Valdemar IV Atterdag of Denmark

Valdemar IV, called Atterdag for the lands he gradually won back (c. 1320–1375), grew up at Louis IV's court while Count Gerhard III ruled a Denmark pledged away in pieces. After Gerhard was killed in 1340, Valdemar was acclaimed king at Viborg.

He redeemed the pawned lands and taxed hard, even through the Black Death of 1349–1350, and uprisings followed. In 1361 he conquered Gotland and, at Visby, ordered three beer barrels filled with gold and silver within three days or the town would be pillaged; they were full before the first night.

In 1362 the Hanseatic towns, Sweden and Norway allied against him, and they forced him abroad in 1368. The Treaty of Stralsund in 1370 gave the Hansa trading rights and let him return. He died in 1375; his daughter was Margaret I.