Abel Valdemarsson (1218 - 1252)

Born 1218 in Roskilde, East Sjaelland Island, Denmark

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 29 Jun 1252 at about age 34 in Friesland, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany

Biography

Abel Valdemarsson, King of Denmark b. 1218, d. 29 June 1252

Abel Valdemarsson, King of Denmark was born in 1218. He was the son of Valdemar II 'the Victorious' Valdemarsson, King of Denmark and Berengaria de Portugal.1 He married Matilda von Schauenberg, daughter of Adolf IV von Schauenberg Graf von Holstein and Hedwig von der Lippe, on 25 April 1237. He died on 29 June 1252 murdered.2 He succeeded to the title of King Abel of Denmark in 1250.2 Children of Abel Valdemarsson, King of Denmark and Matilda von Schauenberg Eric Abelsson, Herzog von Schleswig+ d. 1272 Valdemar III Abelsson, Herzog von Schleswig d. 1257 Sophie Abelsdottir b. c 1240 Abel Abelsson b. 1252, d. 1279 Citations [S38] John Morby, Dynasties of the World: a chronological and genealogical handbook (Oxford, Oxfordshire, U.K.: Oxford University Press, 1989), page 149. Hereinafter cited as Dynasties of the World. [S16] Jirí Louda and Michael MacLagan, Lines of Succession: Heraldry of the Royal Families of Europe, 2nd edition (London, U.K.: Little, Brown and Company, 1999), table 16. Hereinafter cited as Lines of Succession. http://www.thepeerage.com/p10548.htm#i105477

King Abel 1218 - 1252 King 1250 - 1252 Already before the rumour that Abel had taken part in the murder of king Erik Plovpenning, he had come into possession of the crown. He imprisoned some of Erik’s faithful men, and hastened to Viborg Landsting (court) and was there elected king. And later that year (1st November) he and Mechtilde was crowned in Lund’s Cathedral. Abel disclaimed all responsibility in Erik’s death, but Erik’s murderer were not punished, but kept their heigh positions in Abel’s castle.

As king, Abel turned out to be a forceful and skilful ruler, and of all the brothers the one, who had inherited the most of their fathers talents. Abel tryed to drag the kingdom into the rising trading by promoting the German tradesmens connections to Denmark. Lybæk had confirmed their old rights, and also Hamborg and the new towns Rostok and Vismar got trading rights, just like trading agreements were concluded with the Dutch towns.

In the summer of 1252 king Abel left for the Friser together with his army. What the conflict was about is not known, but probably it has been about the taxes. He was unlucky, and on Husum Bridge he was killed. Queen Mechtilde. In Ryd Årbogen she is called “Daughter of the Devil” and in Jutlands History Book about 1300 tells, that the connection between Abel and Mechtilde caused much misery in Denmark.

King Abel was son of Valdemar Sejr and queen Berengaria. In 1237 married to Mechtilde of Holsten, daughter of Adolf 4th of Holdten and Helvig of Lippe.

Abel and Mechtilde had the children: Valdemar, 1238-57, duke of South Jutland. Erik, 1240-72, married to Margrete, daughter of prince Jaromar of Rügen http://www.danmarkskonger.dk/king23.htm

Acknowledgments

• This person was created through the import of McQuery Family Tree.ged on 20 May 2011.
• Thanks to Lars Vad for starting this profile. Click the Changes tab for the details of contributions by Lars and others.