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The grey house looks like the others around it, ordinary and unassuming. But a closer look at the walls of Fiskergade 82 in Aarhus, and you will find a plaque with a grand statement: “In this house, the world’s oldest sailor, Denmark’s oldest mariner and Aarhus’ oldest inhabitant, Christian Jacobsen Drakenberg passed away.
Born 18th November 1626, died 9th October 1772. He reached an age of 146 years.”The legend of Drakenberg or “Drak,” as he was known, has remained a mystery for decades. Did he actually live until the age of 146? Nobody knows for sure. But Sophus Emil Johnsen, a Danish sailor and chandler, deeply believed that he did, and was so fascinated by Drak he spent many years of his life trying to spread the story of this remarkable man.
He certainly had a lot of material to work with: The tales surrounding Drakenberg are numerous and fantastic. Drak’s long career as a sailor in the Danish navy included three stints fighting the Swedes, being captured by pirates, and 15 years as a slave under various masters in the Mediterranean before he escaped and made his way back to Denmark. Once on Danish soil with tales to tell, he became a favorite…
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