Daniel Rantzau (1529 – 11 November 1569) was a Danish-German general who was known for his leadership in the Northern Seven Years' War. A distant relative of Johan Rantzau, Daniel Rantzau was raised in Holstein, and received a solid academic education but preferred a military career. For some years, he fought in Germany and Italy, and also took part in the Danish conquest of Dithmarschen in 1559.