Mogens Ulfeldt

Mogens Ulfeldt (22 April 1569 – 15 June 1616) was a Royal Dano-Norwegian Navy officer and landowner. He served as Admiral of the Realm from 1610.

Early life Ulfeldt was born at Selsø Manor, the son of Jakob Ulfeldt (d. 1593) and Anne Jakobsdatter Flemming (1544–70). He was the elder brother of Jacob Ulfeldt. Mogens Ulfeldt studied in Wittenberg (1582–86), Jena (1583) and Leipzig. Soon after his return to Denmark, he went on another journey to Austria, Hungary and Italy. He studied at the universities of Padua (1587) and Siena (1588) before continuing to Malta where he participated in the Order of Malta's battles against the Turks.

Career Back in Denmark, Ulfeldt served as hofjunker in 1590–94. A favourite of the young Christian IV, in 1599 he was appointed vice captain of the king's ship on an expedition to the Arctic Sea. The following year, he was granted Kronborg as a fief. In 1604, Kronborg was exchanged for Kristianopel and Sølvitsborg.

Personal life On 7 August 1597, Ulfeldt was married to Anne Munk, a daughter of Christen Munk (c. 1520–79) and Dorthe Gyldenstierne (d. 1583). They had four children (1616–24): Corfitz Ulfeldt, Jacob Ulfeldt, Christian Ulfeldt and Anne Ulfeldt.

An "action by his wife" prompted Ulfeldt to imprison her at Selsø Castle, with the king's permission. She was not given her full freedom until 1624. Ulfeldt fell ill and died in 1616.