Battle of Blidebro
| Battle of Blidebro | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Kalundborg War | |||||||||
 Model of Copenhagen as it probably looked like in the 12th Century, by the Museum of Copenhagen. | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
 Denmark Hanseatic League |
 Sweden Holstein-Rendsburg | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
|
Frederick of Lochen |
Markvard Stove | ||||||||
| Units involved | |||||||||
| Unknown |
Copenhagen garrison | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
|
150–200 knights ships | Unknown amount of men and ships | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| Unknown |
350 killed | ||||||||
The Battle of Blidebro (Danish: Slaget ved Blidebro, Swedish: Slaget vid Blidebro) was a battle between Danish–German and Swedish–Holsteinian forces near Copenhagen in 1342 during the Kalundborg War. The battle ended in a Danish–German victory and it is estimated that 350 Swedes were killed in the initial action.
Background
[edit]In 1340, Valdemar IV of Denmark became king of a Denmark that was mortgaged to foreign powers, and Valdemar now set about to reunite Denmark.[1]
The following year, 1341, Copenhagen and its surrounding areas were sold to Valdemar's enemy, Magnus Eriksson of Sweden, for 7,000 silver marks.[2] In early Summer of 1342, Valdemar began besieging the Swedish fortification,[3] however, the besieged enjoyed reinforcements of boats and manpower from both Magnus Eriksson and the German count, Markvard Stove.[2]
Battle
[edit]However, now the knight, Frederick of Lochen, together with ships from the Hanseatic League, tried his luck in attacking the Swedish and Holstenian reinforcements at Blidebro on 26 June 1342.[3][4] It became a bloody and tough battle.[5] The battle ended in a complete Danish victory and the first major victory for Valdemar IV.[5] Of the Swedish troops, it is said that 350 were left on the battlefield, including many chieftains, while the rest of the force deserted or fled to Vordingborg.[3][4]
Aftermath
[edit]Because of his complete victory, Frederick of Lochen did not dare to stay in Denmark and left for Germany with gifts.[4] However, this cannot have been immediately after the battle, since he is mentioned being in Kalundborg on 10 August 1342.[4]
Place
[edit]It seems that the battle started at Refshalegrunden (near present-day Trekroner Fort) and thereafter drawn to the water between Zealand and Amager.[5] However, it is uncertain weather the battle took place at land or at sea.[5]
Legacy
[edit]The battle is later remembered in Copenhagen's Church of Our Lady's obituary as the Battle of Blidebro.[4]
References
[edit]- ^ Bøgh 2024.
- ^ a b Reinhardt 1880, p. 115.
- ^ a b c Nielsen 1879, p. 17.
- ^ a b c d e Mollerup 1875.
- ^ a b c d Reinhardt 1880, p. 116.
Works cited
[edit]- Bøgh, Anders (2024). "Valdemar Atterdag, ca. 1321-1375". danmarkshistorien.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 2024-06-09.
- Reinhardt, Christian (1880). Valdemar Atterdag og hans Kongegjerning (in Danish). Gad. p. 443.
- Mollerup, V. (1875). Friedreick von Lochen (in Danish).
- Nielsen, O. (1879). Kjøbenhavns historie og beskrivelse (PDF) (in Danish). Gads.