Siege of Skanderborg


The siege of Skanderborg, alternatively the siege of Skanderborg Castle, was a siege of the Holsteinian-held Skanderborg Castle in Jutland by Jutish rebels led by Niels Ebbesen. Despite being close to surrendering, the Holsteinian garrison received a relief force led by Henry II of Holstein-Rendsburg and defeated the Danes in the Battle of Nonnebjerg on 2 November 1340.

Background

In the early 14th century, Denmark was effectively subjugated to foreign powers, with Count Gerhard III of Holstein-Rendsburg exercising dominion over a significant portion of the country by the 1330s. However, a group of 50 Jutes, led by minor nobleman Niels Ebbesen, who were furious with the current regime, took matters into their own hands in 1340. They ambushed and assassinated Count Gerhard in Randers, a move that sent shockwaves throughout the country. In the aftermath, Ebbesen and his followers escaped through a bridge, fleeing south across the Gudenå to the Skjern River.
At Skjern River, Ebbesen and his men stormed a Holsteinian fort construction possibly near present-day Skjern, and killed a great number of Germans. After this, Ebbesen continued his revolt, seeking the important castle of Skanderborg.

Siege

In late 1340, Ebbesen had reached Skanderborg with a force of 2000 men, and he now began initiating a siege of the Castle. The commander of the castle, Markcard Rastorf, held strongly out. The siege dragged on for a long time, and the besieged Holsteinian crew looked to be surrendering the castle soon because of a lack of food. However, with the intent to free the castle from German rule, Ebbesen would now be surprised: the surrounded garrison had meanwhile sent a message of help to the dead Count's son, Henry II, Count of Holstein-Rendsburg. Henry would in subsequently send a professional force of 600 cavalry to Skander, in order to relieve the besieged. When the relief force arrived, Ebbesen quickly retreated from the siege on 2 November and went out on open terrain with the Holsteinian army pursuing.

Aftermath

The opposing forces met at a hill outside Skanderborg and engaged in an open battle. The battle was stubborn, however, the Danes would be defeated, and Ebbesen and his brothers, together with 2200 Danes, were killed in the battle. Despite the defeat, the unification of Denmark, and the fight against the Holsteinian foreigners would continue under Valdemar IV of Denmark.

Works cited

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