The Kingdom of Denmark had reached a high point during the reign of Valdemar II, who had forged a Danish "Baltic Sea Empire", which by 1221 extended control from Estonia in the east to Norway in the north.
In this period, several of the "regional" law codes had been given; notably the Code of Jutland from 1241, which asserts several modern concepts like right of property; "that the king cannot rule without and beyond the law"; "and that all men are equal to the law".
Following the death of Valdemar II in 1241, the kingdom is in general decline due to internal strife and the rise of the Hanseatic League.
The competition between Valdemar’s sons—Erik IV “Plough-tax,” Abel, Duke of Schleswig, and Christopher I—will have the long term result that the southern parts of Jutland will become separated from the kingdom of Denmark and become semi-independent vassal duchies/counties.
Eric was supposedly murdered by his brother Abel in 1250; Christopher, elected King upon the death of his older brother Abel in the summer of 1252, has spent most of his reign trying to fight his many opponents.
By accepting Abel's sons as rulers of South Jutland, he has prevented their demands on the throne but in return the border district is now more or less independent.
He has also had to be reconciled with the kings of Norway and Sweden, who had been provoked by Abel's interventions.
Finally, he has had to yield to some of the political demands of the Danish magnates.
The Danehof seems to have become an institution during his rule.
Christopher’s men had arrested and humiliated the proud and self-righteous Archbishop Jakob Erlandsen after Erlandsen had refused to recognize Christopher's son, Eric, as his (Christopher's) rightful successor.
While trying to have his brother Eric canonized, Christopher finds himself excommunicated from the Catholic Church, but the excommunication has little or no effect.
Dying very "unexpectedly" and shortly after taking the Holy Communion on May 29, 1259, Christopher is buried in consecrated ground by the Bishop of Ribe.
His son succeeds him as Eric V under the auspices of his mother, the competent Queen Dowager Margaret Sambiria.
Eric's succession overrides the rights of the descendants of earlier monarchs, counter to the dictates of agnatic seniority.
However, since the reputations of the sons of Abel of Denmark are tainted by acts of fratricide and murder, it is relatively easy to ignore their claims to the throne.
Eric’s accession leads to what will be serious rivalry for generations, yet Christopher's line will be able to successfully retain their claim to the Danish throne.
