Christian IV of Denmark
Photo: Pieter Isaacsz, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons14

Christian IV of Denmark

King of Denmark and Norway from 1588 to 1648

Christian IV (12 April 1577 – 28 February 1648) was King of Denmark and Norway, and Duke of Holstein and Schleswig from 1588 until his death in 1648. His reign of 59 years and 330 days makes him the longest-reigning monarch in Scandinavian history.2

From Wikipedia’s article on Christian IV of Denmark (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Born Apr 22, 1577, died Mar 9, 1648.1

About

A member of the House of Oldenburg, Christian began his personal rule of Denmark–Norway in 1596 at the age of 19. He appointed Bishop Peder Winstrup to the royal chaplain in the household of King Christian IV. He is remembered as one of the most popular, ambitious, and proactive Danish-Norwegian kings, having initiated many reforms and projects. Christian IV obtained for his kingdoms a level of stability and wealth that was virtually unmatched elsewhere in Europe. He engaged Denmark–Norway in numerous wars, most notably the Thirty Years' War (1618–1648), which devastated much of Germany, undermined the Danish economy, and cost Denmark–Norway some of its conquered territories.

He rebuilt and renamed the Norwegian capital Oslo as Christiania after himself, a name used until 1925.

From Wikipedia’s article on Christian IV of Denmark, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.2

Companies

Early life and education

Young king

At the death of his father on 4 April 1588, Christian was just 10 years old. He succeeded to the throne, but as he was still under-age a regency council was set up to serve as the trustees of the royal power while Christian was still growing up. It was led by chancellor Niels Kaas (1535–1594) and consisted of the Rigsraadet council members Peder Munk (1534–1623), Jørgen Ottesen Rosenkrantz (1523–1596) and Christoffer Valkendorff (1525–1601). His mother Queen Dowager Sophie, 30 years old, had wished to play a role in the government, but was denied by the council. At the death of Niels Kaas in 1594, Jørgen Rosenkrantz took over leadership of the regency council.

Coming of age and coronation

Christian continued his studies at Sorø Academy where he had a reputation as a headstrong and talented student.

In 1595, the Council of the Realm decided that Christian would soon be old enough to assume personal control of the reins of government. On 17 August 1596, at the age of 19, Christian signed his haandfæstning (lit. "Handbinding" viz. curtailment of the monarch's power, a Danish parallel to Magna Carta), which was an identical copy of his father's from 1559.

Twelve days later, on 29 August 1596, Christian IV was crowned at the Church of Our Lady in Copenhagen by the Bishop of Zealand, Peder Jensen Vinstrup (1549–1614). He was crowned with a new Danish Crown Regalia which had been made for him by Dirich Fyring (1580–1603), assisted by the Nuremberg goldsmith, Corvinius Saur.

From Wikipedia’s article on Christian IV of Denmark (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Career

Occupation: politician.7

  • 1588 to 1648Monarch of Norway6
  • 1588 to 1648Monarch of Denmark6
  • Date not recordedFounded Post Danmark3
  • Date not recordedFounded Sorø Academy4
  • Date not recordedFounded Danish East India Company5

Personal life

  • BornApr 22, 1577, Frederiksborg Palace8
  • DiedMar 9, 1648, Rosenborg Castle9
  • CitizenshipKingdom of Denmark10
  • SpousesAnne Catherine of Brandenburg 1597 to 161211; Kirsten Munk married 161511

Birth and family

Christian was born at Frederiksborg Castle in Denmark on 12 April 1577 as the third child and eldest son of King Frederick II of Denmark–Norway and Sofie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. He was descended, through his mother's side, from King John of Denmark, and was thus the first descendant of King John to assume the crown since the deposition of King Christian II.

At the time, Denmark was still an elective monarchy, so in spite of being the eldest son Christian was not automatically heir to the throne. But Norway was a hereditary monarchy, and electing someone else would result in the end of the union of the crowns. However, in 1580, at the age of 3, his father had him elected Prince and successor to the throne of Denmark.

Marriage

On 30 November 1597, he married Anne Catherine of Brandenburg, a daughter of Joachim Friedrich, Margrave of Brandenburg.

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His first queen was Anne Catherine. They were married from 1597 to 1612. She died after bearing Christian seven children. In 1615, three years after her death, the king privately married Kirsten Munk, by whom he had twelve more children.

In 1632, an English envoy to king Christian IV, then aged 55, primly remarked, "Such is the life of that king: to drink all day and to lie with a whore every night".

In the course of 1628, Christian discovered that his wife, Kirsten Munk, was having a relationship with one of his German officers, so he had Kirsten placed under house arrest. She endeavoured to cover up her own disgrace by conniving at an intrigue between Vibeke Kruse, one of her discharged maids, and the king. In January 1630, the rupture became final, and Kirsten retired to her estates in Jutland. Meanwhile, Christian openly acknowledged Vibeke as his mistress, and they had several children.

With his first wife, Anne Catherine of Brandenburg, he fathered the following children:

Stillborn son (1598).

Frederik (15 August 1599 – 9 September 1599), died in infancy.

Christian (10 April 1603 – 2 June 1647).

Sophie (4 January 1605 – 7 September 1605), died in infancy.

Elisabeth (16 March 1606 – 24 October 1608), died in early childhood.

Frederick III (18 March 1609 – 9 February 1670).

Ulrik (2 February 1611 – 12 August 1633); murdered, administrator of the Prince-Bishopric of Schwerin as Ulrich III (1624–1633).

With his second wife, Kirsten Munk, he had 12 children, though the youngest, Dorothea Elisabeth, was rumoured to be the daughter of Kirsten's lover, Otto Ludwig:

Stillborn child (b. & d. 1615).

Unnamed infant (b. & d. 1617).

Countess Anna Cathrine of Schleswig-Holstein (10 August 1618 – 20 August 1633); married Frands Rantzau but died in adolescence.

Countess Sophie Elisabeth of Schleswig-Holstein (20 September 1619 – 29 April 1657); married Christian on Pentz.

Countess Leonora Christina of Schleswig-Holstein (8 July 1621 – 16 March 1698); married Corfitz Ulfeldt.

Count Valdemar Christian of Schleswig-Holstein (26 June 1622 – 26 February 1656).

Countess Elisabeth Auguste of Schleswig-Holstein (28 December 1623 – 9 August 1677); married Hans Lindenov.

Count Friedrich Christian of Schleswig-Holstein (26 April 1625 – 17 July 1627), died in early childhood.

Countess Christiane of Schleswig-Holstein (15 July 1626 – 6 May 1670); married Hannibal Sehested.

Countess Hedwig of Schleswig-Holstein (15 July 1626 – 5 October 1678); married Ebbe Ulfeldt.

Countess Maria Katharina of Schleswig-Holstein (29 May 1628 – 1 September 1628), died in infancy.

Countess Dorothea Elisabeth of Schleswig-Holstein (1 September 1629 – 18 March 1687).

With Kirsten Madsdatter:

Christian Ulrik Gyldenløve (1611–1640).

With Karen Andersdatter:

Dorothea Elisabeth Gyldenløve (1613–1615), died in early childhood.

Hans Ulrik Gyldenløve (1615–1645).

With Vibeke Kruse:

Ulrik Christian Gyldenløve (1630–1658).

Elisabeth Sophia Gyldenløve (1633–1654); married Major-General Klaus Ahlefeld.

From Wikipedia’s article on Christian IV of Denmark (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Philanthropy

Christian IV is renowned for his many city (town) foundations, and is most likely the Nordic head of state that can be accredited for the highest number of new cities in his realm. These towns/cities are:

Christianopel, now Kristianopel in Sweden. Founded in 1599 in the then Danish territory of Blekinge as a garrison town near the then Danish-Swedish border.

Christianstad, now Kristianstad in Sweden. Founded in 1614 in the then Danish territory of Skåne.

Glückstadt, now in Germany, founded in 1617 as a rival to Hamburg in the then Danish territory of Holstein.

Christianshavn, now part of Copenhagen, Denmark, founded as a fortification/garrison town in 1619. It also houses Freetown Christiania, a planned commune.

Konningsberg (King's Mountain), now Kongsberg in Norway, founded as an industrial town in 1624 after the discovery of silver ores.

Christiania, now Oslo in Norway. After a devastating fire in 1624 the king ordered the old city of Oslo to be moved closer to the fortification of Akershus slot and also renamed it Christiania. The city name was altered to Kristiania in 1877 and then back to Oslo in 1924. The original town of Christian is now known as Kvadraturen = The Quarters.

Christian(s)sand, now Kristiansand in Norway, founded in 1641 to promote trade at the Agdesiden len in Southern Norway.

Røros, now in Norway, founded as an industrial town after the discovery of copper ores.

A short-lived town was:

Christianspris, now in Schleswig, Germany, founded as a garrison town near Kiel in the then Danish territory of Holstein.

Furthermore, Christian is known for erecting many important buildings in his realm, including the observatory Rundetårn, the stock exchange Børsen, the Copenhagen fortress Kastellet, Rosenborg Castle, workers' district Nyboder, the Copenhagen naval Holmen Church (Holmens Kirke), Proviantgården, a brewery, the Tøjhus Museum arsenal, and two Trinity Churches in Copenhagen and modern Kristianstad, now known as respectively Trinitatis Church and Holy Trinity Church. Christian converted Frederiksborg Castle to a Renaissance palace and completely rebuilt Kronborg Castle to a fortress. He also founded the Danish East India Company (Asiatisk Kompagni) inspired by the similar Dutch company.

From Wikipedia’s article on Christian IV of Denmark (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Awards

  • 1603Knight of the Garter12

Sources

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