John, Johann, Johan II, or colloquially "Hans", Danish monarch and union king of Denmark (1481 – 1513), Norway (1483 – 1513) Sweden (1497 – 1501), under the Kalmar Union, and also Duke of Schleswig and Holstein. He was born on February 2, 1455 as the son of Christian I and Dorotea av Hohenzollern-Brandenburg, daughter of Margrave Hans of Brandenburg. In 1478 he married Christina of Saxony , granddaughter of Frederick the Gentle of Saxony. This produced the following offspring: Christian II of Denmark, Franciscus, Knud, and Elisabeth, who later married as princess of Brandenburg. He died on February 20, 1513.
According to the Privilege of Ripen the Noble Diets of the duchies of Schleswig and Holstein were to elect a duke among the sons of the previous duke. After the death of Christian I, John did however successfully argue for electing both sons to co-dukes (in 1482), when it looked as though his 10 years old brother Frederick was going to be elected. Although it was initially agreed they should govern the duchies jointly, at the majority of Frederick (in 1490) the duchies were never the less divided.