fwo_1021079 - DANEMARK - ROYAUME DE DANEMARK - CHRISTIAN IV 1 Mark 1615 Copenhague

DENMARK - KINGDOM OF DENMARK - CHRISTIAN IV

(1588-28/02/1648)

Christian IV, born in Frederiksborg on April 12, 1577 from the union of Frederick II and Sophia of Mecklenburg, succeeded his father who died in 1588, but was not crowned King of Norway and Denmark until he came of age in 1596. He married in 1597 Anne Catherine, daughter of the Elector of Brandenburg, Joachim-Frédéric; from this marriage was born Christian in 1603, Frédéric in 1609 and Ulric in 1611. Anne Catherine died in 1612 and he remarried in 1615 to Christine, daughter of Louis Munk. He was a great builder who notably built the castles of Frederiksborg and Rosenborg. From 1625 to 1629, he took part in the Thirty Years' War. From 1643, he had to fight against Sweden. This war ended in the loss of Scania and Halland. His reign was the longest in Danish history and he died in Copenhagen on February 28, 1648. From his first marriage only his son Frederick survived him and he ascended the thrones of Denmark and Norway in 1648 as Frederick III.