Valdemar II of Denmark

Valdemar II
Coin minted for King Valdemar II, Lund University History Museum
King of Denmark and the Wends
Reign1202–1241
PredecessorCanute VI
SuccessorEric IV
Junior kingsValdemar the Young, 1218–31
Eric IV, 1231–41
Born28 June 1170
Ribe, Jutland, Denmark
Died28 March 1241 (aged 70)
Vordingborg Castle, Vordingborg, Denmark
Burial
SpousesDagmar of Bohemia
Berengária of Portugal
Issue
among others...
Names
Valdemar Valdemarsen
HouseEstridsen
FatherValdemar I of Denmark
MotherSophia of Minsk

Valdemar II Valdemarsen (28 June 1170 – 28 March 1241), later remembered as Valdemar the Victorious (Danish: Valdemar Sejr), was King of Denmark from 1202 until his death in 1241.

In 1207, Valdemar invaded and conquered Lybeck and Holstein, expanding the Danish territories. His involvement in the Norwegian succession led to the second Bagler War, temporarily settling the issue and making the Norwegian king owe allegiance to Denmark. He faced disputes with the papacy over the appointment of the Prince-Archbishop of Bremen and the Bishop of Schleswig. Valdemar's military campaigns included conflicts in northern Germany and the establishment of Danish rule in Estonia in 1219. His reign saw the adoption of a feudal system in Denmark and the creation of the Code of Jutland, which served as Denmark's legal code until 1683.