ng over him a cloud of melancholy,
which occasionally settled on him with such weight as to rob him wholly
of his reason. At such times he seemed transformed into some fierce
monster with an insatiable thirst for blood. When a mere boy in the
royal palace at Copenhagen, he is said to have amused himself by
midnight orgies about the city's streets.[16] He was well educated,
however, and early became a useful adjunct to his father. At twenty-one
he displayed much bravery in an assault which Hans then made on
Stockholm; and a few years later he became his father's deputy in the
government of Norway. While there, his secretary one day came to him and
portrayed in glowing terms the beauty of a maiden who had dazzled him in
Bergen. The sensitive heart of Christiern at once was fired. He left his
castle at Opslo without a moment's waiting, and, crossing hill and vale
without a murmur, hastened to feast his eyes on the fair Dyveke. Being
of a romantic turn of mind, he resolved to see her first amidst all the
fashion of the town. A splendid ball was therefore held, to which the
aristocracy were bidden with their daughters. Among the guests was the
renowned Dyveke, who outshone all in beauty. No sooner did Christiern
see her, than his whole soul burned within him. He seized her hand, and
led off the dance in company with his fair enchanter. Rapture filled his
soul; and when the ball was over, Dyveke was secretly detained and
brought to Christiern's bed. This incident had a far-reaching influence
on Christiern's later life. Though already betrothed to the sister of
Charles V., his passion for Dyveke did not pass away. He erected a
palace at Opslo, and lived there with his mistress until recalled to
Copenhagen, when he took her with him. The most singular feature in this
whole intrigue is that the royal voluptuary was from the outset under
the absolute sway, not of the fair Dyveke, but of her mother, Sigbrit, a
low, cunning, intriguing woman of Dutch origin, who followed the couple
to the royal palace at Opslo, and afterwards accompanied them to
Stockholm, the complete ruler of her daughter's royal slave. On the
accession of Christiern to the throne, he resolved, at the instance of
this woman, to add the Swedish kingdom to his dominions. In order to
comprehend the measures which he adopted, it will be necessary to trace
events in Sweden since the death of Hans.

The Danish party, in no way daunted by their futile effort to secure th