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| Valdemar III | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Seal of Valdemar III | |||||
| King of Denmark andthe Wends | |||||
| Reign | 1326–1330 | ||||
| Predecessor | Christopher II andEric Christoffersen | ||||
| Successor | Christopher II andEric Christoffersen | ||||
| Regent | Gerhard of Holstein | ||||
| Duke of Schleswig | |||||
| Reign | 1325–1326 1330–1364 | ||||
| Predecessor | Eric II Gerhard of Holstein | ||||
| Successor | Gerhard of Holstein Henry | ||||
| Born | 1314 (1314) | ||||
| Died | 1364 (aged 49–50) | ||||
| Consort | Richardis of Schwerin | ||||
| Issue | Valdemar, Hereditary Prince of Schleswig Henry, Duke of Schleswig | ||||
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| House | Estridsen(Abelslægten line) | ||||
| Father | Eric II, Duke of Schleswig | ||||
| Mother | Adelaide of Holstein-Rendsburg | ||||
Valdemar III (1314–1364) wasKing of Denmark from 1326 to 1329, while he was underage; he was alsoDuke of Schleswig asValdemar V in 1325–26 and from 1330 to 1364. He was a rival king set up against the unsuccessfulChristopher II and was widely opposed by his subjects. His term was ended when he abdicated. Sometimes the earlier KingValdemar the Young (c. 1209–1231) is also referred to as Valdemar III.[1]
Valdemar's father was DukeEric II of Schleswig and his mother wasAdelaide, daughter ofHenry I of Rendsborg. When his distant kinsman and the head of the rival royal branchChristopher II of Denmark was exiled from his kingdom, Holsteiner and Danish high nobles got to choose a new king. Their choice fell to 11-year-old Duke Valdemar V of Schleswig, who was the head of the branch descended from KingAbel of Denmark. Due to his young age, his maternal uncle, the mighty Count Gerhard of Rendsborg (Gerhard III of Holstein) who also was the biggest pawnbroker of mortgaged Denmark, was appointed as the Regent and guardian (grev Gert orDen kullede Greve).[2]
Valdemar's ascension promissory was at least as strict as Christopher's had been. There were some new stipulations, such as all royal castles in Scania should be demolished, and all nobles received the right to fortify their homesteads. The most important agreement, however, was the so-calledConstitutio Valdemariana, which promised that in the future, the same person could never be both ruler of Slesvig and Denmark simultaneously. Valdemar accordingly gave up his patrimony, Schleswig, andenfeoffed it to his uncle and guardian, whereby the first Holsteinian became a Duke: Gerhard, Duke of Jutland (orSouthern Jutland or Schleswig).
Denmark was now held totally by certain nobles, in practice. That was not popular among the peasants. A portion of the nobles were foreigners, and many set up new taxes. In 1328, peasants inZealand rose in rebellion, though it was quelled, and a rebellion inJutland followed in 1329; the Jutland rebellion had more success, but was also quelled in the end. Finally, count Gerhard gave up in the name of his king, and in 1329 Christopher II was allowed to return to the throne. Valdemar became again Duke of Schleswig.
In 1340, he gave his only sister Helvig of Schleswig to marriage withValdemar IV, the new king of Denmark. During the rest of his rule he led a changeable policy towards Denmark by which war alternated with co-operation.
Valdemar died in 1364. He was married toRichardis of Schwerin (died 1384), daughter of CountGünzelin VI of Schwerin-Wittenburg. They had two sons, Valdemar (1338–1360) andHenry (1342–1375). Henry succeeded as Duke of Schleswig when his father died.[3]
Valdemar III of Denmark Abelslægten Cadet branch of theHouse of Estridsen Born: 1314 Died: 1364 | ||
| Regnal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Duke of Schleswig as Valdemar V 1325–1326 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | King of Denmark as Valdemar III 1326–1329 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Duke of Estonia as Valdemar II 1326–1329 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Duke of Schleswig as Valdemar V 1330–1364 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Duke of Estonia as Valdemar II 1338-1340 | Succeeded by |
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