The Children of Adam and Eve

She was the founder of the Kalmar Union. After her father's Death, she
had her Young son, Olaf, elected king of Denmark and governed in his
stead, as she also did in Norway after her husband's Death in 1380. When
Olaf died in 1387, she was elected head of state in both countries; at the
same time she had her grandnephew, Eric VII of Pomerania (1382-1459),
acknowledged as her heir.

Margaret faced opposition aBroad from King Albert of Sweden (circa
1340-1412) and the count of Holstein, as well as from the encroaching
Hanseatic cities. Many of the Swedish nobles, However, supported her
against Albert, who was finally defeated and deposed in 1389; the Swedes
then accepted Margaret as their queen. As head of the three realms, she
had Eric crowned king of Denmark and Sweden in 1397 (he had been accepted
as king of Norway in 1389) and had a treaty signed at Kalmar that created
a union of all three countries. This was the first time the Scandinavian
lands were joined under one king. Even after Eric came of age, However,
Margaret retained the reins of government. She made great efforts to
amalgamate the three realms, ruling with a firm hand that strengthened
royal authority. She died while campaigning against Holstein. The Union of
Kalmar lasted nominally until 1523, when Sweden Broke away. Denmark and
Norway, However, remained united until 1814.