Kristoffer, son of the king

Kristoffer was the eldest child of King Valdemar and Queen Helvig, and heir to the throne. He was born around 1344.

We know from written sources that he was part of his father’s retinue at the invasion of Gotland. There is a transcript from 1425 of the Charter of Privileges that Valdemar issued to Visby on 29 July, following the siege during the battle at the ringwall: “We Valdemar, by God’s grace King of the Danes and Wends, and Christopher, our son, by the same grace Duke of Lolland, recognise and attest publicly with this letter…”

He died young, barely 20 years of age. On his grave in Roskilde Cathedral, Kristoffer was depicted in full battle dress. See him at the wall to the right.