Danish King’s Garden

This garden takes its name from the events that took place here just over 800 years ago. In June in 1219, the Danish King Valdemar II Sejr or Valdemar the Victorious led his fleet on a crusade to present-day Estonia. He had arrived to Lyndanise, what is nowadays Tallinn. At first he was peacefully met by the pagan Estonians. But on the third night, while the Danish forces were celebrating, the Estonians unexpectedly unleashed an attack in which many Danish troops lost their lives. The situation was looking hopeless when the archbishop Anders Sunesen started to pray asking for heavenly assistance.

Suddenly there was a great peal of thunder, and a red banner with a white cross floated down from the sky. It landed in the archbishop’s hands and a voice from the skies said: "When you raise this banner against your enemies, they will yield before you". Inspired, the Danes turned the tide and won the battle. This symbol has remained the national flag on Denmark – the ‘Danneborg’, the longest serving national flag in the world and has gained widespread use among the population of Denmark – for birthdays, funerals and practically everything in between.