Christian, Prince-Elect of Denmark
Christian | |
---|---|
Prince Elect of Denmark Crown Prince of Norway | |
Born | Copenhagen Castle | 10 April 1603
Died | 2 June 1647 Gorbitz Castle | (aged 44)
Burial | Roskilde Cathedral (1655) |
Spouse | Magdalene Sibylle of Saxony |
House | Oldenburg |
Father | Christian IV of Denmark |
Mother | Anne Catherine of Brandenburg |
Religion | Lutheranism |
Danish Royalty |
House of Oldenburg Main Line |
---|
Christian IV |
|
Christian (10 April 1603 – 2 June 1647) was Prince-Elect of
Biography
Early life
Prince Christian was born at Copenhagen Castle to King Christian IV (1577–1648) and Queen Anne Catherine (1575–1612) of Denmark, Norway, etc. Christian was their second son and the oldest one living, as his elder brother Frederik had died in 1599, less than a year old. As such, his father saw him as the preferable heir to the Danish throne.[1]
Denmark was an elective monarchy, where elective power was held by the Council of the Realm. However, the King would usually choose an heir and have him hailed as such, thus limiting the Council's freedom of choice.[2] Whilst Norway was formally a hereditary monarchy, making Christian Crown Prince since his birth, it remains likely that the next King of Denmark would not have been another person than the next King of Norway. In 1608, the Council and representatives of the Estates supported the King in naming Christian as heir apparent. He was publicly hailed in 1610, both in Denmark and Norway.[1]
Titled Tugtmester, Niels Jørgensen Æryleus (1610–1617) and Jesper Brochmand (1617–1620) were responsible for educating the Prince. Leading the principal court, Christian Friis til Kragerup was Hofmester (1615–1616), succeeded by Christian Thomesen Sehested in 1616.[1]
Career and marriage
In 1625,
In 1628, Christian received the
.In 1633, Christian was engaged to Magdalene Sibylle, daughter of Elector John George I of Saxony; the marriage had been discussed as early as 1630. The wedding took place on 5 October 1634 in Copenhagen among great festivities. The marriage was childless, and they resided at Nykøbing Castle in Falster. Christian was not much involved on the political scene in this phase of his life, partly to his own dismay, but he did act as head of government in 1644, when the King was absent due to the Torstenson War. In the autumn of 1644, Prince Christian had a stay in the fortified Malmø, but Swedish forces threatened the city, and Christian retreated, first to Copenhagen due to illness, then to Falster.[1]
Later life and legacy
Christian gained a reputation as lazy and as a drinker.
Ancestry
Ancestors of Christian, Prince-Elect of Denmark | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
References
- ^ Dansk biografisk lexikon(in Danish). Vol. 3. Copenhagen: Gyldendalske Boghandels Forlag. pp. 526–529. Retrieved 17 November 2009.
- ISBN 978-82-521-5546-4.
- ISBN 978-0-07-310748-6.
- ^ Christian the Prince Elect
External links
- Christian the Prince Elect at the website of the Royal Danish Collection