Christian I

Christian I (1426-1481), king of Denmark (1448-1481), Norway (1450-1481), and Sweden (1457-1464). Christian founded the Oldenburg dynasty in Denmark, succeeding Christopher III of Bavaria as king. The Union of Kalmar, formulated in 1397, had united Denmark, Norway, and Sweden under one sovereign. This union was practically dissolved when Christian I became king of Denmark. Denmark and Norway were reunited, however, when he ascended the Norwegian throne. Christian seized the Swedish throne in 1457. Swedish nobles overthrew him in 1464, but he was able to maintain his authority in Sweden intermittently until he was finally expelled in 1471. In 1479 Christian founded the University of Copenhagen in the Danish capital.