Battle of Nonnebjerget | |||||||||
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Part of Niels Ebbesen's Rebellion | |||||||||
![]() Niels Ebbesen, the leader of the Danish rebellion, on his horse, by Agnes Slott-Møller in 1894. | |||||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||||
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Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
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Units involved | |||||||||
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Strength | |||||||||
+600 men | c. 2,000 men | ||||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||||
Unknown | 2 – 2,200 killed |
The Battle of Nonnebjerg (Danish : Slaget ved Nonnebjerget), also known as the Battle of Skanderborg (Danish: Slaget ved Skanderborg) and the Battle of Marbjerg (Danish: Slaget ved Marbjerg), was a battle near Skanderborg Castle on 2 November 1340 between Holsteinian and Danish rebel forces. The result is generally considered a German victory, with the Danish rebel leader, Niels Ebbesen being killed in action.
In the early 14th century, Denmark was under the control of foreign powers, with Count Gerhard III of Holstein-Rendsburg overseeing a large portion of the country by the 1330s. [1] However, in 1340, a group of 50 Jutes, led by Niels Ebbesen, a minor nobleman, launched a surprise attack on Count Gerhard in Randers, resulting in his assassination which sent shockwaves throughout the country. [2] In the aftermath, Ebbesen and his followers fled south across the Gudenå River, using a bridge to escape. [2]
As they continued their revolt further south, Ebbesen and his men stormed a Holsteinian fortification located near present-day Skjern, killing many Germans. [3] [4] Next, Ebbesen sought to capture the strategically important Skanderborg Castle. [4]
While besieging Skanderborg, the besieged Germans received help from a relief force of 600 professional knights, and the Danes were now surrounded on both fronts. [4] [5]
On a hill outside Skanderborg, the two sides met in open terrain. [6] The Danish force consisted of roughly 2,000 peasants and knights, while the German force was made up of armed knights and cavalry. [6] The ensuing battle was bloody and hard fought [6] and ultimately resulted in the Jutish peasants fleeing and were ousted. Subsequently, the Danish landlords and knights, seeing the now superior German forces, decided to surrender. [6] A massive bloodbath followed with up to 2,200 Danes killed, including Ebbesen and his two brothers. [6] [7]
According to the Lübeck Chronicle, the Danish bodies were dismembered and put on wheels and pillars by the Holsteinian, which may have been interpreted as revenge for the assassination of their father, Gerhard III, Count of Holstein-Rendsburg, and given as food for the birds. [7]
According to the Chronica Jutensis , the Danes won the battle, however, it agrees with the Lübeck Chronicle that Niels Ebbesen died in the battle. According to the Chronica Sialandie, another final battle should have taken place at Manbjerg. [7]
As a memory of the battle of death of Niels Ebbesen, there has been raised a memorial stone in Skanderborg near European route E75. [7] It was raised a couple of years after the Second Schleswig War, when anti-Germanisation was at its highest in Denmark. [7] Additionally, N. F. S. Grundtvig has also published a psalm on Ebbesen's revolt and fall in 1839. [8]
Valdemar IV Atterdag, Valdemar Christoffersen or Waldemar was King of Denmark from 1340 to 1375. He is mostly known for his reunion of Denmark after the bankruptcy and mortgaging of the country to finance wars under previous rulers.
Gerhard III of Holstein-Rendsburg, sometimes called Gerhard the Great, and in Denmark also known as Count Gert or den kullede greve, was a German prince from the Schauenburg family who ruled Holstein-Rendsburg and a large part of Denmark during the interregnum of 1332–40.
Niels Ebbesen was a Danish squire and national hero, known for assassinating Gerhard III, Count of Holstein-Rendsburg in 1340. From 1332 to 1340, Count Gerhard was the lord of both Jutland and Funen. His death meant the end of Holstein rule in Denmark.
The Battle of Helsingborg was fought on 8 July 1362 between the Danish and Hanseatic fleets during the Danish-Hanseatic War (1361-1370).
The Battle of Isted took place on 25 July 1850 near the village of Idstedt, in what is today Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. The battle was part of the First Schleswig War, and is the largest battle ever fought in northern Europe. The Danes won the battle.
Henry IV, Count of Holstein-Rendsburg was Count of Holstein-Rendsburg and Duke of Schleswig from 1404 until his death.
Events from the 14th century in Denmark.
Events in the 1340s in Denmark.
The siege of Lindholmen was a siege of the former Danish castle of Lindholmen in Scania during the Danish-Hanseatic War of 1361 – 1370 between Sueco–Hanseatic and Danish forces. The siege ended in a Danish victory: the Hanseatic leader Bruno Warendorp was killed, and the siege was subsequently lifted.
The siege of Copenhagen or the Capture of Copenhagen, was a looting and siege of Copenhagen and Absalon's Castle in 1368 between Denmark and the Hanseatic League, during the Danish-Hanseatic War (1361–1370). The city was looted and Absalon's castle was destroyed.
The siege of Nykøbing or the siege of Nykøbing Castle, was a siege of Nykøbing Castle, Falster, between Danish and Swedish forces during the Danish-Hanseatic War (1361–1370). The siege ended in a Swedish victory, though the Danes were able to achieve a good instrument of surrender.
The siege of Vordingborg was a siege between the Hanseatic and Danish forces at Vordingborg, Zealand during the Danish–Hanseatic War (1361–1370). The Danes managed to defend Vordingborg for two years until peace was settled at Stralsund.
The siege of Helsingborg was a siege of the then-Danish city of Helsingborg between 1368 and 1369 during the Danish–Hanseatic War (1361–1370). Despite withstanding many sieges, Helsingborg would capitulate to the Hanseatic League.
The siege of Kolding also known as the siege of Koldinghus, was a siege by the County of Holstein on the Danish castle of Koldinghus in 1368 during the Danish–Hanseatic War (1361–1370). The siege would end inconclusive for both sides, however, the commander of the castle, Peder Iversøn, promised to surrender if King Valdemar IV of Denmark would die, abdicate, or lose the kingdom. Presumeably, Iversøn surrendered at last, since he would not be mentioned in the later peace talks.
The Battle of Lundenæs, also known as the Battle of Skjern River was a military engagement between Holsteinian and Jutish rebel forces on 2 May 1340 possibly at Lundenæs Castle near Skjern River in the then Holsteinian-held Jutland. The battle ended in a Jutish rebel victory and it is alleged that many Germans died in the Skirmish.
The siege of Skanderborg, alternatively the siege of Skanderborg Castle, was a siege of the Holsteinian-held Skanderborg Castle in Jutland by Jutish rebels led by Niels Ebbesen. Despite being close to surrendering, the Holsteinian garrison received a relief force led by Henry II of Holstein-Rendsburg and defeated the Danes in the Battle of Nonnebjerg on 2 November 1340.
The siege of Kolding also known as the siege of Koldinghus, was a siege by Jutish rebels on the Holsteinian-held Castle of Koldinghus in 1341. The siege ended unsuccessful, and Count Henry II of Holstein-Rendsburg retaliated by raiding much of Jutland.
The siege of Kalundborg, also known as the siege of Kalundborg Castle, was a siege by Valdemar IV of Denmark on the Norwegian-pledged Kalundborg Castle in 1341 during the Kalundborg War, which is named after the siege. The Danes were forced to retreat after a surprise attack on the Danish camp by Henry II, Count of Holstein-Rendsburg.
The Battle of 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.
The Treaty of Nyborg, also known as the Meeting at Nyborg, was a peace treaty between Queen Margaret I of Denmark and the German dukes, Henry II and Nicholas I, Count of Holstein-Rendsburg on a territorial and successional dispute in Schleswig. The treaty was signed during a meeting in Nyborg on Funen on 15 August 1386 and stated that the Holsteinians were to hold the Duchy of Schleswig for eternity.