Anne Lykke
Encyclopedia
Anne Lykke was a Danish noblewoman and royal mistress of Christian, Prince Elect of Denmark
.
Anne Henriksdatter Lykke was born into one of Denmark's more prosperous noble families. She was the daughter of the noble statesman Henrik Lykke (1555 – 1611) and Karen Frandsdatter Banner (1559 – 1616). She was born at Vordingborg Castle
, where her father was sheriff. During 1615, Anne married nobleman Cai Rantzau (1591–1623), governor of several royal palaces. In 1616, her only child, daughter Sophie, (1616 - 1635) was born at Copenhagen Castle
where Rantzau was sheriff. In 1621, Rantzau was appointed General Commissioner of war for Danish troops in Holstein
. He died in 1623, when Anne was 27 years of age. Following his death, Anne took over the administration of the tenancies until the accounts had been settled.
During May 1625, King Christian IV of Denmark
embarked on a military campaign which was later known in Denmark and Norway as The Emperor War
(Kejserkrigen). With King Christian commanding on the battlefield, prince Christian was installed as acting head of government. During 1626, Anne was arrested by order of King Christian, who thought the influence she had on his son made his son incapable of ruling while the king was abroad. Anne abducted in Nyborg
, arrested and sent to the Bohus Fortress
. The arrest caused a conflict between the monarch and the noble council of state since it was a clear breach of the law to imprison a noble without trial. She refused to accept the king's initial terms for her release. The king accused her of having hired a witch, Lamme Heine, to harm him. He planned to have her put on trial for sorcery. During the summer of 1627, the trial was prevented because of the German invasion. Both Johann Tserclaes, Count of Tilly and Albrecht von Wallenstein
had occupied the duchies and the whole peninsula of Jutland
. There was also opposition and intervention of powerful people in Denmark, including the king's own mother, Queen Dowager
Sophie. In 1628, Anne was released with the condition that she accept house arrest on her estate.
In 1629, Anne married the wealthy nobleman Knud Ulfeldt (1600 – 1646), the son of Chancellor of the Realm Jacob Ulfeldt. Knud Ulfeldt lost his position of marshal of the court and only after Anne's death in 1641 did he return as Lord Chamberlain.
Christian, Prince Elect of Denmark
Christian was the Prince Elect of Denmark between 1610 and his death.-Early life:He was born in Copenhagen Castle as a son of King Christian IV of Denmark and Queen-Consort Anne Catherine . He was the couple's oldest living son, an older brother Frederick having died in 1599, less than a year old...
.
Anne Henriksdatter Lykke was born into one of Denmark's more prosperous noble families. She was the daughter of the noble statesman Henrik Lykke (1555 – 1611) and Karen Frandsdatter Banner (1559 – 1616). She was born at Vordingborg Castle
Vordingborg Castle
The Vordingborg Castle ruins are located in the town of Vordingborg, Denmark and are the town's most famous attraction.-History:...
, where her father was sheriff. During 1615, Anne married nobleman Cai Rantzau (1591–1623), governor of several royal palaces. In 1616, her only child, daughter Sophie, (1616 - 1635) was born at Copenhagen Castle
Copenhagen Castle
Copenhagen Castle was a castle on Slotsholmen in Copenhagen, Denmark, built in the late 14th century at the site of the current Christiansborg Palace....
where Rantzau was sheriff. In 1621, Rantzau was appointed General Commissioner of war for Danish troops in Holstein
Holstein
Holstein is the region between the rivers Elbe and Eider. It is part of Schleswig-Holstein, the northernmost state of Germany....
. He died in 1623, when Anne was 27 years of age. Following his death, Anne took over the administration of the tenancies until the accounts had been settled.
During May 1625, King Christian IV of Denmark
Christian IV of Denmark
Christian IV was the king of Denmark-Norway from 1588 until his death. With a reign of more than 59 years, he is the longest-reigning monarch of Denmark, and he is frequently remembered as one of the most popular, ambitious and proactive Danish kings, having initiated many reforms and projects...
embarked on a military campaign which was later known in Denmark and Norway as The Emperor War
Thirty Years' War
The Thirty Years' War was fought primarily in what is now Germany, and at various points involved most countries in Europe. It was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history....
(Kejserkrigen). With King Christian commanding on the battlefield, prince Christian was installed as acting head of government. During 1626, Anne was arrested by order of King Christian, who thought the influence she had on his son made his son incapable of ruling while the king was abroad. Anne abducted in Nyborg
Nyborg
Nyborg is a city in central Denmark, located in Nyborg Municipality on the island of Funen and with a population of 16,492 . Nyborg is one of the 14 large municipalities created on 1 January 2007...
, arrested and sent to the Bohus Fortress
Bohus Fortress
Bohus Fortress lies along the old Norwegian - Swedish border in Kungälv, Bohuslän, Sweden, north east from Hisingen where the Göta river splits into two branches...
. The arrest caused a conflict between the monarch and the noble council of state since it was a clear breach of the law to imprison a noble without trial. She refused to accept the king's initial terms for her release. The king accused her of having hired a witch, Lamme Heine, to harm him. He planned to have her put on trial for sorcery. During the summer of 1627, the trial was prevented because of the German invasion. Both Johann Tserclaes, Count of Tilly and Albrecht von Wallenstein
Albrecht von Wallenstein
Albrecht Wenzel Eusebius von Wallenstein , actually von Waldstein, was a Bohemian soldier and politician, who offered his services, and an army of 30,000 to 100,000 men during the Danish period of the Thirty Years' War , to the Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand II...
had occupied the duchies and the whole peninsula of Jutland
Jutland
Jutland , historically also called Cimbria, is the name of the peninsula that juts out in Northern Europe toward the rest of Scandinavia, forming the mainland part of Denmark. It has the North Sea to its west, Kattegat and Skagerrak to its north, the Baltic Sea to its east, and the Danish–German...
. There was also opposition and intervention of powerful people in Denmark, including the king's own mother, Queen Dowager
Queen Dowager
A queen dowager or dowager queen is a title or status generally held by the widow of a deceased king. In the case of the widow of a deceased emperor, the title of empress dowager is used...
Sophie. In 1628, Anne was released with the condition that she accept house arrest on her estate.
In 1629, Anne married the wealthy nobleman Knud Ulfeldt (1600 – 1646), the son of Chancellor of the Realm Jacob Ulfeldt. Knud Ulfeldt lost his position of marshal of the court and only after Anne's death in 1641 did he return as Lord Chamberlain.