Niels Erlandsen Galen was born circa 1220 at Ellinge, Haragers
district in Skåne. He was "Gældker Præfectus" (Kongens højeste
embedsmand = King's highest officer) in Lund from 1251 through to
1285. He inherited the manor (herregården) Ellinge. Married to
Elisabeth Pedersdatter Ulfeldt.

His brothers Jacob and Anders Erlandsen were given the task of
overseeing the construction of Hammershus fortress. His brother
Jacob, the Archbishop of Lund, refused to recognized King
Christoffer's 10 year old son, later known as Erik Klipping, as heir
apparent; for this the king ordered that Jakob be arrested. Niels
sided with the king in this dispute, and had his brother arrested on
February 5, 1259. A third brother, Erland Erlandsen, was made
archbishop after Jacob. Erland died two years later, even before his
appointment was approved by the pope. (Source: Dansk Adelsårbog,
1893, page 158; and Politikken, volume 4, pages 96, 97.)