig raised the boy on the large island of Sjælland in northeastern Denmark.
In 1146, war over the succession broke out between Canute and Sweyn, both sons of former kings. As the fighting continued, support for Valdemar began to grow. In 1157, Canute, Sweyn, and Valdemar agreed to split Denmark into three kingdoms. But Sweyn’s followers murdered Canute at a banquet for the three rulers. Valdemar was wounded but escaped. In a battle later that year, Valdemar defeated Sweyn, who was killed by peasants as he fled. Valdemar took the throne as the sole, undisputed king of Denmark.
Valdemar maintained peace within Denmark and improved trade. His childhood friend Absalon, a son of Asser Rig, served as his chief adviser. Valdemar built castles and fortifications. He also defeated the Wends, who lived along the southern Baltic coast and had raided northern Denmark during the years of civil war. In 1170, he had his oldest son crowned to try to prevent another war over succession. The throne passed peacefully to Valdemar’s son Canute VI after the king’s death on May 12, 1182.
