Frederick VII (
Frederik Carl Christian) (6 October 1808 – 15 November 1863) was King of Denmark. He reigned from 1848 until his death. He was the last Danish monarch of the older Royal branch of the
House of OldenburgThe House of Oldenburg is a North German dynasty and one of Europe's most influential Royal Houses.It rose to prominence when Count Christian I of Oldenburg was elected King of Denmark in 1448, and of Norway in 1450...
, and also the last
kingA monarch is the person who heads a monarchy, a form of government in which the country or entity usually ruled or controlled by an individual who usually rules for life or until abdication...
of
DenmarkDenmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe and the senior member of the Kingdom of Denmark. It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries; southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and it is bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark borders both the Baltic and the North Sea...
to rule as an absolute monarch. During his rule, he signed a
constitutionThe Constitutional Act of Denmark is the Kingdom of Denmark's constitution, or fundamental law. It was signed on 5 June 1953 as "the existing law, for all to unswerving comply with, the Constitutional Act of Denmark".-Idea and structure:...
that gave Denmark a
parliamentA parliament is a legislature, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system modeled after that of the United Kingdom. The name is derived from the French parlement, the action of parler : a parlement is a discussion. The term came to mean a meeting at...
and made the country a
constitutional monarchyA constitutional monarchy is a form of government in which a monarch acts as head of state within the parameters of a written , unwritten or blended constitution...
.
Frederick VII managed to make himself one of the most beloved of the Danish Kings of recent times. This was probably due to his giving up
absolutismAbsolute monarchy is a monarchical form of government where the king or queen has absolute power over all aspects of his/her subjects' lives. Although some religious authorities may be able to discourage the monarch from some acts and the sovereign is expected to act according to custom, in an...
but also to his personality. In spite of many weaknesses confirmed by his contemporaries — drinking, eccentric behavior, etc. — he also possessed something of a gift as an actor. He could be both folksy and genuinely hearty, being able to appear as a ”simple, yet dignified monarch”. During his many travels throughout Denmark he cultivated his contacts with the common man.
His
mottoThe use of a royal motto is an old tradition among Danish monarchs, dating back at least 500 years. The use of such a motto was a way for a monarch to emphasize values or beliefs he / she held dear...
was:
The people's love, my strength..
Family
Frederick was born at
Amalienborg PalaceAmalienborg Palace is the winter home of the Danish royal family, and is located in Copenhagen, Denmark. It consists of four identical classicizing palace façades with rococo interiors around an octagonal courtyard ; in the center of the square is a monumental equestrian statue of Amalienborg's...
to
Christian VIII of DenmarkChristian VIII , king of Denmark 1839–48 and, as Christian Frederick, of Norway 1814, the eldest son of the Hereditary Prince Frederick of Denmark and Norway and Sophia Frederica of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, was born in 1786 at Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen...
and
Duchess Charlotte Frederica of Mecklenburg-SchwerinCharlotte Frederica of Mecklenburg-Schwerin , was the first wife of King Christian VIII from 1806 until 1810, before he became King of Denmark...
. His maternal grandparents were
Friedrich Franz I, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-SchwerinFrederick Francis I, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg [-Schwerin] ruled over the German state of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, first as Duke and then as Grand Duke .-Biography:...
and Luise, Duchess of
Saxe-GothaSaxe-Gotha was a short-lived duchy in today's Thuringia, Germany.It was established in 1640, when Duke Wilhelm von Saxe-Weimar created a subdivision for his younger brother Ernest I the Pious...
.
Marriages
The king's first two marriages both ended in scandals and divorces. He was first married in
CopenhagenCopenhagen ; ) is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban area with a population of 1,167,569 and a metropolitan area with a population of 1,875,179...
on 1 November, 1828, separated in 1834 and divorced in 1837 to his second cousin,
Princess Vilhelmine Marie of DenmarkPrincess Vilhelmine Marie of Denmark and Norway was the youngest daughter of Frederick VI of Denmark and his wife and first cousin Marie Sophie of Hesse-Kassel...
, a daughter of
Frederick VIFrederick VI reigned as King of Denmark from 1808 to 1839, and as king of Norway from 1808 to 1814. He also served as Regent of Denmark from 1784 to 1808 under his father's name, just like his British cousin The Prince of Wales, later King George IV...
, and remarried on 10 June, 1841, to Caroline Charlotte Mariane of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (
NeustrelitzNeustrelitz is a town in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany and is the capital of the district of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. Strelitz is supposed to be an old Slavic word for "shooter" .- History :...
, 10 January, 1821 –
NeustrelitzNeustrelitz is a town in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany and is the capital of the district of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. Strelitz is supposed to be an old Slavic word for "shooter" .- History :...
, 1 June, 1876), whom he divorced in 1846.
In
FrederiksborgFrederiksborg castle is a castle in Hillerød, Denmark. It was built as a royal residence for King Christian IV, and is now known as The Museum of National History. The current building replaced a previous castle erected by Frederick II, and is the largest Renaissance palace in Scandinavia...
on 7 August, 1850 he morganatically remarried to
Lovisa Christina RasmussenLouise Christine Rasmussen, also known as Countess Danner , was a Danish Ballet dancer and stage actor. She was the mistress and later the morganatic spouse of King Frederick VII of Denmark...
(
CopenhagenCopenhagen ; ) is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban area with a population of 1,167,569 and a metropolitan area with a population of 1,875,179...
, 21 April, 1815 –
CannesCannes France, is one of the best-known cities of the French Riviera, a busy tourist destination and host of the annual Cannes Film Festival. The population was 70,400 as of the 2007 census. Cannes is the home of numerous luxurious houses and mansions as well as many high-end gated communities...
or
GenoaGenoa is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria. The city has a population of about 610,000 and the urban area has a population of about 900,000...
, 6 March, 1874), created lensgrevinde Danner in 1850 (in Denmark famous as Countess Danner), a common milliner and former ballet dancer who had for many years been his acquaintance or
mistressA mistress is a man's long-term female lover and companion who is not married to him, especially used when the man is married to another woman. The relationship generally is stable and at least semi-permanent; however, the couple does not live together openly. Also the relationship is usually,...
, natural daughter of G. L. Köppen and of Juliane Caroline Rasmussen. This marriage seems to have been happy although it aroused great social indignation among the nobility and the
bourgeoisieHistorically, the bourgeoisie were a social class of people, characterized by their ownership of capital and the related culture. They were a part of the middle or merchant classes of European feudalism, where their power came from employment, education, and wealth, as distinguished from those...
. Countess Danner, who was denounced a vulgar gold-digger by her enemies, but a doughty and unaffected “daughter of the people” by her admirers, seems to have had a stabilizing effect on him. She also worked at maintaining his popularity by letting him “meet the people” of the provinces.
Extramarital relations and possible offspring
The expectation that Frederick would not likely produce an offspring, despite numerous affairs, was widespread, but sources rarely state the reasons. Some speculate that Frederick was merely infertile. Already during the reign of Frederick's father, King
Christian VIIIChristian VIII , king of Denmark 1839–48 and, as Christian Frederick, of Norway 1814, the eldest son of the Hereditary Prince Frederick of Denmark and Norway and Sophia Frederica of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, was born in 1786 at Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen...
, the succession question was brought forward.
(See below: Succession crisis)
Is has recently been claimed that the king did indeed father a son, Frederik Carl Christian Poulsen, born on November 21, 1843, as a result of his relation to Else Maria Guldborg Pedersen (also referred to as Marie Poulsen) which took place after his first two unhappy marriages. This was brought forward in a book from 1994 and again in a book from 2009. According to an article in Politiken, the author of the latter book, who believes to be the great-granddaughter of Frederick VII, is in possession of four letters from the King to Marie Poulsen in which he acknowledged
paternity. The letters are quoted in the book. In all cases, however, extramarital offspring was and still is barred from the
line of successionDenmark used a system of Male-preference primogeniture until 2009. The male preference was changed in favour of an Equal primogeniture...
.
It has been claimed Frederick had a same-sex relation to his friend Carl Berling,
printerA printer is a company that provides commercial printing services, often also offering typesetting and book-binding services. The term can also refer to people who operate printing presses, or who run printing companies....
and owner of the
newspaperA newspaper is a publication containing news, information, and advertising. General-interest newspapers often feature articles on political events, crime, business, art/entertainment, society and sports. Most traditional papers also feature an editorial page containing columns that express the...
Berlingske TidendeBerlingske Tidende is a Danish daily newspaper. Founded in 1749 by Ernst Henrich Berling, it is the oldest Danish newspaper still in existence, and in the World only eight other newspapers Berlingske Tidende is a Danish daily newspaper. Founded in 1749 by Ernst Henrich Berling, it is the oldest...
. The bisexual Berling had an illegitimate child with Louise Rasmussen, Carl Christian, who was much liked by the King, to the extent that he insisted to sign the new constitution on Carl Christian's 8th birthday on 5 June 1849. To retain a tinge of decency, the King married Louise Rasmussen and the trio then moved into the royal castle where Berling was appointed
ChamberlainA chamberlain is an officer in charge of managing a household. In many countries there are ceremonial posts associated with the household of the sovereign....
and remained till 1861. The public indignation within higher circles over Frederick's morganatic marriage is well-known, but reasons have rarely been explained in detail.
Reign
Frederick who was the last king of the older branch of the
OldenburgThe House of Oldenburg is a North German dynasty and one of Europe's most influential Royal Houses.It rose to prominence when Count Christian I of Oldenburg was elected King of Denmark in 1448, and of Norway in 1450...
dynasty had a rather neglected childhood after the divorce of his parents. His youth was marked by private scandals and for many years he appeared as the ”problem child” of the royal family.
When he succeeded to the throne January 1848 he was almost at once met by the demand for a constitution. Besides the Schleswig-Holsteiners wanted an independent state while the Danes wished to maintain South Jutland as a Danish area. The king soon yielded to the Danish demands, and in March he accepted the end of
absolutismAbsolute monarchy is a monarchical form of government where the king or queen has absolute power over all aspects of his/her subjects' lives. Although some religious authorities may be able to discourage the monarch from some acts and the sovereign is expected to act according to custom, in an...
, which resulted in the first June Constitution of 1849. During the
First War of SchleswigThe First Schleswig War or Three Years' War was the first round of military conflict in southern Denmark and northern Germany rooted in the Schleswig-Holstein Question, contesting the issue of who should control the Duchies of Schleswig and Holstein. The war, which lasted from 1848–1851,...
against the German powers in 1848–51 Frederick apperared as ”the national leader” and was regarded almost as a war hero despite having never taken any active part in the struggles.
During his reign Frederick as a whole behaved as a constitutional monarch. However he did not quite give up interfering in politics. In 1854 contributed to the fall of the strongly conservative
ØrstedAnders Sandøe Ørsted was a Danish politician and jurist. He served as the Prime Minister of Denmark in 1853-1854 as leader of the Cabinet of Ørsted....
Cabinet and 1859–60 he accepted a liberal government which was appointed on the initiative of his wife. During the crisis in the Duchies 1862–63 shortly before his death he also openly spoke for an inter-Scandinavian military co-operation. Those minor crises created frictions and maintained some permanent insecurity but it did not damage his general popularity. In some of these affairs he overstepped the mark beyond any doubt; on the other hand the first Danish constitution was somewhat vague as regards to the limits of royal power.
The rule of Frederick was also the golden age of the
National Liberal PartyNational Liberal Party , was a Danish political party or political movement
which was in office from 1854. This period was marked by some political and economic reforms, such as beginning the demolition of the walls around Copenhagen and the introduction of
free tradeFree trade is a type of trade policy that allows traders to act and transact without interference from government. According to the law of comparative advantage the policy permits trading partners mutual gains from trade of goods and services....
in 1857. The constant quarrels with the opposition regarding the
Schleswig-Holstein QuestionThe Schleswig-Holstein Question refers to a complex of diplomatic and other issues arising in the 19th century from the relations of two duchies, Schleswig and Holstein, to the Danish crown and to the German Confederation. Schleswig was a part of Denmark during the Viking Age, and became a Danish...
and the German demands of not trying to unite Denmark with Schleswig (South Jutland) led to some changes to the constitution in order to fit the foreign political situation which created frustration in Denmark. The National Liberals therefore at last favored a more resistant course against the Germans which led to the
Second War of SchleswigThe Second Schleswig War was the second military conflict as a result of the Schleswig-Holstein Question. It began on February 1, 1864, when Prussian forces crossed the border into Schleswig.Denmark fought Prussia and Austria...
in 1864. The king wholeheartedly supported this course and just before his sudden death he was prepared to sign a new special constitution for Denmark and Schleswig (the so-called November Constitution).
Frederick VII was the 978th
KnightA knight was a "gentleman soldier" or member of the warrior class of the Middle Ages in Europe. In other Indo-European languages, cognates of cavalier or rider are more prevalent suggesting a connection to the knight's mode of transport...
of the
Order of the Golden FleeceNOT to be confused with the Golden Fleece Award.The Order of the Golden Fleece is an order of chivalry founded in Bruges in 1430 by Duke Philip III of Burgundy to celebrate his marriage to the Portuguese princess Isabel of Aviz.- Origin :...
in
SpainSpain , officially the Kingdom of Spain , is a country located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula.
[The Spanish constitution does not establish any official denomination of the country, even though España , Estado español and Nación española are used interchangeably...]
in 1848.
Succession crisis
Frederick was married three times, and had numerous affairs to boot, but produced no issue. The fact that he reached middle age without producing an heir meant that Prince Christian of Glücksburg (1818–1906), the descendant of a cousin of King
Frederick VIFrederick VI reigned as King of Denmark from 1808 to 1839, and as king of Norway from 1808 to 1814. He also served as Regent of Denmark from 1784 to 1808 under his father's name, just like his British cousin The Prince of Wales, later King George IV...
, was chosen to succeed him in 1852. When Frederick died in 1863, Christian took the throne as
Christian IXChristian IX was King of Denmark from 16 November 1863 to 29 January 1906. He became known as the father-in-law of Europe, as his six children married into other royal houses; most current European monarchs are descended from him.-Early life:He was born in Gottorp, the fourth son of Friedrich...
.
Because of
Salic lawSalic law was an important body of traditional law codified for governing the Salian Franks in the early Middle Ages during the reign of King Clovis I in the 6th century...
, the succession after childless Frederick was a difficult question to arrange, and it did not go smoothly, but caused a war. Nationalism in the German-speaking parts of
Schleswig-HolsteinSchleswig-Holstein is the northernmost of the sixteen states of Germany, comprising most of the two historical duchies of Schleswig and Holstein...
meant that no solution to keep the Duchies united with Denmark was satisfactory. The
duchiesA duchy is a territory, fief, or domain ruled by a duke or duchess.Some duchies were sovereign in areas that would become unified realms only during the Modern era...
were inherited according to the
salic lawSalic law was an important body of traditional law codified for governing the Salian Franks in the early Middle Ages during the reign of King Clovis I in the 6th century...
among descendants of Helwig of , the senior of which after Frederick himself was Frederick, Duke of Augustenburg (who proclaimed himself Duke of Schleswig-Holstein after Frederick VII's death). This Friedrich von had become the symbol of the
nationalistNationalism is an ideology, a sentiment, a form of culture, or a social movement that focuses on the nation. It is a type of collectivism emphasizing the collective of a specific nation...
German independence movement in
Schleswig-HolsteinSchleswig-Holstein is the northernmost of the sixteen states of Germany, comprising most of the two historical duchies of Schleswig and Holstein...
, since the time that his father, in exchange for money, had renounced his claims as first in line to inherit the twin Duchies of
SchleswigSchleswig or South Jutland is a region covering the area about 60 km north and 70 km south of the border between Germany and Denmark...
and
HolsteinHolstein is the region between the rivers Elbe and Eider. It is part of Schleswig-Holstein, the northernmost state of Germany....
, following the
London Protocol-1829:On 22 March 1829, a conference of ambassadors of the three protecting powers established the borders of Greece, which was to encompass all lands south of the line running from the Ambracian Gulf to the Pagasetic Gulf, including Negroponte and the Cyclades but not Crete...
of May 8, 1852, which concluded the
First War of SchleswigThe First Schleswig War or Three Years' War was the first round of military conflict in southern Denmark and northern Germany rooted in the Schleswig-Holstein Question, contesting the issue of who should control the Duchies of Schleswig and Holstein. The war, which lasted from 1848–1851,...
. Because of his father's renunciation, Frederick was regarded as ineligible to succeed.
Denmark was also under Salic Law, but only among descendants of
Frederick IIIFrederick III was king of Denmark and Norway from 1648 until his death. He stands as the ruler who introduced absolute monarchy in Denmark.-Before becoming king:...
(who was the first hereditary
monarchA monarch is the person who heads a monarchy, a form of government in which the country or entity usually ruled or controlled by an individual who usually rules for life or until abdication...
of Denmark, since before him the Kingdom had been officially elective). Agnatic descendance of Frederick III went extinct when Frederick VII died, and at that point, the succession law promulgated by Frederick III provided a "semi-Salic" succession. There were however several alternative ways to interpret the line of succession, because the provision was not entirely clear on whether it be the closest female relative or what to inherit. The question was solved by an election and a separate law to confirm the new successor.
The closest female relatives of Frederick VII were the issue of his paternal aunt,
LouisePrincess Louise Charlotte of Denmark was a princess of Denmark.She was born in Christiansborg Palace to Hereditary Prince Frederick of Denmark and Norway and Sophie Frederikke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin , Princess and Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.On 10 November, 1810 in Amalienborg Palace she...
, who had married a cadet Landgrave of
HesseHesse is a state of Germany with an area of and just over six million inhabitants. The state capital is Wiesbaden. Hesse's largest city is nearby Frankfurt am Main.Hesse contributes the largest share to the Rhine Main Area....
. However, they were not agnatic descendants of the Royal Family and thus not eligible to succeed in Schleswig-Holstein.
The dynastic female heiress according to the original
primogeniturePrimogeniture is the common law right of the first-born son to inherit the entire estate, to the exclusion of younger siblings. It is the tradition brought by the Normans to England in 1066. According to the Norman tradition, the first-born son inherited the entirety of a parent's wealth, estate,...
from Frederick III were the childless daughters of the late king Frederick VI, after whom the original primogeniture would have led to heirs of Louise, sister of Frederick VI, who had married the then-Duke of Augustenburg. The chief heir to that line was the selfsame Frederick of Augustenburg, but his turn would have come only after the death of a childless Princess who was very much alive in 1863.
Some rights belonged also to the Glücksburg line, a more junior branch of the Royal clan. They were also heirs of Frederick III, through their one ancestress who was a daughter of King
Frederick V of DenmarkFrederick V was king of Denmark and Norway from 1746, son of Christian VI of Denmark and Sophia Magdalen of Brandenburg-Kulmbach.-First marriage:...
, and they were more junior agnatic heirs eligible to succeed in Schleswig- Holstein. They were Christian of Glücksburg (1818–1906) and his two elder brothers, eldest of whom was childless, but the second had produced children, also male children.
Prince Christian of Glücksburg (1818–1906) had been a foster "grandson" of the sonless royal couple
Frederick VIFrederick VI reigned as King of Denmark from 1808 to 1839, and as king of Norway from 1808 to 1814. He also served as Regent of Denmark from 1784 to 1808 under his father's name, just like his British cousin The Prince of Wales, later King George IV...
and
Queen Marie SophieMarie Sophie Frederikke of Hesse-Kassel was Queen Consort of Denmark and Norway. She served as Regent of Denmark in 1814-1815.-Background:...
, thus familiar with the Royal Court and the traditions of the recent monarchs. Prince Christian was great-nephew of Queen Marie Sophie, and descendant of a first cousin of Frederick VI. He was brought up as Danish, having lived in Danish-speaking lands of the Royal Dynasty, and was not attached to German nationalism. Although these did not mean anything legally, they made him a relatively good candidate from the Danish viewpoint. As a junior agnatic descendant, he was eligible to inherit Schleswig-Holstein, but not the first-in- line. As descendant of Frederick III, he was eligible to succeed in Denmark, but not first-in-line, however that line was not very clear.
Christian of Glücksburg (1818–1906) married
Princess LouiseLouise of Hesse was a German Princess and the Queen Consort to King Christian IX of Denmark.-Early Life and Heritage:...
of Hesse, eldest daughter of the closest female relative of Frederick VII. Louise's mother and brothers, Princes of Hesse, renounced their rights in favor of Louise and her husband. Prince Christian's wife was now the closest female heiress of Frederick VII.
The thorny question of operation of semi-Salic provision in succession of Denmark was at that point resolved by legislation through which Prince Christian of Glücksburg (1818–1906) was chosen in 1852 to succeed King Frederick VII in Denmark.
Frederick VII died in
GlücksburgGlücksburg is a small town in the district Schleswig-Flensburg, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It is situated on the south side of the Flensburg Fjord, an inlet of the Baltic Sea, approx. 10 km northeast of Flensburg...
in 1863 and was interred in
Roskilde CathedralRoskilde Cathedral , in the city of Roskilde on the Island of Zealand in eastern Denmark, was the first Gothic cathedral to be built of brick and its construction encouraged the spread of this Brick Gothic style throughout Northern Europe. It was built during the 12th and 13th centuries, and...
. Christian took the throne as
Christian IXChristian IX was King of Denmark from 16 November 1863 to 29 January 1906. He became known as the father-in-law of Europe, as his six children married into other royal houses; most current European monarchs are descended from him.-Early life:He was born in Gottorp, the fourth son of Friedrich...
.
In November 1863, Frederick of Augustenborg claimed the twin-duchies in
successionAn order of succession is a formula or algorithm that determines who inherits an office upon the death, resignation, or removal of its current occupant.-Monarchies and nobility:...
after King Frederick VII of Denmark, who also was the
DukeA duke is a member of the nobility, historically of highest rank below the monarch, and historically controlling a duchy. The title comes from the Latin Dux Bellorum, which had the sense of "military commander" and was employed by both the Germanic peoples themselves and by the Roman authors...
of Schleswig and Holstein and who had died without a male heir.
Prussia and Austria started the
Second War of SchleswigThe Second Schleswig War was the second military conflict as a result of the Schleswig-Holstein Question. It began on February 1, 1864, when Prussian forces crossed the border into Schleswig.Denmark fought Prussia and Austria...
.
Ancestors
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External links