alternatehistory.com

So, I was thinking here... how plausible is the conquest of Denmark (Jutland and the islands, perhaps Scania as well) by Kingdom of Germany/HRE before the formation of the Kalmar Union?

I don't know if it's a forced comparison, but Charlemagne, with the resources at his disposal, managed to subjugate the Saxons and convert them to Christianity, after a long war. I guess that Saxony had a more numerous population and a more difficult terrain for waging warfare (I mean dense forests and marshes) than Denmark, at least on the Jutland peninsula.

IOTL Schleswig-Hostein was considered Imperial territory, wasn't it?

Let's suppose the Holy Roman Emperor doesn't have his focus on Italy or on the Magyar raids (most likely Henry the Fowler or Otto I), and decides to force the Danes into Christianity by the sword, on the wake of the Viking invasions (late 10th Century). From what I've read about Denmark's geography, the Jutland peninsula is a mildly forested and swampy lowland, but it's territory is farly small. After securing the mainlaind, annexing Sjaeland will be easier. Kingdom of Denmark might even survive as a rump State in Skane, before the Swedes or even Norwegians inevitably conquer it.

Another scenario: after the Christianization of the Scandinavian peoples, when maritime trade flourishes anew, wouldn't it be interesting to the HRE to incorporate the "middle-man" that was Denmark, between the North and the Baltic seas... perhaps we get an earlier "sound toll" to fulfill the Imperial coffers ;)
Top