Otte Krumpen (1473–1569)[1] was aDanish bureaucrat, who wasMarshal of Denmark from 1554 to 1567, and heldseignory over various land holdings throughout his career. He held a ceremonial position in the coronation of Danish kingsChristian II andFrederick I. He was the older brother of DanishCatholic bishopStygge Krumpen. The Krumpen family name died with him.
Otte Krumpen was born the son of Jørgen Krumpen ofSkjøtterup and Anne Styggesdatter Rosenkrantz. He was the brother of later Catholic bishopStygge Krumpen. Nothing is known of his youth, and it is speculated he served as a soldier in foreign armies. He was first mentioned in 1514, as he presented the crown at thecoronation ofChristian II of Denmark.[2] In 1517, he was grantedseignory ofAalholm nearNysted.[3] In 1520, he led Christian II's army to war againstSweden.[4] He defeatedSten Sture the Younger at theBattle of Bogesund, was injured at theBattle of Uppsala, and wasknighted by Christian II following the Swedishsurrender in Stockholm.[3]
He was granted seignory overHelsingborg in 1521, and fought off aLübeck invasion at nearbyRåå in 1522 alongsideArchbishop of LundJohan Weze. He was then granted seignory of the profitableTranekær. During the rebellion against Christian II, Krumpen joined new kingFrederick I of Denmark. He carried the ceremonial sword during the coronation, and became a member of theRigsraadet privy council. He successfully expelled Christian II-loyalSøren Norby fromGotland in 1525, travelled withPrince Christian toNorway in 1529, and secured a treaty with theNetherlands against Lübeck in the fall of 1533.[3]
Alongside his brother Stygge, Otte Krumpen was opposed to theReformation in Denmark.[3] During theCount's Feud civil war between new Protestant kingChristian III and Catholic Christian II's supporter countChristopher of Oldenburg, Krumpen surrendered Tranekær to Christopher without resistance.[2] He was granted seignory of Aalholm in exchange, but was evicted by peasant uprising. He was imprisoned first atNykøbing castle, beforeJürgen Wullenwever brought him as hostage toMecklenburg. Krumpen returned to Denmark in 1536, but it took him much convincing to earn the forgiveness of Christian III.[3]
He re-enteredRigsraadet in 1542, was made seignory of various lucrative land holdings, and took part in various diplomatic dealings for Christian III.[3] He was namedMarshal of Denmark in 1554.[2] He once again carried the ceremonial sword at the coronation ofFrederick II of Denmark in 1559, but did not have a good relationship with the new king.[3] During theNorthern Seven Years' War from 1563 to 1570, Krumpen was given command of the army by Frederick II in 1564, was relieved of his duty again in 1565, and resigned as marshal in 1567.[4] He died in 1569 as the last of the family Krumpen,[2] and was interred atMariager Abbey.[3]