Frederick I King of DENMARK

                   Note: Frederik I was also styled the King of Norway and the Count of Holstein. After the death of King Frederik I, the Civil War of the Counts (Grevefejden) between rivals to the throne follows. The parties struggled mainly over two issues: for or against Hanseatic influence and for or against a national Lutheran State Church. After 1536 the Hansa's dominance in Denmark's domestic politics was broken. Frederik's Lutheran son becomes King Christian III. Holstein and Sleswig become twin duchies with peculiar rules for succession. In 1490, and lasting to 1721, both of the duchies are split in two or more parts, one of which is held by the king of Denmark.