For a majority of the population, the standard way of life involved settlement among the cold wintered lands where abundant forests provided a life of farming and use of the coast. Sea towns were bases for fishing and whaling which provided sources of tradable goods like food or animal fat that could be sold as a sealant for shipbuilding or a heating source.

The southern coastal town of Jelling was located on the peninsular outcropping of Denmark, referred to as the Jutland and served as a prominent trading area. The Jutland was for the first half of the eighth century thought to be ruled by King Ogendus who helped secure it as a commercial hub. This activity reached beyond the inlets and nearby lands of Scandinavia to provide wider trading connections with Anglo Saxon rulers in England and the Francs.

The regional coastal area around Denmark also maintained importance as a center for relations among nobility for all of the surrounding Nordic countries as well as various nearby parts of Europe.

The manufacture of shipping vessels quickly advanced during the several hundred years before the eleventh century. Characteristic of their design were the deep, massive hulls constructed from local timber yet slender in width that would accommodate about fifty oarsmen to navigate rough conditions in the North Sea.

Exploration stretched beyond the North and Baltic Seas into the Atlantic Ocean which diplomatic relations among the Nordic governing powers with Britain and France were often facilitated through sea travel. In addition, Viking activity from 850-1100AD spread from various parts of Scandinavia which had the effect of severely disrupting life for the European coasts that would stand in their way. Saxony, known today as the Netherlands was nearby and had been conquered by the Franks which left relations with the Charlemagne led government cooperative to Ogendus, the early eighth century King of Denmark.

Following King Ogendus, a soon to be successor was Godfrid who held a more domineering ambition for the region around southern Denmark. Godfrid sought to exert power over the surrounding territories including Frisia, the Port of Reric and Saxony. The magnitude of Charlemagne’s area of control at the time included the Frankish Kingdoms to the southwest and just below the Scandinavian territory. So Godfrid’s claim of Saxony sparked tension between the Danish Kingdom and Charlemagne although avoidance of conflict appeared to transpire.

A king’s ability to claim authority over surrounding areas such as the towns of Oslo Fjord, Skagerrak and Kattegat were important because it resulted in payments by the locals in what were known as tributes. Thus originating the expression ‘to pay tribute’. This revenue source provided a comfortable acquirement of wealth for many of the Scandinavian royalty during the Middle Ages.

Two nephews of Godfrid initially were named successors and immediately sought a peace for Denmark with Charlemagne French Empire. This prompted a caveat though which precluded the son’s of Godfrid from becoming heirs as they were instead exiled to Sweden, leaving Danish power in the hands of their cousin’s named Harald and Reginfrid. While the newly appointed nephews attempted to carry on their duty as kings, they were viewed as being illegitimate rulers and the people of Denmark refused to make tribute payments. The ineffectiveness of their rule obviously posed stability problems for the kingdom and soon the rightful heirs returned from Sweden to depose their adversarial cousins. Later Harald was renamed to serve as joint ruler.

Charlemagne’s rule across much of Europe at the time continued to hold some authority over the Scandinavian kingdoms and the introduction of Christianity from the larger religious centers of Hamburg, Germany made way into parts of Scandinavia around the ninth century. Royal credibility of the church was shown by one of Gogfrid’s younger sons, Horik who would eventually become sole ruler of Denmark from 827-854. His reign is thought to have restored the order that had gone awry for the period shortly after his fathers’ death. Soon a priesthood took form in the region largely under the wishes of Charlemagne who was intent on evangelizing his areas of influence throughout Europe. Several prominent religious figures of the day further became influential in spreading the faith amongst the people in Denmark.

Also neighboring Sweden began converting around the mid-ninth century at a time when their system of rule was under similar standards for which King Horik exerted upon the region.

One of the most notable powers of the Middle Ages to arise was the Danish King Harald Bluetooth. He followed the initial progress from his father before him in trying to restore a Denmark empowered Scandinavia. His name is said to have come from his apparent love for blueberries. Recognizable also from which the popular brand of wireless communication device takes its name. He is known to have joined the disparate parts of the north and south of Denmark while maintaining a regard for Norway‘s self rule that is thought to have been the first time that one ruler had succeeded in bridging cooperation among the powers of the region. Being able to assimilate much of the segregated area of Scandinavia is what’s to be recognized by his rule as well as the iconic symbol of the Bluetooth company. Today the company logo bears his initials written in Old English with the symbols ¥¥.

He also greatly deepened the importance of the church, commissioned major cathedral construction and won admiration from the Catholic Centers in Hamburg, Germany. A mutual peace was upheld between Denmark and Germany who was growing as a central power during his time. Slight tensions though did develop but which managed to be culled without any consequence.

Harald Bluetooth’s son however Svien had a far more instigating approach to relations with Germany. Disobeying his father’s orders of non-intervention with the power to the south, Svein sought Danish expansion and revolted, assuming power after his father’s death in 987. Svein professed a local success against Germany by forcing the removal of all their troops from Denmark at the same time that he worked to improve the modern conditions in the country. The era of Svein’s rule undertook many projects in development of roads, buildings, and bridges. He issued coins bearing his own image which was the first widely used form of local currency.

Contrastingly, Svein embarked on an outright conquest of England which at the time was under the rule of King Aethelred for who had just secured the alliance with Olav Tryggvesson of Norway. In the lead up to an invasion by Danish forces, loyalties became complicated for one of the lead commanders of Svein’s Dane military. The naval commander named Thorkell had long running allegiances to a Viking group known as the Jomvikings. This band showed no regard for Sveid’s position of power in Denmark and they had consummated attacks throughout the Atlantic area of Europe. In addition the Jomsvikings had finagled a deal with TYryggveso to stop their invasions which through this oath of subservience to the Norwegian King also indirectly created this new acknowledgement of respect for King Aethelred in England. Thus Thorkell, the naval warrior gave favor to his loyalty as a Jomsviking over his country’s military and refused to take part in the Danish invasion. He would later take command within the English navy. Despite Thorkell’s absence from participating in the invasion, the Danish army was nonetheless successful in defeating England. King Aethelred was made to flee England. Svein assumed title as England’s new king which opened the door for his son Knut to preside over rule in Denmark. But Svein quickly died and the English re-pronounced Aethelred as their king and demanded the removal of Knut’s army. Repeat attempts at defeating England were made by Svein’s son Knut but with a resurgent force of English ships aided by Thorkell’s comrades such efforts went unwon.

In addition to Thorkell’s ability to pose a resistance to Denmark’s new reaching authority was a Norwegian chief named Olav Haraldsson who had fought many battles likely as a Viking. Aethelred understood the weakening of the Danish position in it's midst of transition following the death of Svein. The country’s financial state was strained from having expended significant resources in their previous campaigns against England and the rest of Scandinavia. Aethelred felt confident in the company of his support from the small clan of Vikings and so too did he believe that his partnership with Norway would offer a solid opportunity for revenge against Denmark's previous attack.

In England, despite the political headwinds appearing to work against the Svein's dominion in his native land, King Knut, the son, arose to the throne to succeed his father. He ruled his newly asserted territory from England for the rest of his life and appointed ancestors of whom among the brother in law Ulf and others were given subordinate authority in the Dane region. It’s thought too that King Knut rekindled his alliance with Thorskell and his men whom are said to have been appointed as protective forces over territorial possessions in Denmark.

The standoff with Germany continued and the holy English clergy in Canterbury was chosen as the presiding religious authority for Denmark rather than the Hamburg papacy. This heightened the border dissent between Denmark and Germany.

King Knut of Denmark continued his rule until around 1030 successful in keeping any real threat to his authority at bay and by some claims proclaiming his family’s rule as something of a central authority in the early eleventh century.

It should seem as no surprise though that rival forces were again beckoning for a chance to destabilize the Danish hold. A Norwegian descendent of Olav Harraldsson named Magnus had been away for many years to avoid the legacy of Knut. Magnus though returned to his home from Russia after Knut’s death and envisioned the liklihood of a loosening of power by the Danish. His nephew Harald Hardrada had held a vision of national aggrandizement as well and the two achieved some success in fomenting glorification for Norway. However any major development of an established order in Norway fell short as had been the case before due to the resentment of the wealthy Norwegians from absolving their local authority to the hands of a King. Such a standoff would prevent centralization in Norway from emerging in the eleventh century and beyond.

Following King Knut, Denmark would be governed by Svein Estridson who reestablished good terms with the German Church forming several diocese throughout the country with appointed bishops to manage ecclesiastical affairs.

The governoring situation remained favorable to the land of Denmark and following a short stint of rule by the successor to Eric in 1442, a formidable Kingdom of Denmark was established in 1448 under Count Christian of Oldenburg. This afforded his rule over Norway as well. For the next four hundred years Denmark would oversee authority in Norway largely uncontested under the Danish kings with the countries sharing a central leadership, an official language, a single capital in Copenhagen, and christianity as its religion.

Relations for Denmark with Sweden were never as cool as with Norway.

The sixteenth century presented a time when religious discord was sewing through much of Europe with the scruples of the Catholic Church that would reach a head in the years following 1517 when Martin Luther delivered the 95 theses against the profligate indulgences of the church.

In 1520 Denmark under Christian II defeated Sweden in an invasion and further assumed brutal attacks over the Swedes for what came to be known as the Stockholm Bloodbath. A few years later Sweden revolted and many joined the Swedish cause to dispel their King Christian II who had become largely unpopular.

The newly named King Fredrick of Holstein-Gottorp acquired the rule with popular support in 1523 but avoided Sweden leaving it to proclaim its own ruler for whom it choose Gustav Vasa. This established the Swedish Vasa dynasty leaving them a long lasting heir who took control over the country.

Soon came the Thirty Years War in 1618 that consumed most European countries in hoping to lay to rest the crony central powers still being strongly welded from authorities in Germany and Rome. The result was a success for the Protestant reformers and at the Treaty of Westphalia Sweden annexed further holdings in the Baltic.
Simultaneously, Denmark was closely watching it’s ever more ambitious neighbor and they saw the need to exert once again their regional power. So Denmark invaded Sweden yet this time unsuccessfully. Sweden in tern invaded larger parts of Denmark and forced the treaty of Roskilde in 1658 that established the borders between Denmark and Sweden as they largely exist today.

In 1661 under Fredrick III an absolute monarch was established. This created separately named kingdoms for the countries of Denmark and Norway where each subject was granted equal rights. The joint powers of rule were still ultimately carried out from Denmark where authority largely remained for the two countries until the Treaty of Kiel in 1814, releasing Norway from Denmark.

The Napoleonic Wars broke in 1807 that engulfed most of all of Europe either on the side for or against France. The kingdom of Denmark allied with the French. The decision was incredibly costly. The superiority of the British naval forces soon commenced a heavy confrontation which debilitated Denmark’s fleet and formed a blockade on Norway which left Denmark’s northern counterpart starved of many resources. The defeat of Napoleon in 1813 signified a diminished hope for Denmark’s greatness as had once been the case.

A strengthening Sweden thus emerged and expansion became a national policy. Sweden’s influence strengthened through the Baltic Sea eventually declaring wars against Poland and Russia. These disputes were resolved within a decade but resulted in Swedish acquisition of Latvia.

Sweden entered the war on the side of the Protestants against the German monarch and in favor of local sovergnity ruled by the princes who mostly oversaw local German affairs.