Battle of Blidebro
1342 battle in Denmark From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.
| 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 | ||||||||
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]
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]
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]
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]
The battle is later remembered in Copenhagen's Church of Our Lady's obituary as the Battle of Blidebro.[4]
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