List of Danish monarchs



This is a list of Danish monarchs, that is, the kings and queen regnants 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 (1523–1536/1537)
 * The United Kingdoms of Denmark–Norway (1536/1537–1814)
 * The Kingdom of Denmark (1814–present)
 * Iceland (since the union between Denmark and Norway in 1380; independent kingdom 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–Norwegian control began in 1721; integrated into the Danish realm in 1953; internal home rule introduced 1979; self-rule assumed in 2009; Greenland has two out of 179 seats in the Danish parliament Folketinget)
 * Faroe Islands (since the union between Denmark and Norway in 1380; County of Denmark 1816–1948; internal home rule introduced 1948; The Faroe Islands have two out of 179 seats in the Danish parliament Folketinget)

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, patrilineally 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 Holstein and Saxe-Lauenburg (1815–1864), and in a political and personal union with the Duchy of Schleswig.

Pre-Knýtlinga Danish monarchs


The exact date of origin of the Kingdom of Denmark is not established, but names of Danish kings begins to emerge in foreign sources from the 8th century and onwards. Danish and Nordic legendary stories, chronicles and sagas often have accounts of Danish kings and dynasties stretching further back in time than the 7th century, but the historicity of the content and interpretations of these stories are often put to doubt.


 * Chochilaicus—see Hugleik and Hygelac—c. 515 AD, mentioned by Gregory of Tours (538–594).  Hugleik, according to the written sources, suffered a defeat in 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. Related to the Frisian king Redbad II who in 754 had to flee to "the land of the Danes" where King Harald reigned ("Daniae Regi Heraldi").
 * Sigfred: 770s–790s
 * Gudfred: 804–810, mentioned as Danish king in the Treaty of Heiligen 811. Alternate spellings: Godfred, Göttrick (German), Godric(Anglicized English), Gøtrik (Danish), Gudrød (Danish)
 * 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), grandson or nephew of Harald, fought for the throne and both were killed, perhaps model for the 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 which records his execution for treason in 852.
 * Sons of Gudfred (Godrik): 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: 854–860s. 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 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 (?), described by Adam of Bremen as the immediate predecessor of the House of Olof.
 * The "House of Olaf": late 9th century and early 10th century. This dynasty is described by Adam of Bremen, and members of this claimed dynasty are commemorated by the two Sigtrygg Runestones, which represent contemporary evidence that some of these kings controlled at least part of Denmark.
 * Olof, said by Adam to have come from Sweden and defeated Heiligo, taking the crown.
 * Gyrd and Gnupa, sons and joint successors of Olof, according to Adam. Gnupa is named by Widukind of Corvey as leader of the Danes in 934, and appears on the Sigtrygg Runestones.
 * Sigtrygg, son of Gnupa, memorialized on the Sigtrygg Runestones, presumably dating from shortly after 934.
 * Eric the Victorious of Sweden mentioned by Adam of Bremen and Saxo Grammaticus as ruling Denmark after an invasion by Sweden together with Slavic warriors. Adam of Bremen got the information from Danish king Sweyn II. The Stone of Eric also describes an attack on Hedeby from the same period. Since Eric also, according to another source of Adam of Bremen, invaded the Holy Roman Empire. It virtually requires Eric to have been the king of Denmark. Therefore two independent sources describe Eric as the king of Denmark.

Semi-legendary kings

 * Ragnar Lodbrok, a legendary king probably in the 9th century, only appears in sagas and late histories, and these accounts are wildly inconsistent. He may be a composite character, a chimera of several historical kings and Vikings.
 * Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye (da: Sigurd Orm-i-øje or Snogeøje). Mentioned by late Chronicon Roskildense and Ragnarssona þáttr. Said to be king of Zealand and Scania, and son of Ragnar Lodbrok. He may be inspired by late 9th century King Sigfred (above).
 * Harthacnut (Hardeknud). According to the sagas he is son of Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye, but some historians identify him with Adam's Hardegon, Svein's son, who invaded Denmark from Northmannia and supplanted the House of Olof. He may have ruled only part of Denmark, as Adam places the commencement of his long reign between 909 and 915, while the House of Olof was still ruling at least part of Denmark as late as 934. He was father of Gorm the Old.

House of Griffin (1396–1439)
(Erik af Pommern) 24 January 1412 – 1439 (deposed)
 * Eric VII
 * Eric VII
 * Erik-af-Pommern 1424 (cropped).jpg

Rügenwalde Castle (Poland) only son of Polish Duke of Pomerania Wartislaw VII and Mary of Mecklenburg-Schwerin 26 October 1406 Lund Cathedral no issue Rügenwalde Castle (Poland) aged 76–78
 * Eric of Poméranie.svg
 * c. 1381/82
 * Philippa of England
 * 24 September 1459
 * }
 * }

House of Wittelsbach, Palatinate-Neumarkt branch (1440–1448)
(Christoffer af Bayern) 9 April 1440 – 5/6 January 1448 Neumarkt in der Oberpfalz fifth son of John, Count Palatine of Neumarkt and Catherine of Pomerania 12 September 1445 Copenhagen no issue Kärnan Castile aged 31
 * Christopher III
 * Christopher III
 * Christopher of Bavaria crop.jpg
 * Royal Arms of Norway, Denmark & Sweden (1442-1448).svg
 * 26 February 1416
 * Dorothea of Brandenburg
 * 5/6 January 1448
 * }
 * }

House of Oldenburg (1448–1863)
1 September 1448 – 21 May 1481 (32 years) Oldenburgeldest son of Dietrich, Count of Oldenburg and Hedvig of Holstein 28 October 1449 Church of Our Lady five children Copenhagen Castle aged 55 (Hans) 21 May 1481 – 20 February 1513 (31 years, 282 days) Aalborghus Castlethird son of Christian I and Dorothea of Brandenburg 6 September 1478 Copenhagen five children Aalborghus Castle aged 58 22 July 1513 – 20 January 1523 (9 years, 184 days) (deposed) Nyborg Castlesecond son of John and Christina of Saxony 12 August 1515 Copenhagen six children Kalundborg Castle aged 77 13 April 1523 – 10 April 1533 (10 years) Haderslevhus Castlefourth son of Christian I and Dorothea of Brandenburg 10 April 1502 Stendal two children (2) Sophie of Pomerania 9 October 1518 Kiel Castle six children Gottorp Castle aged 61 4 July 1534 – 1 January 1559 (24 years, 187 days) Gottorp Castleonly son of Frederick I and Anna of Brandenburg 29 October 1525 Lauenburg Castle five children Koldinghus Castle aged 55 1 January 1559 – 4 April 1588 (29 years, 101 days) Haderslevhus Castleeldest son of Christian III and Dorothea of Saxe-Lauenburg 20 July 1572 Copenhagen eight children Antvorskov Castle aged 53 4 April 1588 – 28 February 1648 (59 years, 344 days) Frederiksborg Palaceeldest son of Frederick II and Sophie of Mecklenburg-Güstrow 27 November 1597 Haderslevhus Castle seven children (2) Kirsten Munk 31 December 1615 Copenhagen twelve children Rosenborg Castle aged 70 6 July 1648 – 9 February 1670 (21 years, 223 days) Haderslevhus Castle third son of Christian IV and Anne Catherine of Brandenburg 1 October 1643 Glücksburg Castle eight children Copenhagen Castle aged 60 9 February 1670 – 25 August 1699 (29 years, 204 days) Duborg Castleeldest son of Frederick III and Sophie Amalie of Brunswick-Lüneburg 25 June 1667 Nykøbing Castle eight children Copenhagen Castle aged 53 25 August 1699 – 12 October 1730 (31 years, 54 days) Copenhagen Castleeldest son of Christian V and Charlotte Amalie of Hesse-Kassel 5 December 1695 Copenhagen five children (2) Elisabeth Helene von Vieregg 6 September 1703 one son (3) Anne Sophie Reventlow 4 April 1721 Copenhagen three children Odense Palace aged 59 12 October 1730 – 6 August 1746 (15 years, 302 days) Copenhagen Castle second son of Frederick IV and Louise of Mecklenburg-Güstrow 7 August 1721 Pretzsch Castle three children Hirschholm Palace aged 46 6 August 1746 – 14 January 1766 (19 years, 166 days) Copenhagen Castleonly son of Christian VI and Sophia Magdalene of Brandenburg-Kulmbach 11 December 1743 Altona five children (2) Juliana Maria of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel 8 July 1752 Frederiksborg Palace one son Christiansborg Palace aged 42 14 January 1766 – 13 March 1808 (42 years, 68 days) Christiansborg Palacesecond son of Frederick V and Louise of Great Britain 8 November 1766 Christiansborg Palace two children Rendsburg aged 59 13 March 1808 – 3 December 1839 (31 years, 272 days) Christiansborg Palaceonly son of Christian VII and Caroline Matilda of Great Britain 31 July 1790 Gottorp Castle eight children Amalienborg Palace aged 71 3 December 1839 – 20 January 1848 (8 years, 50 days) Christiansborg Palacegrandson of Frederick V and Juliana Maria of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel 21 June 1806 Ludwigslust Castle two sons (2) Caroline Amalie of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg 22 May 1815 Augustenborg Palace no issue Amalienborg Palace aged 61 20 January 1848 – 15 November 1863 (15 years, 302 days) Amalienborg Palacesecond son of Christian VIII and Charlotte Frederica of Mecklenburg-Schwerin 1 November 1828 Christiansborg Palace no issue (2) Caroline of Mecklenburg 10 June 1841 Neustrelitz no issue (3) Louise Rasmussen 7 August 1850 Frederiksborg Palace no issue Glücksburg Castle aged 55
 * Christian I
 * Christian I
 * Christian-I-DenmarkNorwaySweden.JPG
 * Royal Arms of Norway, Denmark & Sweden (1460-1523).svg
 * February 1426
 * Dorothea of Brandenburg
 * 21 May 1481
 * John
 * John
 * King john of denmark and norway.jpg
 * Royal Arms of Norway, Denmark & Sweden (1460-1523).svg
 * 2 February 1455
 * Christina of Saxony
 * 20 February 1513
 * Christian II
 * Christian II
 * [[File:Lucas Cranach (I) - Bildnis Christians II., König von Dänemark (MbK, Leipzig).jpg|100px]]
 * Royal Arms of Norway, Denmark & Sweden (1460-1523).svg
 * 1 July 1481
 * Isabella of Austria
 * 25 January 1559
 * Frederick I
 * Frederick I
 * Frederik1dk.jpg
 * Royal Arms of Norway & Denmark (1523-1535).svg
 * 7 October 1471
 * (1) Anna of Brandenburg
 * 10 April 1533
 * align="center" colspan="6"| Interregnum (1533–1534)
 * Christian III
 * Christian III
 * Christian III
 * Royal Arms of Norway & Denmark (1535-1559).svg
 * 12 August 1503
 * 12 August 1503
 * Dorothea of Saxe-Lauenburg
 * 1 January 1559
 * Frederick II
 * Frederick II
 * 1581 Frederik 2..jpg
 * Royal Arms of Norway & Denmark (1559-1699).svg
 * 1 July 1534
 * Sophie of Mecklenburg-Güstrow
 * 4 April 1588
 * Christian IV
 * Christian IV
 * Christian IV Pieter Isaacsz 1612.jpg
 * Royal Arms of Norway & Denmark (1559-1699).svg
 * 12 April 1577
 * (1) Anne Catherine of Brandenburg
 * 28 February 1648
 * Frederick III
 * Frederick III
 * Frederik III i rustning.jpg
 * Royal Arms of Norway & Denmark (1559-1699).svg
 * 18 March 1609
 * Sophie Amalie of Brunswick-Lüneburg
 * 9 February 1670
 * Christian V
 * Christian V
 * Christian V of Denmark.jpg
 * Royal Arms of Norway & Denmark (1559-1699).svg
 * 15 April 1646
 * Charlotte Amalie of Hesse-Kassel
 * 25 August 1699
 * Frederick IV
 * Frederick IV
 * Frederik den 4.jpg
 * Royal Arms of Norway & Denmark (1699-1819).svg
 * 11 October 1671
 * (1) Louise of Mecklenburg-Güstrow
 * 12 October 1730
 * Christian VI
 * Christian VI
 * Christian VI, King of Denmark.jpg
 * Royal Arms of Norway & Denmark (1699-1819).svg
 * 30 November 1699
 * Sophia Magdalene of Brandenburg-Kulmbach
 * 6 August 1746
 * Frederick V
 * Frederick V
 * Pilo - Frederik V of Denmark.jpg
 * Royal Arms of Norway & Denmark (1699-1819).svg
 * 31 March 1723
 * (1) Louise of Great Britain
 * 14 January 1766
 * Christian VII
 * Christian VII
 * Christianviidenmark.jpg
 * Royal Arms of Norway & Denmark (1699-1819).svg
 * 29 January 1749
 * Caroline Matilda of Great Britain
 * 13 March 1808
 * Frederick VI
 * Frederick VI
 * Christoph Wilhelm Wohlien - Portræt af Frederik VI.jpg
 * Royal arms of Denmark (1819–1903).svg
 * 28 January 1768
 * Marie Sophie of Hesse-Kassel
 * 3 December 1839
 * Christian VIII Christian Frederick
 * Christian VIII Christian Frederick
 * Kong Christian d. 8..jpg
 * Royal arms of Denmark (1819–1903).svg
 * 18 September 1786
 * (1) Charlotte Frederica of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
 * 20 January 1848
 * Frederick VII Frederik Carl Christian
 * Frederick VII Frederik Carl Christian
 * Frederik VII af August Schiøtt.jpg
 * Royal arms of Denmark (1819–1903).svg
 * 6 October 1808
 * (1) Vilhelmine Marie of Denmark
 * 15 November 1863
 * }

Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg branch (1863-present)
15 November 1863 – 29 January 1906 (42 years, 85 days) Gottorf Castle fourth son of Friedrich Wilhelm, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg and Princess Louise Caroline of Hesse-Kassel 26 May 1842 Amalienborg Palace six children Amalienborg Palace aged 87 29 January 1906 – 14 May 1912 (6 years, 107 days) Yellow Palace eldest son of Christian IX and Louise of Hesse-Kassel 28 July 1869 Stockholm eight children Jungfernstieg, Hamburg aged 68 14 May 1912 – 20 April 1947 (34 years, 350 days) Charlottenlund Palace eldest son of Frederik VIII and Louise of Sweden 26 April 1898 Cannes two sons Amalienborg Palace aged 76 20 April 1947 – 14 January 1972 (24 years, 274 days) Sorgenfri Palace eldest son of Christian X and Alexandrine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin 24 May 1935 Storkyrkan Cathedral, Stockholm three daughters Amalienborg Palace aged 72 14 January 1972 – 14 January 2024 (abdicated) (52 years, 13 days) Amalienborg Palace eldest daughter of Frederik IX and Ingrid of Sweden 10 June 1967 Holmen Church, Copenhagen two sons 14 January 2024 – present  Amalienborg Palace eldest son of Margrethe II and Henri de Laborde de Monpezat 14 May 2004 Copenhagen Cathedral, Copenhagen four children Age
 * Christian IX
 * Christian IX
 * Christian_IX_af_Henrik_Olrik.jpg
 * Royal arms of Denmark (1819–1903).svg
 * 8 April 1818
 * Louise of Hesse-Kassel
 * 29 January 1906
 * Great-grandson of Frederick V and male-line descendant of Christian III
 * Frederik VIII Christian Frederik Vilhelm Carl
 * Frederik VIII Christian Frederik Vilhelm Carl
 * Frederik VIII Christian Frederik Vilhelm Carl
 * Otto Bache - Portræt af Frederik VIII - 1909.jpg
 * Royal arms of Denmark (1903–1948).svg
 * 3 June 1843
 * Louise of Sweden
 * 14 May 1912
 * Son of Christian IX
 * Christian X Christian Carl Frederik Albert Alexander Vilhelm
 * Christian X Christian Carl Frederik Albert Alexander Vilhelm
 * Christian X Christian Carl Frederik Albert Alexander Vilhelm
 * King Christian X of Denmark - Knud Larsen.jpg
 * Royal arms of Denmark (1903–1948).svg
 * 26 September 1870
 * Alexandrine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
 * 20 April 1947
 * Son of Frederik VIII
 * Frederik IX Christian Frederik Franz Michael Carl Valdemar Georg
 * Frederik IX Christian Frederik Franz Michael Carl Valdemar Georg
 * Frederik IX Christian Frederik Franz Michael Carl Valdemar Georg
 * Frederik IX (cropped) - Det Kongelige Bibliotek (KE062449).jpg
 * Royal arms of Denmark (1948–1972).svg
 * 11 March 1899
 * Ingrid of Sweden
 * 14 January 1972
 * Son of Christian X
 * Margrethe II Margrethe Alexandrine Þórhildur Ingrid
 * Margrethe II Margrethe Alexandrine Þórhildur Ingrid
 * Margrethe II Margrethe Alexandrine Þórhildur Ingrid
 * Drottning Margrethe av Danmark.jpg
 * Royal arms of Denmark.svg
 * 16 April 1940
 * Henri de Laborde de Monpezat
 * Age
 * Daughter of Frederik IX
 * Frederik X Frederik André Henrik Christian
 * Frederik X Frederik André Henrik Christian
 * Frederik X Frederik André Henrik Christian
 * Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark in 2021.jpg
 * Royal arms of Denmark.svg
 * 26 May 1968
 * Mary Donaldson
 * Incumbent
 * Son of Margrethe II
 * }
 * }