List of Danish monarchs



This is a list of Danish monarchs, that is, the Kings and Queens regnant of Denmark. This includes:


 * The Kingdom of Denmark (up to 1397)
 * Personal union of Denmark and Norway (1380–1397)
 * The Kalmar Union (1397–1536)
 * Union of Denmark, Norway and Sweden (1397–1523)
 * Union of Denmark and Norway (1523–1536)
 * The Kingdom of Denmark-Norway (1536–1814)
 * The Kingdom of Denmark (1814 to present)
 * Iceland (since the union between Denmark and Norway in 1380. Independent in a personal union with Denmark 1918–1944. A sovereign republic since 1944.)
 * Greenland (since the union between Denmark and Norway in 1380. Effective Danish control began in 1721. Integrated into the Danish realm in 1953. Internal home rule introduced 1979. Self-determination assumed in 2009.)
 * Faroe Islands (since the union between Denmark and Norway in 1380. County of Denmark 1816–1948. Internal home rule introduced 1948.)

The house of Oldenburg held the Danish Crown between 1448 and 1863, when it passed to the house of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, a cadet branch of the same house, descended from King Christian III of Denmark. The kingdom had been elective (although the eldest son or brother of the previous king was usually elected) until 1660, when it became hereditary and absolutist. Until 1864 Denmark was also united in a personal union with the duchies of Schleswig and Holstein.

Semi-legendary Danish monarchs



 * Hugleik or the Latin name Chochillaicus 515 AD circa, First Danish King mentioned by Gregory of Tours (538 – 594).  Hugleik, according to the written sources suffered a defeat in the year 515 during a naval expedition to the Frankish Empire. Hugleik is the first Danish king mentioned in European sources.


 * Ongendus (Angantyr): c. 710 Saint Willibrord wrote about when he visited the Danes, at the time ruled by Ongendus.


 * Harald, named as former king in relating 9th century events, perhaps model for legendary Harald Wartooth


 * Sigfred: 780s–790s


 * Gudfred: 804–810 mentioned as Danish king in the Treaty of Heiligen 811.


 * Hemming: 810–811/812 The Treaty of Heiligen was signed in 811 between the Danish King Hemming and Charlemagne.


 * Sigfred, nephew of Gudfred, and Anulo (Anlaufr), nephew of Harald, fought for throne and both were killed, perhaps model for legendary Sigurd Hring: c. 812


 * Harald Klak and his brothers Ragnfrid and Hemming Halfdansson: 812–813 and again from 819/827. From 826 he and his household lived in exile with the Frankish emperor Louis the Pious, he was baptized by the bishop of mainz in Ingelheim am Rhein. The last reference of Harald in the written sources are in the Annals of Fulda this records his execution for treason in 852.


 * Sons of Gudfred: 814–820s
 * Horik I: (814) 827–854. king of the Danes (at first ruling jointly with his unnamed brothers). The Frankish annals mention Horik on numerous occasions during the next couple of decades.


 * Horik II: 850s – 860s. He is believed to have been the immediate successor of Horik i, but the annals are silent about the name of the Danish king for a few years after the disaster of 854. In 857, Horik ii allowed Rorik to occupy the part of the kingdom between the sea and the Eider.  Horik ii was still alive in the year 864, when a letter was addressed to him by Pope Nicholas I.


 * Late 9th century kings
 * Bagsecg: c. 860s–871
 * Halfdan: 871–877
 * Sigfred: c. 873–891 It is generally assumed that he was the immediate successor of Horik ii, although that is not certain. His year of succession is unknown, but it was between 864 (when Horik ii was still king) and his first appearance as king in the Frankish annals in 873. Sigifrid was baptized in 882.
 * Gudfred: 880s


 * Heiligo (Halga): 890s


 * The so-called "Swedish Oluf dynasty": late 9th century and early 10th century.. This dynasty is mentioned in the two Sigtrygg Runestones raised shortly after 934 AD. The two inscriptions constitute evidence for the House of Olaf on the Danish throne.
 * Olof
 * Gyrd and Gnupa
 * Sigtrygg


 * Harthacnut I (Hardeknud): 936–940