Povel Huitfeldt

Who was Povel Huitfeldt?

Povel Ottesen Huitfeldt, who was the first Danish-Norwegian Governor-general of Norway, was born circa 1520 and died on 21 September 1592 at Tryggevælde Manor in Zealand. He was buried at Halmstad church, Sweden. His parents were Otte Clausen Huitfeldt of Krumstrup, Skibelundgaard and Lørup and Barbara Eriksdatter Blaa. On 4 February 1554 he married Margrethe Breide, the daughter of Hans Breide and Thale Emmiksdatter. Christoffer Huitfeldt and Peder Huitfeldt were his bothers.

From 1572 through 1577 Povel Huitfeldt was the first in a long line of foreign Governors-general of Norway, but neither the government in Copenhagen nor Huitfeldt managed to achieve the goals the ministry had established for his role.