In the summer of 1224, Valdemar II received envoys from Norway. Sigurd Ribbung, having escaped in 1223 from Skule Bårdsson the Jarl of Nidaros, and one of the most powerful men of Norway. Sigurd Ribbung is a pretender to the Norwegian throne. Much of Viken have joined him in his rebellion against Håkon IV, the Norwegian king that resides in Bergen. Seeing an opportunity to stop the rise of Håkon IV, and Norway as a whole or at least disrupt it, Valdemar II agrees to send 3.000 men under Johannes Ebbesen to support the claim of Sigurd Ribbung, as long as he marries the Danish noble woman Ingeborg Ulfeldt, the daughter of Peder Strangesen of Kalundborg. In the early parts of 1225, she will arrive in Viken, with another 1.000 men from her father’s holdings. As of 1225, Valdemar III, the elected prince is of age. He will take on a larger role of governing the country.
For decades, the Polish dukes and Prussian tribes have been locked in warfare, the Poles to convert the pagans, and the Prussian tribes raiding the Polish lands for slaves. While the Polish at times have succeeded in defeating the pagan tribes and converting them, they soon turn back towards their pagan roots. While waiting for the pope’s answer, Valdemar II has been conducting correspondence with the Duke of Moravia, Konrad I, about a joint campaign against the Prussian tribes.
In Norway the fighting has become a standstill, Håkon IV has been beaten back from southern Norway, and Sigurd Ribbung is in complete control of Viken, However they are not strong enough or interested in going on the offensive. Håkon IV has increasingly trouble of controlling Skule Bårdsson, the second most powerful man in Norway. In the summer of 1226, a son is born to Sigurd Ribbung and Ingeborg Ulfeldt. Unfortunate Sigurd Ribbung in the winter becomes ill, and passes away in late 1226.
The Bagler nobles decide to support the infant Harald Sigurdsson, also known as Harald Ribbung. Due to a fear of losing Danish support, if they do not. Ingeborg and Harald are spirited away to Denmark, where Harald will grow up in Valdemar’s court. The Danish soldiers and mercenaries under Johannes Ebbesen stays in Norway.
In Valdemar’s realm, the land is returning to normality, the economy and population are growing at a steady pace, Rügen, Pomerania and Estonia starts receiving Danish settlers, which will clear the forested areas and build new villages. Economic wise, especially Lübeck is booming, the salt trade and the Herring trade is immense, while Lübeck does not have a monopoly on the herring trade, it is by far the largest participant, however Rostock, Havn, Stettin, Wismar and other towns and cities in the western parts of the Baltic Sea to some degree participates in the annual fishing. For the areas on the coast of the Øresund the benefits are obvious, nevertheless, no place other than Skanør and Falsterbo in the extreme southwest of Skåne benefits the most. It is out of these two areas that most herring are caught, two royal castles are build to secure that Valdemar II can control the herring trade. Another important trade good for the prospering danish towns and cities is the importation of Swedish Iron and copper by the Swedish city of Kalmar and Visby.
In Holstein, the castle of Bengerndsborg is founded on the spot where Johannes Ebbesen landed the Danish army in 1223, it will serve to become the resident of choice for Christoffer, Duke of Holstein and his mother. As time goes on the surrounding area will become the largest city in the duchy.
Before his death in 1227 Pope Honorious III gave acceptance to Valdemar and other Christian nobles in Northern Europe to invade the Prussian tribes, as such the correspondence between Valdemar II and Konrad I intensifies to come to an agreement between the two rulers.
In Norway, relations between Skule Bårdsson and Håkon IV have broken down; Norway is essentially split into three areas. Valdemar’s support of Sigurd Ribbung, have succeeded in preventing the rise of the Norwegian Kingdom. Johannes Ebbesen and the Danish forces have little to do. They have effectively become a garrison force.
1228, sees more preparation for the crusade, also Valdemar, the elected prince becomes a father, a bastard son is born, the son is named Sigurd.
In 1229 Valdemar, the elected prince is married to Eleanor of Portugal, the niece of his stepmom. Knut Holmgersson deposes Erik XI Eriksson the King of Sweden and the nephew of Valdemar II as a result Erik XI flees to Denmark. Which is rather inconvenient for the Danish king, which is preparing for the campaign against the pagans in the Baltic.
