Background
Jakob Ulfeldt was born at Bavelse, the son of privy councillor Jacob Ulfeldt (1535–1593) and Anne Jakobsdatter Flemming.
Jakob Ulfeldt was born at Bavelse, the son of privy councillor Jacob Ulfeldt (1535–1593) and Anne Jakobsdatter Flemming.
From 1581 he travelled widely, reaching many places which were rarely visited by Danish travellers at the time, and did not return to Denmark until 1597. Among the destinations he visited were Greece, Turkey, Rhodos, Cyprus, Egypt and Syria., he managed his estates which included Ulfeldtsholm which he had inherited from his father in 1693.
In 1616, he sold it to Ellen Marsvin and instead acquired Egeskov Castle.
In 1609, he was appointed Chancellor of the Realm. He was a driving force behind the alliance with the Netherlands in 1621 and the extended union with the duchies of Schleswig-Holstein in 1623.
Jacob Ulfeldt had a large number of offspring, Corfitz Ulfeldt (1606–1664), Elsebet Jacobsdatter (died 1676), Knud Ulfeldt (1600–1646), Eiler Ulfeldt (1613–1644), Frands Ulfeldt (1601–1636), Laurids Ulfeldt (1605–1659), Ebbe Ulfeldt (1610–1654) and Flemming Ulfeldt (1607–1657).
In 1607, Ulfeldt became a member of the Pricy Council.