TROLLS, HERLUF (1516-1565), Danish naval hero, was born on Jan. 14, 1516, at Lila At the age of nineteen Trolle went to Vor Frue Skole at Copenhagen, subsequently completing his studies at Wittenberg, where he adopted the views of Melanchthon, with whom he was in intimate correspondence for some years. His marriage with Brigitte, the daughter of Lord Treasurer Mogens GjOe, brought him a rich inheritance, and in 1557 he took his seat in the senate. Both Christian III. and Frederick II. had a very high opinion of Trolle's trustworthiness and ability and employed him in various diplomatic missions. Trolle was, indeed, richly endowed by nature, and his handsome face and lively nature made him popular everywhere. His one enemy was his wife's nephew, Peder Oxe, the subsequently dis tinguished finance minister, whose narrow, grasping ways, espe cially as the two men were near neighbours, did not contribute towards family harmony. In 1559 Trolle was appointed admiral and inspector of the fleet, and in 1563 he superseded the aged Peder Skram as admiral in chief. On May ro he put to sea with twenty-one ships of the line and five smaller vessels and, after uniting with a Lubeck squadron of six liners, encountered, off the isle of Oland, a superior Swedish fleet of thirty-eight ships under Jacob Bagge. Supported by two other Danish ships Trolle at tacked the Swedish flagship "MakalOs" (Matchless), then the largest flagship in northern waters, but was beaten off at night fall. The fight was renewed at six o'clock the following morning,
when the "Makalos" was again attacked and forced to surrender, but blew up immediately afterwards, no fewer than 30o Lubeck and Danish sailors perishing with her. The Swedish admiral was captured, and the remnant of the Swedish fleet took refuge at Stockholm. Despite the damage done to his own fleet and flagship "Fortuna" by this victory, Trolle, on Aug. 14, fought another but indecisive action with a second Swedish fleet under Klas Horn, and kept the sea till Oct. 13. Trolle spent the winter partly at his castle of Herlufsholm completing his long cherished plan of estab lishing a school for all classes, and partly at Copenhagen equipping a new fleet for the ensuing campaign. On June r, 1565, he set sail with twenty-eight liners, which were reinforced off Femern by five Liibeck vessels. Klas Horn had put to sea still earlier with a superior fleet and the two admirals encountered off Fehmarn on June 4. The fight was severe but indecisive, and both commanders finally separated to repair their ships. Trolle was severely wounded in the thigh and shoulder, but he insisted on being the last to receive the surgeon's attention. He died of his wounds at Copenhagen on June 25.