The Tree of Europe · Person

Margaret I of Denmark

Queen and regent who brought Denmark, Norway and Sweden under her authority and laid the foundations of the Kalmar Union. She was northern Europe’s dominant political figure in the late fourteenth century.

1353 – 1412Queen / RegentEstridsen · ES

Explore this family · Spanish Atlas Back to people

Historical portraitFunerary effigy of Margaret I at Roskilde CathedralJohannes Junge (sculpture); photograph by Jacob Truedson Demitz · 1423 (effigy); 2010 (photograph)Cathedral of RoskildePublic 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: 1353 Documented

Death: 1412 Documented

Role: Queen / Regent

Dynasty: Estridsen · ES

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

Recorded governments and reigns

Regent · Denmark · Regency Pending review1376–1387RegencyRegency during Olaf II's minority.

Regent · Norway · Regency Pending review1380–1387RegencyRegency during Olaf IV's minority.

Queen · Denmark · Reign Pending review1387–1412Co-rulerRecognised as lady and ruler; she continued directing policy alongside King Eric. The label Queen summarises this authority; each kingdom had its own arrangements for her recognition.

Queen · Norway · Reign Pending review1388–1412Co-rulerRecognised as lady and ruler; she continued directing policy alongside King Eric. The label Queen summarises this authority; each kingdom had its own arrangements for her recognition.

Queen · Sweden · Reign Pending review1389–1412Co-rulerRecognised as lady and ruler; she continued directing policy alongside King Eric. The label Queen summarises this authority; each kingdom had its own arrangements for her recognition.

Family network

Recorded relationships

Parents

Valdemar IV of Denmark · ESPending reviewHedwig of Schleswig · ESPending review

Partners

Haakon VI of NorwayPending review

Children

Olaf II of Denmark and IV of Norway · ES

Crowns and unions

Their titles over time

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

Period

Governments in 1387

DenmarkRegent
View titles and jurisdictions
- Denmark · ESRegent · Regency1376–1387 · Regency during Olaf II's minority.
NorwayRegent
View titles and jurisdictions
- Norway · ESRegent · Regency1380–1387 · Regency during Olaf IV's minority.
DenmarkQueen
View titles and jurisdictions
- Denmark · ESQueen · Co-ruler1387–1412 · Recognised as lady and ruler; she continued directing policy alongside King Eric. The label Queen summarises this authority; each kingdom had its own arrangements for her recognition.

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

1376 · DenmarkRegency
She governed during her son Olaf's minority. Following his death, she received authority in her own right.
Reference Reference
1380 · NorwayRegency
Haakon VI's death left the crown to Olaf, still a minor. Margaret directed the Norwegian regency alongside the Danish one.
Reference Reference
1387 · DenmarkElection
After her son Olaf's death, the kingdom's authorities recognised Margaret as lady and ruler in her own right.
Reference Reference
1388 · NorwayElection
Norwegian recognition after Olaf's death supported Margaret's government and the subsequent election of her relative Eric of Pomerania.
Reference Reference
1389 · SwedenAgreement · Conquest
Swedish opponents of Albert of Mecklenburg accepted Margaret. Albert's defeat and capture in 1389 made the transfer of power effective.
Reference Reference

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

15 recorded claims · 13 without a claim-specific source. Context references do not by themselves verify every fact.

Dates (2/2 with a precise source)

BirthDocumented
1353
The authority record gives the birth as 1353.
Deutsche Nationalbibliothek · GND · Margarete I., Danmark, Dronning · Vital data: birth date
Reviewed on 2026-10-17 by El Árbol de Europa ·
DeathDocumented
1412
The authority record gives the death as 1412.
Deutsche Nationalbibliothek · GND · Margarete I., Danmark, Dronning · Vital data: death date
Reviewed on 2026-10-17 by El Árbol de Europa ·

Family and relationships (0/3 with a precise source)

FatherPending review
Valdemar IV of Denmark
A precise source has not yet been added.
No individual review recorded ·
MotherPending review
Hedwig of Schleswig
A precise source has not yet been added.
No individual review recorded ·
Marriage or partnershipPending review
Haakon VI of Norway
A precise source has not yet been added.
No individual review recorded ·

Governments (0/5 with a precise source)

GovernmentPending review
Regent · Denmark · 1376–1387
A precise source has not yet been added.
No individual review recorded ·
GovernmentPending review
Regent · Norway · 1380–1387
A precise source has not yet been added.
No individual review recorded ·
GovernmentPending review
Queen · Denmark · 1387–1412
A precise source has not yet been added.
No individual review recorded ·
GovernmentPending review
Queen · Norway · 1388–1412
A precise source has not yet been added.
No individual review recorded ·
GovernmentPending review
Queen · Sweden · 1389–1412
A precise source has not yet been added.
No individual review recorded ·

Successions (0/5 with a precise source)

SuccessionPending review
Denmark · Unrecorded successor · 1387
After her son Olaf's death, the kingdom's authorities recognised Margaret as lady and ruler in her own right.A precise source has not yet been added.
No individual review recorded ·
SuccessionPending review
Norway · Unrecorded successor · 1388
Norwegian recognition after Olaf's death supported Margaret's government and the subsequent election of her relative Eric of Pomerania.A precise source has not yet been added.
No individual review recorded ·
SuccessionPending review
Sweden · Unrecorded successor · 1389
Swedish opponents of Albert of Mecklenburg accepted Margaret. Albert's defeat and capture in 1389 made the transfer of power effective.A precise source has not yet been added.
No individual review recorded ·
SuccessionPending review
Denmark · Unrecorded successor · 1376
She governed during her son Olaf's minority. Following his death, she received authority in her own right.A precise source has not yet been added.
No individual review recorded ·
SuccessionPending review
Norway · Unrecorded successor · 1380
Haakon VI's death left the crown to Olaf, still a minor. Margaret directed the Norwegian regency alongside the Danish one.A precise source has not yet been added.
No individual review recorded ·

Biographical and contextual references (2)

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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