History of Denmark

Of Maren Splid and the viking age. Piet van Deurs is in Ribe to start off DR-TVs historical series, Denmarkstories, transmitted from the scene where events took place, to see the story behind the story. Maren Splid was burnt at teh stake in the year 1641. Convicted of witchcraft during the reign of Christian the 4th. You would literally trip over history in the onld city. Stig Jensen, antiquarian in Ribe, tells of a small mysterios Odins figure, and about the viking era in Denmarks first city.

Christian the 3rd dies from gangrene, boils and bad teeth on new years night between 1558 and 1559. It all happens at Koldinhus, where Piet van Deurs now tells the story of the past king, who was in close written contact with Luther and the learned in Wittenberg. We hear of the kings significance for the history of Denmark, as well as of his dramatic life.

In 1835 two men are digging a boundary ditch near Vejle. Suddenly skeletal remains of a human appears. The authorities are called, and it turns out to be a centuries old bogcorpse... a queen, by the name of Gunhild. Piet van Deurs has been to Vejle, to ask museumsuperintendand Lone Hvass, is it a queen?

The dramatic events of Christmas night, 1811 on the western sea, off Jutland. Ships were crushed and dead sailors washed up on shore from Thorsminde to Esbjerg, when two giant warships, St. George and Defence, from the fleet of admiral Nelson ran aground and were crushed on the western coast of Jutland, Christmas night 1811. Today Gert Normann is diving the wreck, and his amazing finds can be viewed at the newly opened Strandingsmuseum St. George, in Thorsminde.

Roskilde is being dug. In the old city of the canons, skeletons and coins that change history are found. It's happening this summer, that Piet van Deurs is travelling with the show Denmarkstoris, and this time he is in the old cathedral city. An old dream has come true for Michael Andersen, when he was allowed to dig behind the old church. Michael Andersen tells of Duke Christoffer, who lies in the sarcophagus in the cathedral. Died in batle, and whose signet has been found in the dirt behind the cathedral. We also descen to a ruin beneath the estates square.

The great defeat in 1864 is what its about in danish history. From the victory of Fredericia, to the defeat at Dybbøl. Piet van Deurs talks to the current chief of defense about the colleagues, the commanders of the time. Also with the resistancefighter, who tells of the trauma of defeat, that has hounded us. It was more than mere hardships the danish soldiers of fortifications 1 - 10 in Dybbøl were exposed to. Hear about the military equipment of the day, and the conditions for danish soldiers in a hopeless fight, where the losses were massive.

The alcatraz, devils island, or what you want to call the island, where criminals and orginals for whom nowhere else had room, were isolated then. Piet van Deurs is on the farthestmost danish isle. The Ertholms, Christians Island and Frederiks Island, today some of the most beautiful danish attractions east of Bornholm, owned by defense command, and with a histoy that the copenhageners, juts and fynbos hardly know.

The largest castle ruin in northern europe. Piet van Deurs is till on Bornholm with Denmarkstories. This time at Hammershus, the giant fortress of bishops and kings in the baltic sea. In this episode we will make closer aquintance with a known princess, Dr. Dippel, the alchymist and some odd gullgubbers and a swede, shot in the open street.

A summersday in 1086, Denmarks king died in front of the altar of Saint Albani church in Odense, murdered by furious countrymen, fearing the loss of power and privileges. The murder of Canute the Holy as well as modern examinations of the kings remains, is the subject of Piet van Deurs' Denmarkstories. In this episode anthropologist Pia Bennike, professor Kaare Lund Rasmussen and museumsuperintendant Niels Bonde talk of the knowledge they have gained, from the examinations and the shrine.

Skeletons from dogs and 11 horses has been found interred with the chieftain. Nails, remains of an anchor and marks from a buried viking ship. But where in the world is the chieftain that was buried in the viking age, with the Ladby ship near Kerteminde.