Dannebrog – the Danish flag

Most Danes probably know the story of Dannebrog falling from the sky during a battle in Estonia, but few people are probably aware that Valdemar the Victorious set out from Vordingborg and returned the flag here?

This happened in 1219, when he was at war in Estonia. Legend has it that when Valdemar’s army was under the most intense pressure, the Dannebrog fell from the sky and gave the soldiers the strength to turn the tide of the battle.

Before that, Valdemar the Victorious had assembled a huge army of long-range ships that crossed the Baltic Sea to Estonia. The battle took place in Lyndanisse, and the victory also marked the beginning of 130 years of Danish rule in Estonia. Valdemar the Victorious built a large castle at the site of the battle and called it Castrum Dannorum, or The Danish Castle, which later became Tallinn. As a result, there are a lot of architectural similarities between Tallinn and Vordingborg.

In recent times, however, Estonia and Denmark have had a somewhat more peaceful relationship, becoming closely linked trade and business partners. On 15th June 2019, the Dannebrog celebrated its 800th birthday, which was also celebrated in Tallinn, among other things with a visit by HRH Queen Margrethe, and in Vordingborg, where HRH Crown Prince Frederik and HRH Crown Princess Mary attended the festivities. The historical interpretation of the Dannebrog was also revealed

Read when and why the Danes fly the flag in 2019 here.