Siege of Kolding (1341)
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changes Holsteinian raid on Jutland
| Siege of Kolding | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Niels Ebbesen's Rebellion | |||||||||
 Present-day Koldinghus seen from the north, 2006. | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
 Jutish rebels |
 Holstein | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
|
Unknown |
Henry II | ||||||||
| Units involved | |||||||||
|
Jutish peasants and knights |
Koldinghus garrison | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
| Unknown, but large | Unknown | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| Unknown | Unknown | ||||||||
The siege of Kolding (Danish: Belejringen af Kolding) also known as the siege of Koldinghus, was a siege by Jutish rebels on the Holsteinian-held Castle of Koldinghus in 1341. The siege ended unsuccessful, and Count Henry II of Holstein-Rendsburg retaliated by raiding much of Jutland.
In 1340, a group of 50 Jutes, led by Niels Ebbesen, a minor nobleman, launched a surprise attack on Count Gerhard III, who was regent of Denmark at that time, in Randers, resulting in his assassination.[1] This event sent shockwaves throughout the country and in the aftermath, Ebbesen and his followers fled south across the Gudenå River, continuing their rebellion further south.[1]
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Ebbesen and his men now launched an assault on a Holsteinian fortification near present-day Skjern River, killing many Germans.[2] Next, they set their sights on the strategically important Skanderborg Castle and besieged the place.[3] However, the besieged Germans got reinforcements and confronted the Danes in open battle.[4] The battle resulted in the death of Niels Ebbesen, however, the revolt did not seem to have ended as a result of the battle.[4]
Siege
The year after the battle, the Jutish rebels had gone, with great power, towards Koldinghus, which they would try to conquer.[5] However, Count Henry of Holstein-Rendsburg (nickname Iron Henry), who had inherited his father's uncontrollable fighting spirit and warrior skill, came to the fortification's rescue, just like he did with Skanderborg.[5] In the following confrontation, the Jutish rebels retreated from Koldinghus, and the Count would retaliate against the Jutes by raiding much of their controlled area.[6] As a result, Henry gathered a big booty and left again to his base at Funen.[5]