Otte Ruud (20 May 1520 – 11 October 1565) was a Danish-Norwegian admiral during the Northern Seven Years' War, who died in Swedish captivity.

Called up to duty during the war, he at first distinguished himself at land, later becoming a ship's captain, and finally admiral commanding the Danish fleet.

He distinguished himself at the battle of Mared the same year, and the King made him captain of the warship Byens Løve (56 guns).

[2][3] Byens Løve belonged to Herluf Trolle's fleet when it met the Swedes at the first battle of Öland in the spring of 1564.

[3] After a shorter interlude fighting with his men and horses in the land campaign in Skåne, Rud was in 1565 back at sea, as captain of the Krabat, a ship taken from the Swedes.