Christian IV of Denmark

Christian IV (1588–1648), king of Denmark and Norway, the son of Frederick II, king of Denmark and Norway, and Sophia of Mecklenburg, was born at Frederiksborg castle in 1577, and succeeded to the throne on the death of his father (April 4 1588), attaining his majority on August 17 1596. He is frequently remembered as one of the greatest kings of Denmark, having initiated many reforms and projects.

The Kalmar War

His first experiment with his newly organized army was successful. In the war with Sweden generally known as the "Kalmar War" because its chief operation was the capture by the Danes of Kalmar, the eastern fortress of Sweden, Christian compelled Gustavus Adolphus to give way on all essential points, at the Treaty of Knäred in January 20, 1613. He now turned his attention to Germany. His object was twofold: first, to obtain the control of the great German rivers the Elbe and the Weser, as a means of securing his dominion of the northern seas; and secondly, to acquire the secularized German bishoprics of Bremen and Verden as appanages for his younger sons. He skilfully took advantage of the alarm of the German Protestants after the battle of the White Mountain in 1620, to secure the coadjutorship to the see of Bremen for his son Frederick (September 1621), a step followed in November by a similar arrangement as to Verden; while Hamburg by the compact of Steinburg (July 1621) was induced to acknowledge the Danish overlordship of Holstein.

Related Topics:
Sweden - Kalmar War - Kalmar - Gustavus Adolphus - Treaty of Knäred - January 20 - 1613 - Germany - Elbe - Weser - Bremen - Verden - Protestant - Battle of the White Mountain - 1620 - 1621 - Holstein

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