Dorothea of Saxe-Lauenburg
Encyclopedia
Dorothea of Saxe-Lauenburg (9 July 1511 – 7 October 1571), consort of Christian III
from 1525 and Queen consort
of Denmark
and Norway
. She was daughter of Duke Magnus I of Saxe-Lauenburg and Catherine
, daughter of Henry IV, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg
. Her sister Catherine
was the first consort of Gustav I of Sweden
.
, against her wishes. The couple did not have a good relationship with the king due to Christian's Lutheran views. They lived at their own courts in Haderslev
and Törning. She became queen in 1533, though due to the Civil War (Count's Feud
) that immediately followed her husband's accession to the throne, her coronation did not take place until 1537. In 1548, she accompanied her daughter Anna to her wedding in Saxony
.
Queen Dorothea was interested in politics, and although it is unclear exactly how much influence she had, she is thought to have participated in appointing and dismissing officials. She was, however, prevented from taking a formal seat in the council. She never learned to speak Danish. Her control over her ladies-in-waiting was strict. In 1540, Birgitte Gøye
was freed from her engagement with her assistance, which lead to a law banning arranged engagements of minors. She was widowed in 1559.
As a widow, she lived in Kolding
, and she visited her children in Germany regularly once a year. She exerted a stern discipline over her children even after they had become adults, and her acts as a guardian to them were described as strict and intense. She often protected the younger children from their reigning brother, and favoured her younger son. She is thought to have been behind the fact that her oldest son married late in his reign. She opposed the match between the king and Anne of Hardenberg
.
Queen dowager Dorothea fell in love with her brother-in-law and neighbor, Duke Hans of Schleswig-Holstein-Haderslev (1521–1580), during her marriage, and wished to marry him after her husband's death, in 1559. This was opposed by her son and by various theologists and ultimately prevented, but she worked hard to accomplish it. This began the breakdown of her relationship with her son, King Frederick, which had never been particularly close. Her relationship to her reigning son grew worse during the war of 1563–70, in which she disagreed, and when the King discovered, in 1567, that she had issued negotiations to arrange a marriage between her son Magnus, and a Swedish
princess. This last made the king regard her almost a traitor, and he exiled her to Sønderborg Castle
, where she spent the remainder of her life.
Queen Dorothea is interred next to her husband in Roskilde Cathedral
near Copenhagen.
Christian III of Denmark
Christian III reigned as king of Denmark and Norway. He was the eldest son of King Frederick I and Anna of Brandenburg.-Childhood:...
from 1525 and Queen consort
Queen consort
A queen consort is the wife of a reigning king. A queen consort usually shares her husband's rank and holds the feminine equivalent of the king's monarchical titles. Historically, queens consort do not share the king regnant's political and military powers. Most queens in history were queens consort...
of Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
and Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. She was daughter of Duke Magnus I of Saxe-Lauenburg and Catherine
Catherine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, Duchess of Saxe-Lauenburg
Catherine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel was a member of the house of Welf and a Princess of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel and by marriage Duchess of Saxe-Lauenburg.- Life :...
, daughter of Henry IV, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg
Henry IV, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg
Henry , Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, called Henry the Elder or Henry the Evil, was prince of Wolfenbüttel from 1491 until his death.-Life:...
. Her sister Catherine
Catherine of Saxe-Lauenburg
Catherine of Saxe-Lauenburg was the first consort of Gustav I of Sweden and Queen of Sweden from 1531 until her death in 1535. She was born in Ratzeburg to Magnus I, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg and Catherine, daughter of Henry IV, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg.-Biography:King Gustav married Catherine for...
was the first consort of Gustav I of Sweden
Gustav I of Sweden
Gustav I of Sweden, born Gustav Eriksson of the Vasa noble family and later known simply as Gustav Vasa , was King of Sweden from 1523 until his death....
.
Biography
She was married to Christian on 29 October 1525 at Lauenburg CastleLauenburg/Elbe
Lauenburg/Elbe is a town in the state of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It is situated at the northern bank of the river Elbe, east of Hamburg. It is the southernmost town of Schleswig-Holstein. Lauenburg belongs to the Kreis of Herzogtum Lauenburg and had a population of 11,900 as of 2002...
, against her wishes. The couple did not have a good relationship with the king due to Christian's Lutheran views. They lived at their own courts in Haderslev
Haderslev
Haderslev is a town and municipality on the east coast of the Jutland peninsula in south Denmark. Also included is the island of Årø as well as several other smaller islands in the Little Belt. The municipality covers and has a population of 56,414 . Its mayor is Jens Christian Gjesing,...
and Törning. She became queen in 1533, though due to the Civil War (Count's Feud
Count's Feud
The Count's Feud , also called the Count's War, was a civil war that raged in Denmark in 1534–36 and brought about the Reformation in Denmark...
) that immediately followed her husband's accession to the throne, her coronation did not take place until 1537. In 1548, she accompanied her daughter Anna to her wedding in Saxony
Saxony
The Free State of Saxony is a landlocked state of Germany, contingent with Brandenburg, Saxony Anhalt, Thuringia, Bavaria, the Czech Republic and Poland. It is the tenth-largest German state in area, with of Germany's sixteen states....
.
Queen Dorothea was interested in politics, and although it is unclear exactly how much influence she had, she is thought to have participated in appointing and dismissing officials. She was, however, prevented from taking a formal seat in the council. She never learned to speak Danish. Her control over her ladies-in-waiting was strict. In 1540, Birgitte Gøye
Birgitte Gøye
Birgitte Gøye was a Danish county administrator, lady in waiting, landholder and noble, co-founder and principal of Herlufsholm School....
was freed from her engagement with her assistance, which lead to a law banning arranged engagements of minors. She was widowed in 1559.
As a widow, she lived in Kolding
Kolding
Kolding is a Danish seaport located at the head of Kolding Fjord in Region of Southern Denmark . It is the site of the council Kolding Municipality. It is a transportation, commercial, and manufacturing centre, and has numerous industrial companies, principally geared towards shipbuilding...
, and she visited her children in Germany regularly once a year. She exerted a stern discipline over her children even after they had become adults, and her acts as a guardian to them were described as strict and intense. She often protected the younger children from their reigning brother, and favoured her younger son. She is thought to have been behind the fact that her oldest son married late in his reign. She opposed the match between the king and Anne of Hardenberg
Anne of Hardenberg
Anne Corfitzdatter of Hardenberg was a Danish noblewoman. She served as a lady-in-waiting to the Dowager Queen Dorothea of Denmark from 1559–1572 and was the mistress to Frederick II.-Biography:...
.
Queen dowager Dorothea fell in love with her brother-in-law and neighbor, Duke Hans of Schleswig-Holstein-Haderslev (1521–1580), during her marriage, and wished to marry him after her husband's death, in 1559. This was opposed by her son and by various theologists and ultimately prevented, but she worked hard to accomplish it. This began the breakdown of her relationship with her son, King Frederick, which had never been particularly close. Her relationship to her reigning son grew worse during the war of 1563–70, in which she disagreed, and when the King discovered, in 1567, that she had issued negotiations to arrange a marriage between her son Magnus, and a Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
princess. This last made the king regard her almost a traitor, and he exiled her to Sønderborg Castle
Sønderborg Castle
Sønderborg Castle is located in the town of Sønderborg, Denmark on the island of Als in South Jutland. It houses a museum focusing on the history and culture of the area. The castle is located in the middle of the town, in a park setting overlooking Als Fjord...
, where she spent the remainder of her life.
Children
Christian and Dorothea had the following children:- Anne of DenmarkAnne of Denmark, Electress of SaxonyAnne of Denmark or Anna was Electress of Saxony and Margravine of Meissen. She was a member of the House of Oldenburg.- Life :...
(1532–1585). Consort to Augustus, Elector of SaxonyAugustus, Elector of SaxonyAugustus was Elector of Saxony from 1553 to 1586.-First years:Augustus was born in Freiberg, the youngest child and third son of Henry IV, Duke of Saxony, and Catherine of Mecklenburg. He consequently belonged to the Albertine branch of the Wettin family... - Frederick II (1534–1588).
- Magnus, King of Livonia (1540–1583).
- Johann II, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Plön (1545–1622).
- Dorothea of Denmark (1546–1617). Consort to William, Duke of Brunswick-LüneburgWilliam, Duke of Brunswick-LüneburgWilhelm , called William the Younger, was Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and Prince of Lüneburg from 1559 until his death. Until 1569 he ruled together with his brother Henry of Dannenberg....
and mother to George, Duke of Brunswick-LüneburgGeorge, Duke of Brunswick-LüneburgGeorge, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg ruled as Prince of Calenberg from 1635.He was a son of William, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and Dorothea of Denmark . His mother was daughter to Christian III of Denmark and Dorothea of Saxe-Lauenburg...
.
Queen Dorothea is interred next to her husband in Roskilde Cathedral
Roskilde Cathedral
Roskilde Cathedral , in the city of Roskilde on the island of Zealand in eastern Denmark, is a cathedral of the Lutheran Church of Denmark. The first Gothic cathedral to be built of brick, it encouraged the spread of the Brick Gothic style throughout Northern Europe...
near Copenhagen.