to Christopher of Bavaria, to desire his accept ance of the crown, and to request that he would take immediate possession of the throne. At the same time they informed Eric, by letter, that they had renounced their allegiance to him, and had elected another king; who, they hoped, would be more mindful of his promises, and pay greater regard to the welfare and prosperity of the people.

Eric answered the senate by expressing his astonishment at their proceedings, in deposing him from his dignity, and in electing, without his knowledge, Christopher duke of Bavaria, king of Denmark. He also added remonstrances and menaces, which, being unsupported by power, were entirely disregarded. But he afterwards testified no other resentment at the indignity of being deposed, than by occasionally sending out corsairs, whom he had taken into his pay, and who pillaged the Danish and Swedish ships that passed in sight.

A. D.

1438.

Christopher III. duke of Bavaria, being elected king in the room of the dethroned monarch, who was his uncle, took possession of the throne, was invested with the insignia of royalty, and received the oaths of his subjects. Immediately after his arrival in Denmark, the senate published a decree, which declared all those enemies to their country who should visit the court of Eric, or obey any other sovereign than Christopher. This was followed by a manifesto, containing articles of accusation against the dethroned monarch, and on which, it was said, was founded his deposition. It is probable that it seemed necessary for confirming the authority of Christopher, who, in other respects,

respects, treated Eric with tenderness. Complaints being made to the former of the depredations and piracies committed by the latter, he treated them with raillery, and said he was glad that his uncle could devise any method of amusing and supporting himself. The evil, however, daily increasing, the people became more earnest, and obliged him to make formal preparations for war against Eric. Accordingly he made a descent with a body of troops into Gothland; but, while they were supposed to be engaged in hostile action, the nephew and uncle were agreeably passing their time in each other's company.

The dethroned monarch was allowed to enjoy, like Tiberius, a voluptuous life in his new Caprea; but which was exempt from the disorders attendant on the Roman. Christopher having married Dorothea, the daughter of the margrave of Brandenburg, the kingdom was filled with foreigners, and the Danes began to complain. The Bavarian instantly remembered the causes of Eric's deposition, and appeased his subjects, His whole time was occupied in the concerns of his people, in promoting and encouraging trade, and enforcing the laws of the kingdom. He sacrificed to his subjects some portions of his authority; and, therefore, the Danish writers represent him as a moderate, prudent, and patriotic prince. The Swedes, however, on the contrary, pourtray him under the features of a haughty despot, an a tyrant, probably because he did not observe toward them the same delicacy. It is, therefore, reasonable to conclude that, like many other princes, he possessed only such virtues as were promotive of his interest.

He

He left no issue, and died young of a short illness, which terminated his existence in a few days.

On the death of Christopher great contests arose concerning a successor to the crown, which the Danes felt an inclination to confer on his widow, Dorothy; but they dreaded her youth, and the choice she might make of a husband. She endeavoured to remove their apprehensions, by promising that she would accept of no husband, except from their hands. The states then offered the crown to Adolphus, duke of Holstein, who, with a moderation and disinterestedness almost uncommon among princes, consulting the good of his subjects, whose interest would have been absorbed in that of Denmark, refused to accept it.

They afterwards made application to the count of Oldenburg, who had a numerous progeny, and who answered them as follows:-"I

have three sons, whose qualities are very dif "ferent. One is passionately fond of women "and pleasure; another breathes nought but "war, without paying any regard to the justice "of the cause; but the third is of a more mo"derate disposition, prefers peace to the glory "of arms, and yet is unrivalled in valour, ge"nerosity, and magnanimity." These characters he pourtrayed for the information of the senate, and desired them to make choice of him who, they believed, would render the kingdom flourishing and prosperous. The senate immediately declared in favour of that prince whose panegyric the father had so warmly pronounced; and under whose happy auspices commenced the

greatness

greatness of the house of Oldenburg, which at this day occupies the throne of Denmark.

CHAP. IIL

From the Accession of the now reigning Family of Oldenburg to the present Time.

A. D. 1448.

NHRISTIAN I. being thus elected so

vereign, was soon after proclaimed king of Denmark and Norway, and crowned accordingly. The Swedes, however, not thinking themselves bound by the choice of the Danes to acknowledge him as their monarch, asserted that his election was an infraction of the uaien of Calmar, and bestowed the crown on their own countryman Charles Canutson. A war ensued between the two rivals, who filled both kingdoms with disturbances during the whole course of their joint lives; and, having mutally wrested the sceptre from each other's hands, abandoned and resumed it. These altercations cost the people of both countries very

dear.

No sooner had Canutson obtained possession of the Swedish throne than he invaded the is and of Gothland, in which Eric resided, and endeavoured to take the deposed king prisoner. Eric, however, defended himself with great bravery; and, when obliged to abandon the town, retired to the citadel. But provisions beginning to fail, he demanded an interview of the Swedish generals, and endeavoured to awaken the compassion of his former subjects. "You have," said the hapless monarch, em66 bittered

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bittered my life by your frequent revolts: you deposed me, and placed on the throne a usurper; and now you wish to drive me from "this wretched spot of land, isolated in the "midst of the sea, and the place in which I "had hoped to terminate my unfortunate life "in tranquillity and peace. Do not deprive me of that hope; for nothing can be more ❝inglorious than to accumulate misfortunes on "him who is already oppressed with misery."

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Christian allowed Eric to take up his abode in any town of Denmark, or of Pomerania, and sent to him a magnificent embassy, which was equally honourable to the politeness and humanity of that prince. Eric was affected with these instances of tenderness-so trifling a circumstance can afford consolation to a man in adversity! He hesitated, but at length determined to retire into Pomerania, whither he was escorted by the Danish deputies, and where he terminated his life in great tranquillity, without once attempting to regain possession of the throne. In the mean time, the pride, insolence, and despotic conduct, of Canutson, disgusted the Swedes, who' deposed him, and invited Christian to pass over into. Sweden, and accept their crown.

A. D.

1458.

But though Christian obtained this good for. tune, he had not the art of rendering it permanent, and enjoyed it only a few years. The Swedes complained of his absence from their kingdom, of his allowing the people to be oppressed with officers and governors, and of his expending in Denmark the wealth which he derived from Sweden. He also embroiled himself