Kristian IV 1577-1648
King of Denmark and Norway

Born at Frederiksborg Castle, the son of Frederik II, he acceded in 1588 and ruled under regents until 1596. Blunt, dissolute and hard-drinking, he won the affection of his nation. He strengthened the Danish navy, encouraged industry, enhanced Copenhagen with magnificent new buildings, and founded new towns, including Kristiania (now Oslo). Against his councillors' advice, he invaded Sweden (1611), but failed to capture Stockholm and made peace (1613) by the Treaty of Kn�red. In the Thirty Years War (1618-48) he joined the Protestant Union (1625) to protect Danish and Lutheran interests in North Germany, but was defeated at Lutter by Count von Tilly and Albrecht von Wallenstein (1626). He withdrew from the war by the Treaty of L�beck (1629). In a second war with Sweden (1643-45), he lost an eye and dominion of the Baltic. He was succeeded by his son, Frederik III.