At Aksel E. Christensen's death in 1981, he had completed a continuation of the monograph: »The Union of Kalmar and Nordic Politics 1319-1439« (1980). This article, covering the period 1439-48, constitutes the first quarter of the posthumous manuscript. 

Firstly, it treats the complicated course of events in detail which made Christopher, born in Germany, King of Denmark, Norway and Sweden as a continuation of the Union between the Nordic countries, which was established 1397 in Kalmar. It is shown that Christopher's plan quickly to establish a strong monarchy in the Union was impeded by Denmark's politico-commercial status as well as the peasant risings in the spring of 1441. As a result, each country had their own elections of king and, thus, there were no common Act of Union and coronation. On the contrary, Christopher had to meet the Swedish demand to grant each kingdom independence and influence in the Council (Rigsråd). This prevented Christopher from establishing a common Nordic Council. 

Subsequently, the Nordic co-operation was limited to Nordic assemblies and bilateral treaties, and this is explained by the Swedish demands for independence as expressed in King Christopher's provisional royal vow. 

Consequently, the Union never functioned with a central Government, nor as an association of states but as a limited Nordic defensive alliance. In all of the three kingdoms, the members of the Rigsråd got significant political influence as they cooperated successfully with the King. 

Translated by Signe Juul