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The Tree of Europe · Person

Christian I of Denmark

Count of Oldenburg, elected king of Denmark in 1448. He subsequently added Norway and, for a shorter period, Sweden.

1426 – 1481KingOldenburg · ES
Explore this family · Spanish AtlasBack to people
Portrait of Christian I of Denmark
Historical portraitChristian I of Denmark, Norway and SwedenUnknown artist · fifteenth centuryPublic domain · PD-Art / PDM 1.0 · Source

This complete profile is available in English. Bibliographic titles retain their original language. Links marked ES open the Spanish edition.

Historical profile

Key details

Birth: 1426 Documented

Death: 21 May 1481 Documented

Role: King

Dynasty: Oldenburg · ES

Territories: Denmark (ES) · Norway (ES) · Sweden (ES)

Recorded governments and reigns
King · Denmark · Reign Documented1448–1481Effective rule
King · Norway · Reign Pending review1450–1481Effective rule
King · Sweden · Reign Pending review1457–1464Effective rule
Family network

Recorded relationships

Parents
Partners
Children
Crowns and unions

Their titles over time

Follow the changing territories and offices of Christian I of Denmark. Each title retains its own status.

Governments in 1457

  • DenmarkKing
    View titles and jurisdictions
  • NorwayKing
    View titles and jurisdictions
  • SwedenKing
    View titles and jurisdictions

Annual dates: overlap within one year does not prove that two offices were held on the same day. Regencies and co-rulerships retain their labels.

How these titles came together
  1. 1448 · DenmarkElection

    Christopher's death without children opened an election. Christian of Oldenburg was accepted and subsequently married the dowager queen Dorothea of Brandenburg.

    Foundation for Medieval Genealogy · MedLandsEncyclopaedia Britannica
  2. 1450 · NorwayElection · Agreement

    The Norwegian election and the agreement removing Charles Knutsson consolidated union with Denmark. Sweden then retained a different monarch.

    Foundation for Medieval Genealogy · MedLandsEncyclopaedia Britannica
  3. 1457 · SwedenElection · deposition

    Charles Knutsson's expulsion enabled Christian's election. The union of the three kingdoms broke apart again in 1464.

    Foundation for Medieval Genealogy · MedLandsEncyclopaedia Britannica

Selected explained accessions. Other titles remain in the profile’s list of recorded governments.

Documentation

Sources for this profile

Biographical and contextual references in their original language. Sources and methodology.

Evidence for this profile

11 recorded claims · 8 without a claim-specific source. Context references do not by themselves verify every fact.

Dates (2/2 with a precise source)
Family and relationships (0/3 with a precise source)
  • FatherPending review

    Dietrich of Oldenburg

    A precise source has not yet been added.
    No individual review recorded ·
  • MotherPending review

    Helvig of Schauenburg

    A precise source has not yet been added.
    No individual review recorded ·
  • Marriage or partnershipPending review

    Dorothea of Brandenburg

    A precise source has not yet been added.
    No individual review recorded ·
Governments (1/3 with a precise source)
Successions (0/3 with a precise source)
  • SuccessionPending review

    Denmark · Unrecorded successor · 1448

    Christopher's death without children opened an election. Christian of Oldenburg was accepted and subsequently married the dowager queen Dorothea of Brandenburg.A precise source has not yet been added.
    No individual review recorded ·
  • SuccessionPending review

    Norway · Unrecorded successor · 1450

    The Norwegian election and the agreement removing Charles Knutsson consolidated union with Denmark. Sweden then retained a different monarch.A precise source has not yet been added.
    No individual review recorded ·
  • SuccessionPending review

    Sweden · Unrecorded successor · 1457

    Charles Knutsson's expulsion enabled Christian's election. The union of the three kingdoms broke apart again in 1464.A precise source has not yet been added.
    No individual review recorded ·
Biographical and contextual references (4)
Editorial history
  • 2026-10-12 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
  • 2026-10-08 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
  • 2026-10-04 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
  • 2026-10-04 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
  • 2026-10-03 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
  • 2026-09-30 · The duchy is limited to Dijon and Autun; each other fief now enters the map only under its dated ruler. John III of Namur and the Nevers/Rethel branch were added. The previous shape combined later counties and unrelated lands as if all belonged to the duchy from 1363.
  • 2026-09-28 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.

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