The siege of Kolding (Danish: Belejringen af Kolding) also known as the siege of Koldinghus, was a siege by the County of Holstein on the Danish castle of Koldinghus in 1368 during the Danish–Hanseatic War (1361–1370). The siege would end inconclusive for both sides; however, the commander of the castle, Peder Iversøn, promised to surrender if King Valdemar IV of Denmark would die, abdicate, or lose the kingdom. Presumably, Iversøn surrendered at last, since he would not be mentioned in the later peace talks.
Background
The Hanseatic League suffered a major military disaster at Helsingborg in 1362, leaving the Danish King, Valdemar, stronger than ever. In November 1367, 77 members of the Hanseatic diet in Cologne, decided to form an alliance-confederation to attack Denmark. The confederation was supported by Count Adolf of Holstein and Albert, King of Sweden. With the support of rebelling Jutish nobles, the Holsteinian army invaded Jutland, where the border fortifications of Ribe and Skodborg fell.
Siege
The Castle of Koldinghus would also be besieged. The castle garrison would defend the city bravely, and the German dukes, Nicholas and Henry, would still be besieging the castle long into 1369. In July 1369 the siege still dragged on, and the dukes had likely tried to attack Høneborg and Hindsgavl castles, or at least threatened to do so. This resulted in negotiations with the commander of the castles, Peder IVersøn. The result of these negotiations looked similar to those concluded with Aalholm and Ravnsborg the year before. On 16 July, Iversøn sent a letter to the Holsteinian camps, in which he promised if King Valdemar should either lose the kingdom, voluntarily resign it, or die, he would hand over all his castles to the counts. However, if the king came to the kingdom again and demanded the castles back, Iversøn would hand them over to him.
Aftermath
Presumably Koldinghus would fall to the besiegers, since no representatives of Koldinghus were present during the Treaty of Stralsund. Additionally, there is no other historic mentions of Peder Iversen ever again.