Valdemar I "the Great" of Denmark (14 January 1131-12 May 1182) was King of Denmark from 23 October 1157 to 12 May 1182, succeeding Sweyn III and preceding Canute VI.
Biography[]
Valdemar was born in Denmark in 1131, the son of Canute Lavard and the grandson of Eric I of Denmark. His father was murdered by Magnus I of Sweden days before his birth, and he was raised at Ringsted. In 1146, Eric III of Denmark's abdication led to civil war between Sweyn Grathe and Canute V, and Valdemar sided with Sweyn before helping Canute oust Sweyn in 1154. In 1157, the trio divided the country amongst themselves, but Sweyn had Canute murdered that same year. In October, Valdemar defeated and killed Sweyn at the Battle of Grathe Heath, allowing for him to take the throne. He reorganized and rebuilt war-torn Denmark and went to war with the raiding Wends, taking their capital of Arkona in 1168 and expanding the Danish sphere of influence into Pomerania. He died in 1182.