Before Nyborg was founded, a fortification existed in the area under the name of
Gammelborg. It was established in the 500s, and used throughout the Viking age until Nyborg was founded and took over its role. Nyborg was first mentioned in 1193 in the history of Denmark as
Nyborg Castle, which still exists today, but the town itself was not mentioned before the year 1202. From its foundation and until 1413, Nyborg Castle was used by numerous kings as seat of the
Danehof and other meetings, including
a meeting between
Queen Margaret I and the
Counts of Holstein in 1386. The first
Constitution of Denmark was written on Nyborg Castle by
Eric V in 1282. Being the seat of these meetings, Nyborg enjoyed a number of unique and special privileges, granted by the king. The first was granted by king
Valdemar II, who granted the town the status of a
market town (Danish:
Købstad) shortly after the town was founded. Merchants from neighboring
hundreds had to come to Nyborg to sell their wares, boosting the economy and traffic in the town. In 1446, a large number of additional privileges were added, including the outlawing of harbours between the market towns on eastern Funen. Nyborg was also given permission to host a yearly market, and artisans from
Vindinge Hundred were told to move to the market towns, boosting the population and economy of Nyborg once more. With the king visiting regularly, due to Nyborg's central location and the castle being the seat of the Danehof, Nyborg was given many additional privileges over the years. In 1525
Frederick I declared Nyborg as the king's residency, and until the 1560s it acted as the capital of Denmark. During this time,
Christian III expanded Nyborg Castle and city. Much of the castle was rebuilt and a tournament ground was built in front of the castle. The city was captured by Swedish troops during the
Dano-Swedish War, following the
Battle of Nyborg. The Swedish troops sent all valuables home to Sweden and ruined much of Nyborg Castle. The city was retaken by an allied force of Danes, Brandenburgers, Polish mercenary cavalry and Dutchmen after a bombardment by a large Dutch naval fleet led by the famous Dutch Admiral Michiel DeRuyter, who was key in the negotiations and Swedes capitulation. The city was then looted by the allied forces with DeRuyter giving strict orders prohibiting Dutch forces (who made up a third of the allied army) not to participate. DuRuyter noted in his log that the Poles were allowed to take the captured Danish wives and daughters of Nyborg as part of the plundered booty, to his utter disgust – but there was nothing he could do to prevent it. Following the war, the king was no longer interested in living in the castle, and it was handed over to the military. Nyborg became an army garrison, with the castle then being used strictly for military purposes. After the wars and several fires and livestock plagues, the 1700s were a low period in Nyborg's history, with the population growing poorer. Things turned around in the 1800s where Nyborg became and important link across the Great Belt, with steamboat ferries starting to sail between Nyborg and Korsør in 1828. Several large markets were also held yearly, and the trade and economy of the town began to grow again. In the
Second World War, Nyborg's garrison still existed. Denmark was allowed to keep their military after the
Nazi occupation. Nyborg Vandrehjem and Hotel Nyborg Strand housed Danish soldiers. On 29 August 1943
Operation Safari was carried out, with the intention of disarming the Danish military. Battles occurred between the Danish and German soldiers on both Nyborg Vandrehjem and Hotel Nyborg Strand. Two Danish soldiers were killed at Hotel Nyborg Strand:
Cornet K.B. Madsen and Captain C.L. Wesenberg. The captain was killed by a German soldier, who also killed himself at the same time by accidentally blowing up them both with a grenade. That German soldier was most likely the only German casualty of the battle. There was a single Danish casualty during the battle at Nyborg Vandrehjem: Recruit Ivan Jacobsen. In 1977 market towns were dissolved, and Nyborg lost its title. Nyborg Municipality was established, with Nyborg being the seat of the new municipality. It was formed of the city and parish of Nyborg, as well as the two parish municipalities of Avnslev-Bovense and Vindinge. In the
2007 municipal reform, the three municipalities of Nyborg,
Ørbæk and
Ullerslev were merged to form the present Nyborg Municipality.
Historical populations Mayors From 1850–1919 the mayors of Nyborg were chosen by the king. Since 1919 the mayor has been elected. Below are all Nyborg's mayors since 1850. == Nyborg Castle ==