Why did Denmark want to take Gotland?

In the early 1300s, Denmark was bankrupt and divided. Almost all areas of Denmark had been pledged to German princes by Valdemar’s father, Christopher II of Denmark. The country had no king between 1332 and 1340. Following a political power struggle, Valdemar Atterdag was elected king in 1340. His goal was to restore the Danish State. One way was to take back pledged areas and capture parts of Sweden.

By paying seven tons of silver to John III, Count of Holstein-Plön, Magnus IV of Sweden was able to take over Skåne, Blekinge and southern Halland in 1332.

In 1360, Valdemar reclaimed the three provinces in a war. The following year, he continued north towards Öland and Gotland.