Christian IV (12 April 1577 – 28 February 1648) was
King of Denmark and
Norway
Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and the ...
and
Duke of Holstein and Schleswig from 1588 until his death in 1648. His reign of 59 years, 330 days is the
longest of
Danish monarchs and Scandinavian monarchies.
A member of the
House of Oldenburg
The House of Oldenburg is a German dynasty with links to Denmark since the 15th century. It has branches that rule or have ruled in Denmark, Iceland, Greece, Norway, Russia, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Schleswig, Holstein, and Oldenburg. The cu ...
, Christian began his personal rule of Denmark in 1596 at the age of 19. He is remembered as one of the most popular, ambitious, and proactive Danish kings, having initiated many reforms and projects. Christian IV obtained for his kingdom a level of stability and wealth that was virtually unmatched elsewhere in Europe. He engaged Denmark in numerous wars, most notably the
Thirty Years' War (1618–1648), which devastated much of Germany, undermined the Danish economy, and cost Denmark some of its conquered territories.
He rebuilt and renamed the Norwegian capital
Oslo
Oslo ( , , or ; sma, Oslove) is the capital and most populous city of Norway. It constitutes both a county and a municipality. The municipality of Oslo had a population of in 2022, while the city's greater urban area had a population ...
as ''Christiania'' after himself, a name used until 1925.
Early years
Birth and family
Christian was born at
Frederiksborg Castle
Frederiksborg Castle ( da, Frederiksborg Slot) is a palatial complex in Hillerød, Denmark. It was built as a royal residence for King Christian IV of Denmark-Norway in the early 17th century, replacing an older castle acquired by Frederick ...
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
John (Danish, Norwegian and sv, Hans; né ''Johannes'') (2 February 1455 – 20 February 1513) was a Scandinavian monarch under the Kalmar Union. He was king of Denmark (1481–1513), Norway (1483–1513) and as John II ( sv, Johan II ...
, and was thus the first descendant of King John to assume the crown since the deposition of King
Christian II
Christian II (1 July 1481 – 25 January 1559) was a Scandinavian monarch under the Kalmar Union who reigned as King of Denmark and Norway, from 1513 until 1523, and Sweden from 1520 until 1521. From 1513 to 1523, he was concurrently Duke ...
.
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 an
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.
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
A regent (from Latin : ruling, governing) is a person appointed to govern a state ''pro tempore'' (Latin: 'for the time being') because the monarch is a minor, absent, incapacitated or unable to discharge the powers and duties of the monarchy, ...
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
Niels Kaas (1535 – 29 June 1594) was a Danish politician who served as Chancellor of Denmark from 1573 until his death. He was influential in the negotiation of the Peace of Stettin and in the upbringing of Christian IV. Kaas also played an i ...
and consisted of the ''
Rigsraadet'' council members
Peder Munk (1534–1623), Jørgen Ottesen Rosenkrantz (1523–1596) and
Christoffer Valkendorff
Christoffer Valkendorff (1 September 152517 January 1601) was a Danish-Norwegian statesman and landowner. His early years in the service of Frederick II brought him both to Norway, Ösel and Livland. He later served both as Treasurer and ''Stad ...
(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
Sorø Academy ( Danish, ''Sorø Akademi'') is a boarding school and gymnasium located in the small town of Sorø, Denmark. It traces its history back to the 12th century when Bishop Absalon founded a monastery at the site, which was confiscated b ...
where he had a reputation as a headstrong and talented student.
["Gads Historieleksikon", 3rd edition, 2006. Paul Ulff-Møller, "''Christian 4.''", pp.99–100. ]
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 the
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
Copenhagen ( or .; da, København ) is the capital and most populous city of Denmark, with a proper population of around 815.000 in the last quarter of 2022; and some 1.370,000 in the urban area; and the wider Copenhagen metropolitan ar ...
by the
Bishop of Zealand The Diocese of Zealand (Danish: ''Sjællands Stift'') was a protestant diocese in Denmark that existed from 1537 to 1922. The diocese had been formed in 1537 following the Reformation in Denmark–Norway and Holstein, Reformation of Denmark, and wa ...
, Peder Jensen Vinstrup (1549–1614). He was crowned with a new
Danish Crown Regalia
Danish Crown Regalia are the symbols of the Danish monarchy. They consist of three crowns, a Sceptre (symbolizing supreme authority), Globus cruciger (an orb symbolizing the earthly realm surmounted by a cross), the Sword of state and an Ampul ...
which had been made for him by Dirich Fyring (1580–1603), assisted by the
Nuremberg goldsmith, Corvinius Saur.
Marriage
On 30 November 1597, he married
Anne Catherine of Brandenburg, a daughter of
Joachim Friedrich
Joachim Frederick (27 January 1546 – 18 July 1608), of the House of Hohenzollern, was Prince-elector of the Margraviate of Brandenburg from 1598 until his death.
Biography
Joachim Frederick was born in Cölln to John George, Elector of Branden ...
,
Margrave of Brandenburg and
Duke of Prussia
The monarchs of Prussia were members of the House of Hohenzollern who were the hereditary rulers of the former German state of Prussia from its founding in 1525 as the Duchy of Prussia. The Duchy had evolved out of the Teutonic Order, a Roman C ...
.
Reign
Military and economic reforms
Christian took an interest in many and varied matters, including a series of domestic reforms and improving Danish national armaments. New fortresses were constructed under the direction of
Dutch
Dutch commonly refers to:
* Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands
* Dutch people ()
* Dutch language ()
Dutch may also refer to:
Places
* Dutch, West Virginia, a community in the United States
* Pennsylvania Dutch Country
People E ...
engineers. The
Royal Dano-Norwegian Navy, which in 1596 had consisted of but twenty-two vessels, in 1610 rose to sixty, some of them built after Christian's own designs. The formation of a national army proved more difficult. Christian had to depend mainly upon hired
mercenary troops as was common practice in the times—well before the establishment of standing armies—augmented by native
peasant levies recruited for the most part from the peasantry on the crown domains.
Up until the early 1620s, Denmark-Norway's economy profited from general boom conditions in Europe. This inspired Christian to initiate a policy of expanding Denmark-Norway's overseas trade as part of the
mercantilist wave fashionable in Europe. He founded a number of merchant cities, and supported the building of factories. He also built a large number of buildings in
Dutch Renaissance style.
Visits to England
His sister
Anne
Anne, alternatively spelled Ann, is a form of the Latin female given name Anna. This in turn is a representation of the Hebrew Hannah, which means 'favour' or 'grace'. Related names include Annie.
Anne is sometimes used as a male name in the ...
had married King
James VI of Scotland, who succeeded to the
English throne in 1603. To foster friendly relations between the two kingdoms, Christian paid a state visit to England in 1606. The visit was generally judged to be a success, although the heavy drinking indulged in by English and Danes alike caused some unfavourable comments: both Christian and James had an ability to consume great amounts of alcohol, while remaining lucid, which most of their courtiers did not share.
Sir John Harington described an entertainment at
Theobalds
Theobalds House (also known as Theobalds Palace) in the parish of Cheshunt in the English county of Hertfordshire, was a significant stately home and (later) royal palace of the 16th and early 17th centuries. Set in extensive parkland, it was a r ...
, a
masque of Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, as a drunken fiasco, where most of the players simply fell over from the effects of too much wine. The royal party went to
Upnor Castle
Upnor Castle is an Elizabethan artillery fort located on the west bank of the River Medway in Kent. It is in the village of Upnor, opposite and a short distance downriver from the Chatham Dockyard, at one time a key naval facility. The fort wa ...
and had dinner aboard the ''
Elizabeth Jonas''. At Gravesend, when the royal party was on his ship the ''Admiral'', Christian IV provided a firework display built on a small ship or lighter, which brought tears to eyes of King James, although the effect was somewhat spoiled because the show was held in daylight. After an exchange of gifts Christian sailed home, escorted by
Robert Mansell with the ''
Vanguard'' and the ''Moon''.
Christian IV visited England again in August 1614, coming incognito to surprise his sister at
Denmark House, accompanied only by
Andrew Sinclair
Andrew Annandale Sinclair FRSL FRSA (21 January 1935 – 30 May 2019) was a British novelist, historian, biographer, critic, filmmaker, and a publisher of classic and modern film scripts. He has been described as a "writer of extraordinary flu ...
and a page. He had sailed with only three ships and captured some pirates during the voyage. More ships with his Danish courtiers arrived on 5 August. The diplomatic purpose of the visit was kept secret. The Venetian ambassador
Antonio Foscarini heard that Anne of Denmark had written to him about a dispute with King James. Foscarini described Christian as, "above the average in height, dressed in the French fashion. His nature is warlike".
Exploration and colonies
Despite Christian's many efforts, the new economic projects did not return a profit. He looked abroad for new income.
Christian IV's Expeditions to Greenland involved a series of voyages in the years 1605–1607 to Greenland and to Arctic waterways in order to locate the lost
Eastern Norse Settlement and to assert Danish sovereignty over Greenland. The expeditions were unsuccessful, partly due to leaders lacking experience with the difficult Arctic ice and weather conditions. The pilot on all three trips was English explorer
James Hall. An expedition to North America was commissioned in 1619. The expedition was captained by
Dano-Norwegian navigator and explorer,
Jens Munk. The ships, searching for the
Northwest Passage, arrived in
Hudson Bay landing at the mouth of
Churchill River, settling at what is now
Churchill, Manitoba. However, it was a disastrous voyage, with cold, famine, and
scurvy killing most of the crew.
In 1618, Christian appointed Admiral
Ove Gjedde to lead an expedition and establish a Danish colony in
Ceylon. The expedition set sail in 1618, taking two years to reach Ceylon and losing more than half their crew on the way. Upon arriving in May 1620, the establishment of a colony in Ceylon failed, but instead the ''Nayak'' of Tanjore (now Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu) turned out to be interested in trading opportunities and a treaty was negotiated granting the Danes the village of
Tranquebar (or Tarangamabadi) on India's south coast and the right to construct a "stone house" (
Fort Dansborg) and levy taxes. The treaty was signed on 20 November 1620, establishing
Denmark's first colony in India. Christian also assigned the privilege establishing the
Danish East India Company
The Danish East India Company ( da, Ostindisk Kompagni) refers to two separate Danish-Norwegian chartered companies. The first company operated between 1616 and 1650. The second company existed between 1670 and 1729, however, in 1730 it was re-fo ...
.
Kalmar War
In 1611, he first put his newly organised army to use. Despite the reluctance of ''Rigsrådet'', Christian initiated a war with Sweden for the supremacy of the
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that is enclosed by Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Sweden and the North and Central European Plain.
The sea stretches from 53°N to 66°N latitude and ...
.
It was later known as the
Kalmar War
The Kalmar War (1611–1613) was a war between Denmark–Norway and Sweden. Though Denmark-Norway soon gained the upper hand, it was unable to defeat Sweden entirely. The Kalmar War was the last time Denmark-Norway successfully defended its ''dom ...
because its chief operation was the Danish capture of
Kalmar
Kalmar (, , ) is a city in the southeast of Sweden, situated by the Baltic Sea. It had 36,392 inhabitants in 2010 and is the seat of Kalmar Municipality. It is also the capital of Kalmar County, which comprises 12 municipalities with a total of ...
, the southernmost fortress of Sweden. Christian compelled King
Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden to give way on all essential points at the resulting
Treaty of Knäred of 20 January 1613.
However, despite Denmark's greater strength, the gains of the war were not decisive.
He now turned his attention to the
Thirty Years' War in Germany. Here, his objectives were twofold: first, to obtain control of the great German rivers— the
Elbe and the
Weser— as a means of securing his dominion of the northern seas; and secondly, to acquire the secularised German
Archdiocese of Bremen and
Prince-Bishopric of Verden
The Prince-Bishopric of Verden (german: Fürstbistum Verden, ''Hochstift Verden'' or ''Stift Verden'') was an ecclesiastical principality of the Holy Roman Empire that was located in what is today the state of Lower Saxony in Germany. Verden had be ...
as
appanage
An appanage, or apanage (; french: apanage ), is the grant of an estate, title, office or other thing of value to a younger child of a sovereign, who would otherwise have no inheritance under the system of primogeniture. It was common in much o ...
s for his younger sons. He skillfully took advantage of the alarm of the German
Protestant
Protestantism is a branch of Christianity that follows the theological tenets of the Protestant Reformation, a movement that began seeking to reform the Catholic Church from within in the 16th century against what its followers perceived to b ...
s after the
Battle of White Mountain
The Battle of White Mountain ( cz, Bitva na Bílé hoře; german: Schlacht am Weißen Berg) was an important battle in the early stages of the Thirty Years' War. It led to the defeat of the Bohemian Revolt and ensured Habsburg control for the n ...
in 1620, to secure co-adjutorship of the See of Bremen for his son
Frederick Frederick may refer to:
People
* Frederick (given name), the name
Nobility
Anhalt-Harzgerode
*Frederick, Prince of Anhalt-Harzgerode (1613–1670)
Austria
* Frederick I, Duke of Austria (Babenberg), Duke of Austria from 1195 to 1198
* Frederick ...
(September 1621). A similar arrangement was reached in November at
Verden. Hamburg was also induced to acknowledge the Danish overlordship of
Holstein
Holstein (; nds, label=Northern Low Saxon, Holsteen; da, Holsten; Latin and historical en, Holsatia, italic=yes) is the region between the rivers Elbe and Eider. It is the southern half of Schleswig-Holstein, the northernmost state of German ...
by the
compact of Steinburg in July 1621.
Thirty Years' War
Christian IV had obtained for his kingdom a level of stability and wealth that was virtually unmatched elsewhere in Europe. Denmark was funded by tolls on the
Øresund and also by extensive war-reparations from Sweden. Denmark's intervention in the Thirty Years' War was aided by France and by Charles I of England, who agreed to help subsidise the war partly because Christian was the uncle of both the Stuart king and his sister
Elizabeth of Bohemia through their mother,
Anne of Denmark. Some 13,700 Scottish soldiers were to be sent as allies to help Christian IV under the command of General
Robert Maxwell, 1st Earl of Nithsdale
Robert Maxwell, 1st Earl of Nithsdale (after 1586 – May 1646), was a Scottish nobleman. He succeeded his brother as 10th Lord Maxwell in 1613, and was created Earl of Nithsdale in 1620. General of Scots in Danish-Norwegian service during the ...
. Moreover, some 6000 English troops under Sir
Charles Morgan also eventually arrived to bolster the defence of Denmark though it took longer for these to arrive than Christian hoped, not least due to the ongoing British campaigns against France and Spain. Thus Christian, as war-leader of the Lower Saxon Circle, entered the war with an army of only 20,000 mercenaries, some of his allies from Britain and a national army 15,000 strong, leading them as Duke of Holstein rather than as King of Denmark.
Despite the growing power of Roman Catholics in North Germany, and the threat to the Danish holdings in the
Schleswig-Holstein duchies, Christian for a time stayed his hand. The urgent solicitations of other powers, and his fear that Gustavus Adolphus should supplant him as the champion of the Protestant cause, finally led him to enter the war on 9 May 1625.
He also feared that Sweden could use a war to further expand their holdings in the Baltic Sea. Christian embarked on a military campaign which was later known in Denmark and Norway as "The Emperor War" ( da, Kejserkrigen, no, Keiserkrigen).
He had at his disposal from 19,000 to 25,000 men, and at first gained some successes but on 27 August 1626 he was routed by
Johan Tzerclaes, Count of Tilly
Johann Tserclaes, Count of Tilly ( nl, Johan t'Serclaes Graaf van Tilly; german: Johann t'Serclaes Graf von Tilly; french: Jean t'Serclaes de Tilly ; February 1559 – 30 April 1632) was a field marshal who commanded the Catholic League's ...
in the
Battle of Lutter
The Battle of Lutter (German: '' Lutter am Barenberge'') took place on 27 August 1626 during the Thirty Years' War, south of Salzgitter, in Lower Saxony. A combined Danish-German force led by Christian IV of Denmark was defeated by Johan Tzercl ...
.
Christian had not thoroughly planned the advance against the combined forces of the
Holy Roman Emperor and the
Catholic League, as promises of military support from the Netherlands and England did not materialise.
["Gads Historieleksikon", 3rd edition, 2006. Paul Ulff-Møller, "''Kejserkrigen''", p.352. ] In the summer of 1627 both Tilly and
Albrecht von Wallenstein
Albrecht Wenzel Eusebius von Wallenstein () (24 September 1583 – 25 February 1634), also von Waldstein ( cs, Albrecht Václav Eusebius z Valdštejna), was a Bohemian military leader and statesman who fought on the Catholic side during the Th ...
occupied the duchies and the whole peninsula of
Jutland.
Christian now formed an alliance with Sweden on 1 January 1628, as he and Gustavus Adolphus shared the reluctance of German expansion in the Baltic region.
Gustavus Adolphus pledged to assist Denmark with a fleet in case of need, and shortly afterwards a Swedo-Danish army and fleet compelled Wallenstein to raise the
siege of Stralsund. Thus with the help of Sweden, the superior sea-power enabled Denmark to tide over her worst difficulties, and in May 1629 Christian was able to conclude peace with the emperor in the
Treaty of Lübeck, without any diminution of territory.
However, the treaty bound Christian not to interfere in the Thirty Years' War any further, removing any Danish obstacles when Gustavus Adolphus entered the war in 1630.
Containment of Sweden
Christian's foreign policy did not suffer from lack of confidence following the Danish defeat in The Thirty Years' War. To compensate for lacking export revenues, and also in order to stifle the Swedish advances in the Thirty Years' War, Christian enacted a number of increases in the
Sound Dues throughout the 1630s.
Christian gained both in popularity and influence at home, and he hoped to increase his external power still further with the assistance of his sons-in-law,
Corfitz Ulfeldt
Count Corfits Ulfeldt (10 July 1606 – 20 February 1664) was a Danish statesman, and one of the most notorious traitors in Danish history.
Early life
Ulfeldt was the son of the chancellor Jacob Ulfeldt. He was educated abroad, concluding wi ...
and
Hannibal Sehested, who now came prominently forward.
Between 1629 and 1643 the European situation presented infinite possibilities to politicians with a taste for adventure. However, Christian was incapable of a consistent diplomatic policy. He would neither conciliate Sweden, henceforth his most dangerous enemy, nor guard himself against her by a definite system of counter-alliances.
Christian contacted the Roman Catholic part of the Thirty Years' War, and offered to broker a deal with Sweden. However, his mediating was highly skewed in favour of the Holy Roman Emperor, and was a transparent attempt at minimising the Swedish influence in the Baltics.
["Gads Historieleksikon", 3rd edition, 2006. Paul Ulff-Møller, "''Torstensson-krigen''", pp.658–659. ] His Scandinavian policy was so irritating and vexatious that Swedish statesmen advocated for a war with Denmark, to keep Christian from interfering in the peace negotiations with the Holy Roman Emperor, and in May 1643, Christian faced another war against Sweden.
The increased Sound Dues had alienated the Dutch, who turned to support Sweden.
Torstenson War
Sweden was able, thanks to their conquests in the Thirty Years' War, to attack Denmark from the south as well as the east; the Dutch alliance promised to secure them at sea. In May 1643 the Swedish
Privy Council decided upon war; on 12 December the Swedish
Field Marshal Lennart Torstensson
Lennart Torstensson, Count of Ortala, Baron of Virestad (17 August 16037 April 1651), was a Swedish Field Marshal and military engineer.
Early career
He was born at Forstena manor in Västergötland. His parents were Märta Nilsdotter Posse a ...
, advancing from
Bohemia, crossed the southern frontier of Denmark; and by the end of January 1644 the whole peninsula of
Jutland was in Swedish hands. This unexpected attack, conducted from first to last with consummate ability and lightning-like rapidity, had a paralysing effect upon Denmark.
In his sixty-sixth year he once more displayed something of the energy of his triumphant youth. Night and day he laboured to levy armies and equip fleets. Fortunately for him, the Swedish government delayed hostilities in
Scania until February 1644, and the Danes were able to make adequate defensive preparations and save the important fortress of
Malmö.
The Danish fleet prevented Torstensson crossing from Jutland to
Funen, and defeated the Dutch auxiliary fleet which came to Torstensson's assistance at the
action of 16 May 1644.
Another attempt to transport Torstensson and his army to the Danish islands by a large Swedish fleet was frustrated by Christian IV in person on 1 July 1644. On that day the two fleets encountered at the
Battle of Colberger Heide. As Christian stood on the quarter-deck of the ''Trinity'' a cannon close by was exploded by a Swedish cannonball, and splinters of wood and metal wounded the king in thirteen places, blinding one eye and flinging him to the deck. But he was instantly on his feet again, cried with a loud voice that it was well with him, and set every one an example of duty by remaining on deck till the fight was over. Darkness at last separated the contending fleets; and the battle was drawn.
The Danish fleet subsequently blockaded the Swedish ships in the
Bay of Kiel
The Bay of Kiel or Kiel Bay (, ; ) is a bay in the southwestern Baltic Sea, off the shores of Schleswig-Holstein in Germany and the islands of Denmark. It is connected with the Bay of Mecklenburg in the east, the Little Belt in the northwest, ...
. But the Swedish fleet escaped, and the annihilation of the Danish fleet by the combined navies of Sweden and the Netherlands, after an obstinate fight between
Fehmarn and
Lolland at the end of September, exhausted the military resources of Denmark and compelled Christian to accept the mediation of France and the Netherlands; and peace was finally signed with the
Treaty of Brömsebro on 8 February 1645.
Here Denmark had to cede
Gotland,
Ösel and (for thirty years)
Halland
Halland () is one of the traditional provinces of Sweden (''landskap''), on the western coast of Götaland, southern Sweden. It borders Västergötland, Småland, Scania and the sea of Kattegat. Until 1645 and the Second Treaty of Brömseb ...
, while Norway lost the two provinces
Jämtland and
Härjedalen, giving Sweden the supremacy of the Baltic Sea.
Norwegian issue
Christian IV spent more time in the kingdom of Norway than any other Oldenburg monarch and no Oldenburg king made such a lasting impression on the Norwegian people. He visited the country a number of times and founded four cities. He also established and took control over one silver mine (
Kongsberg), one copper mine (
Røros
Røros ( sma, Plaassja, ) is a municipality in Trøndelag county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Røros. Some of the villages in Røros include Brekken, Glåmos, Feragen, Galåa, and Hitterdalen.
The min ...
), and tried to make an iron plant with limited success in Eiker. He also restored and restructured the castle
Akershus, where he invited the people of Norway to the official and age-old installment of the king in 1590, and again in 1610.
When the king was busy overseeing the reparations and re-building of the fortress at Oslo, he lived in the country all summer, and at the same time tried to establish a centre for producing iron at
Eiker,
Buskerud
Buskerud () is a former county and a current electoral district in Norway, bordering Akershus, Oslo, Oppland, Sogn og Fjordane, Hordaland, Telemark and Vestfold. The region extends from the Oslofjord and Drammensfjorden in the southeast to Ha ...
. History tells he actually ruled the entire kingdom from this area in the summer of 1603.
In 1623, Christian again visited Norway for an entire summer, this time to oversee the foundation of
Kongsberg. He was also present in the area in 1624, when Oslo burned in August of that year. The king was able to reach the area in a few weeks, being in Eiker. Over the years, fire had destroyed major parts of the city many times, as many of the city's buildings were built entirely of wood. After the fire in 1624 which lasted for three days, Christian IV decided that the old city should not be rebuilt again. He decided that the new town be rebuilt in the area below
Akershus Fortress
Akershus Fortress ( no, Akershus Festning, ) or Akershus Castle ( no, Akershus slott ) is a medieval castle in the Norwegian capital Oslo that was built to protect and provide a royal residence for the city. Since the Middle Ages the fortress ...
, a castle which later was converted into a palace and royal residence. His men built a network of roads in Akershagen and demanded that all citizens should move their shops and workplaces to the newly built city of Christiania.
Securing the Northern Lands under the Danish-Norwegian Crown
During the fourteenth century the Swedish kings tried to push the areas of their control towards the north, and
contemporary
Contemporary history, in English-language historiography, is a subset of modern history that describes the historical period from approximately 1945 to the present. Contemporary history is either a subset of the late modern period, or it is o ...
maps depicted the now Norwegian coastal areas of
Troms and
Finnmark as a part of Sweden. The possibly boldest move of any Danish-Norwegian regent was to make a voyage to the Northern Lands to secure these lands under the
Danish-Norwegian crown.
Last years and death
After the Torstenson War, ''Rigsrådet'' took on an increasing role, under the leadership of
Corfitz Ulfeldt
Count Corfits Ulfeldt (10 July 1606 – 20 February 1664) was a Danish statesman, and one of the most notorious traitors in Danish history.
Early life
Ulfeldt was the son of the chancellor Jacob Ulfeldt. He was educated abroad, concluding wi ...
and
Hannibal Sehested.
The last years of Christian's life were embittered by sordid differences with his sons-in-law, especially with Corfitz Ulfeldt.
His personal obsession with witchcraft led to the public execution of some of his subjects during the
Burning Times. He was responsible for several witch burnings, including 21 people in Iceland, and most notably the conviction and execution of
Maren Spliid, who was victim of a
witch hunt
A witch-hunt, or a witch purge, is a search for people who have been labeled witches or a search for evidence of witchcraft. The classical period of witch-hunts in Early Modern Europe and Colonial America took place in the Early Modern perio ...
at Ribe and was burned at the Gallows Hill near
Ribe
Ribe () is a town in south-west Jutland, Denmark, with a population of 8,257 (2022). It is the seat of the Diocese of Ribe covering southwestern Jutland. Until 1 January 2007, Ribe was the seat of both a surrounding municipality and county. It ...
on 9 November 1641.
On 21 February 1648, at his earnest request, he was carried in a litter from
Frederiksborg to his beloved
Copenhagen
Copenhagen ( or .; da, København ) is the capital and most populous city of Denmark, with a proper population of around 815.000 in the last quarter of 2022; and some 1.370,000 in the urban area; and the wider Copenhagen metropolitan ar ...
, where he died a week later.
He was buried in
Roskilde Cathedral
Roskilde Cathedral ( da, Roskilde Domkirke), in the city of Roskilde on the island of Zealand (Denmark), Zealand (''Sjælland'') in eastern Denmark, is a cathedral of the Lutheranism, Lutheran Church of Denmark.
The cathedral is the most importan ...
. The chapel of Christian IV had been completed 6 years before the King died.
Cultural king
Christian was reckoned a typical renaissance king, and excelled in hiring musicians and artists from all over Europe. Many English musicians were employed by him at several times, among them
William Brade,
John Bull
John Bull is a national personification of the United Kingdom in general and England in particular, especially in political cartoons and similar graphic works. He is usually depicted as a stout, middle-aged, country-dwelling, jolly and matter- ...
and
John Dowland
John Dowland (c. 1563 – buried 20 February 1626) was an English Renaissance composer, lutenist, and singer. He is best known today for his melancholy songs such as "Come, heavy sleep", " Come again", "Flow my tears", " I saw my Lady weepe", ...
. Dowland accompanied the king on his tours, and as he was employed in 1603, rumour has it he was in Norway as well. Christian was an agile dancer, and his court was reckoned the second most "musical" court in Europe, only ranking behind that of
Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I (7 September 153324 March 1603) was Queen of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death in 1603. Elizabeth was the last of the five House of Tudor monarchs and is sometimes referred to as the "Virgin Queen".
Eli ...
. Christian maintained good contact with his sister Anne, who was married to King James. Christian asked Anne to request for him the services of Thomas Cutting, a lutenist employed by
Arbella Stewart. His other sister,
Elizabeth
Elizabeth or Elisabeth may refer to:
People
* Elizabeth (given name), a female given name (including people with that name)
* Elizabeth (biblical figure), mother of John the Baptist
Ships
* HMS ''Elizabeth'', several ships
* ''Elisabeth'' (sch ...
, was married to the
Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, and artists and musicians travelled freely between the courts.
City foundations
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
Glückstadt (; da, Lykstad) is a town in the Steinburg district of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It is located on the right bank of the Lower Elbe at the confluence of the small Rhin river, about northwest of Altona. Glückstadt is part of th ...
, now in Germany, founded in 1617 as a rival to
Hamburg
(male), (female) en, Hamburger(s),
Hamburgian(s)
, timezone1 = Central (CET)
, utc_offset1 = +1
, timezone1_DST = Central (CEST)
, utc_offset1_DST = +2
, postal ...
in the then Danish territory of
Holstein
Holstein (; nds, label=Northern Low Saxon, Holsteen; da, Holsten; Latin and historical en, Holsatia, italic=yes) is the region between the rivers Elbe and Eider. It is the southern half of Schleswig-Holstein, the northernmost state of German ...
.
*
Christianshavn, now part of Copenhagen, Denmark, founded as a fortification/garrison town in 1619.
*
''Konningsberg'' (King's Mountain), now Kongsberg in Norway, founded as an industrial town in 1624 after the discovery of silver
ore
Ore is natural rock or sediment that contains one or more valuable minerals, typically containing metals, that can be mined, treated and sold at a profit.Encyclopædia Britannica. "Ore". Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Retrieved 7 Apr ...
s.
*
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 in Southern Norway.
*
Røros
Røros ( sma, Plaassja, ) is a municipality in Trøndelag county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Røros. Some of the villages in Røros include Brekken, Glåmos, Feragen, Galåa, and Hitterdalen.
The min ...
, now in Norway, founded as an industrial town after the discovery of copper ores.
A short-lived town was:
*
Christianspris
Christianspris or ''Frederiksort'' was a Danish fortification somewhat north of the then Danish city of Kiel. In 1632 the Danish king Christian IV initiated the works of making a fortification on a land tongue on the West shore of the Kielerfior ...
, now in
Schleswig
The Duchy of Schleswig ( da, Hertugdømmet Slesvig; german: Herzogtum Schleswig; nds, Hartogdom Sleswig; frr, Härtochduum Slaswik) was a duchy in Southern Jutland () covering the area between about 60 km (35 miles) north and 70 km ...
, 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 Round Tower ( Danish: Rundetårn) is a 17th-century tower in Copenhagen, Denmark, one of the many architectural projects of Christian IV of Denmark. Built as an astronomical observatory, it is noted for its equestrian staircase, a 7.5-turn hel ...
, the
stock exchange Børsen, the Copenhagen fortress
Kastellet,
Rosenborg Castle
Rosenborg Castle ( da, Rosenborg Slot) is a renaissance castle located in Copenhagen, Denmark. The castle was originally built as a country summerhouse in 1606 and is an example of Christian IV's many architectural projects. It was built in the D ...
, workers' district
Nyboder'','' the Copenhagen naval
Holmen Church (Holmens Kirke),
Proviantgården
Proviantgården or Provianthuset is a historic building on Slotsholmen in Copenhagen, Denmark. The building was originally constructed in the early 1600s as part of a Christian IV's naval harbor project. Its name, ''Proviantgården'', is in refere ...
, a brewery, the
Tøjhus Museum arsenal, and two Trinity Churches in Copenhagen and modern Kristianstad, now known as respectively
Trinitatis Church
The Trinitatis Church (''Trinitatis Kirke'') is located in central Copenhagen, Denmark. It is part of the 17th century Trinitatis Complex, which includes the Rundetårn astronomical observatory tower and the Copenhagen University Library, in ad ...
and
Holy Trinity Church. Christian converted
Frederiksborg Castle
Frederiksborg Castle ( da, Frederiksborg Slot) is a palatial complex in Hillerød, Denmark. It was built as a royal residence for King Christian IV of Denmark-Norway in the early 17th century, replacing an older castle acquired by Frederick ...
to a
Renaissance
The Renaissance ( , ) , from , with the same meanings. is a period in European history
The history of Europe is traditionally divided into four time periods: prehistoric Europe (prior to about 800 BC), classical antiquity (800 BC to AD ...
palace and completely rebuilt
Kronborg Castle
Kronborg is a castle and stronghold in the town of Helsingør, Denmark. Immortalized as Elsinore in William Shakespeare's play ''Hamlet'', Kronborg is one of the most important Renaissance castles in Northern Europe and was inscribed on the UNE ...
to a fortress. He also founded the
Danish East India Company
The Danish East India Company ( da, Ostindisk Kompagni) refers to two separate Danish-Norwegian chartered companies. The first company operated between 1616 and 1650. The second company existed between 1670 and 1729, however, in 1730 it was re-fo ...
(''Asiatisk Kompagni'') inspired by the similar
Dutch company.
Legacy
When Christian was crowned king,
Denmark-Norway held a supremacy over the Baltic Sea, which was lost to Sweden during the years of his reign. Nevertheless, Christian was one of the few kings from the
House of Oldenburg
The House of Oldenburg is a German dynasty with links to Denmark since the 15th century. It has branches that rule or have ruled in Denmark, Iceland, Greece, Norway, Russia, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Schleswig, Holstein, and Oldenburg. The cu ...
that achieved a lasting legacy of popularity with both the Danish and Norwegian people. As such, he featured in the Danish national play ''
Elverhøj''. Furthermore, his great building activities also furthered his popularity.
Christian IV spoke Danish, German,
Latin
Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...
, French and Italian. Naturally cheerful and hospitable, he delighted in lively society; but he was also passionate, irritable and sensual. He had courage, a vivid sense of duty, an indefatigable love of work, and all the inquisitive zeal and inventive energy of a born reformer. His own pleasure, whether it took the form of love or ambition, was always his first consideration. His capacity for drink was proverbial: when he visited England in 1606, even the notoriously hard-drinking English Court were astonished by his alcohol consumption. In the heyday of his youth his high spirits and passion for adventure enabled him to surmount every obstacle with elan. But in the decline of life he reaped the bitter fruits of his lack of self-control, and sank into the grave a weary and brokenhearted old man.
The
Christian IV Glacier in
Greenland
Greenland ( kl, Kalaallit Nunaat, ; da, Grønland, ) is an island country in North America that is part of the Kingdom of Denmark. It is located between the Arctic and Atlantic oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Greenland i ...
is named after him.
In fiction
*Christian IV is depicted as a brilliant but hard-drinking monarch in the
Eric Flint and
David Weber alternate-history novels ''
1634: The Baltic War'' and ''
1637: No Peace Beyond the Line''.
*Christian IV is featured several times in the book series ''
The Legend of the Ice People''.
*Christian IV also features prominently in the novel ''
Music and Silence'' by
Rose Tremain
Dame Rose Tremain (born 2 August 1943) is an English novelist, short story writer, and former Chancellor of the University of East Anglia.
Life
Rose Tremain was born Rosemary Jane Thomson on 2 August 1943 in London to Viola Mabel Thomson and ...
, which is primarily set in and around the Danish court in the years 1629 and 1630.
*Christian IV is depicted as a foul-natured person, but a good king who did a lot to make his realm flourish, by the Danish alternative music band
Mew in their song,
"King Christian".
*Christian IV (Danish title:
Christian IV - Den sidste rejse (2018) is a biographical movie, focusing on His Majesty King Christian IV's stormy relationship to
Kirsten Munk
Kirsten Munk (sometimes "Christina Munk"; 6 July 1598 19 April 1658) was a Danish noble, the second spouse of King Christian IV of Denmark, and mother to twelve of his children.
Early life and morganatic marriage
Kirsten Munk was the daughter o ...
, and the crucial last hours on his journey from
Frederiksborg Castle
Frederiksborg Castle ( da, Frederiksborg Slot) is a palatial complex in Hillerød, Denmark. It was built as a royal residence for King Christian IV of Denmark-Norway in the early 17th century, replacing an older castle acquired by Frederick ...
to
Rosenborg Castle
Rosenborg Castle ( da, Rosenborg Slot) is a renaissance castle located in Copenhagen, Denmark. The castle was originally built as a country summerhouse in 1606 and is an example of Christian IV's many architectural projects. It was built in the D ...
on his deathbed. The turning point is Christian IV's and Kirsten Munk's turbulent marriage with accusations of infidelity and attempted murder.
Issue and private life
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
Kirsten Munk (sometimes "Christina Munk"; 6 July 1598 19 April 1658) was a Danish noble, the second spouse of King Christian IV of Denmark, and mother to twelve of his children.
Early life and morganatic marriage
Kirsten Munk was the daughter o ...
, by whom he had twelve 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, he discovered that his wife, Kirsten Munk, was having a relationship with one of his German officers. Christian had Munk 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 she bore him several more children.
With his first wife,
Anne Catherine of Brandenburg he fathered the following children:
*Stillborn son (1598).
*Frederik (15 August 1599 – 9 September 1599).
*
Christian (10 April 1603 – 2 June 1647).
*Sophie (4 January 1605 – 7 September 1605).
*Elisabeth (16 March 1606 – 24 October 1608).
*
Frederick III (18 March 1609 – 9 February 1670).
*
Ulrik
Ulrik is a male name, a Scandinavian form of Ulrich. Ulrik may refer to:
* Ulrik Frederik Christian Arneberg (1829–1911), Norwegian politician for the Conservative Party
* Albert Ulrik Bååth (1853–1912), Swedish poet
* Ulrik Balling (born 197 ...
(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
Kirsten Munk (sometimes "Christina Munk"; 6 July 1598 19 April 1658) was a Danish noble, the second spouse of King Christian IV of Denmark, and mother to twelve of his children.
Early life and morganatic marriage
Kirsten Munk was the daughter o ...
, 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.
*
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 Corfits Ulfeldt (10 July 1606 – 20 February 1664) was a Danish statesman, and one of the most notorious traitors in Danish history.
Early life
Ulfeldt was the son of the chancellor Jacob Ulfeldt. He was educated abroad, concluding wi ...
.
*Count
Valdemar Christian of Schleswig-Holstein
Valdemar Christian of Schleswig-Holstein (1622–26 February 1656) was the son of king Christian IV of Denmark and his morganatic spouse Kirsten Munk. He had the title Count of Schleswig-Holstein.
Biography
Born as the youngest legitimate son ...
(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).
*
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).
*
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).
*
Hans Ulrik Gyldenløve
Hans Ulrik Gyldenløve (10 March 1615 – 31 January 1645) was the illegitimate son of King Christian IV of Denmark and his mistress, Karen Andersdatter. He was also a Danish-Norwegian Navy officer and ''lensmann'' bailiff.
Childhood
Hans Ulr ...
(1615–1645).
With
Vibeke Kruse:
*
Ulrik Christian Gyldenløve (1630–1658).
*Elisabeth Sophia Gyldenløve (1633–1654); married Major-General Klaus Ahlefeld.
Gallery
File:Christian IV av CL Jacobsen 2.jpg, Statue of King Christian IV in Oslo
File:Kr-iv-ks ubt.jpeg, Statue of Christian IV in Kristiansand
File:Nyboder 2005-03.jpg, Statue of Christian IV in Copenhagen
File:Frederiksborg slot - Interior 20090818 03.jpg , Bust of Christian IV at Frederiksborg Castle
File:Kong Christian Den Fjerde i Roskilde Domkirke.jpg, Sculpture by Christian IV in Roskilde Cathedral by Bertel Thorvaldsen
File:Chr IV rådhuset Kristianstad.jpg, Statue of Christian IV at the city hall in Kristianstad by Bertel Thorvaldsen
File:Kungamöte-2.JPG, Sculpture of Christian IV meeting the king of Sweden, Gustav II Adolf
Gustavus Adolphus (9 December Old_Style_and_New_Style_dates">N.S_19_December.html" ;"title="Old_Style_and_New_Style_dates.html" ;"title="/nowiki>Old Style and New Style dates">N.S 19 December">Old_Style_and_New_Style_dates.html" ;"title="/now ...
in Halmstad
Ancestry
Titles and style
In the 1621 Treaty of The Hague and Treaty of Bremen between
Denmark-Norway and the Dutch Republic, Christian was styled "Lord Christian the Fourth, King of
all Denmark and
Norway
Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and the ...
, the
Goths and the
Wends
Wends ( ang, Winedas ; non, Vindar; german: Wenden , ; da, vendere; sv, vender; pl, Wendowie, cz, Wendové) is a historical name for Slavs living near Germanic settlement areas. It refers not to a homogeneous people, but to various people ...
, duke of
Schleswig
The Duchy of Schleswig ( da, Hertugdømmet Slesvig; german: Herzogtum Schleswig; nds, Hartogdom Sleswig; frr, Härtochduum Slaswik) was a duchy in Southern Jutland () covering the area between about 60 km (35 miles) north and 70 km ...
,
Holstein
Holstein (; nds, label=Northern Low Saxon, Holsteen; da, Holsten; Latin and historical en, Holsatia, italic=yes) is the region between the rivers Elbe and Eider. It is the southern half of Schleswig-Holstein, the northernmost state of German ...
,
Stormarn, and
Ditmarsh
Dithmarschen (, Low Saxon: ; archaic English: ''Ditmarsh''; da, Ditmarsken; la, label=Medieval Latin, Tedmarsgo) is a district in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It is bounded by (from the north and clockwise) the districts of Nordfriesland, Schle ...
, count of
Oldenburg and
Delmenhorst
Delmenhorst (; Northern Low Saxon: ''Demost'') is an urban district ('' Kreisfreie Stadt'') in Lower Saxony, Germany. It has a population of 74,500 and is located west of downtown Bremen with which it forms a contiguous urban area, whereas the ...
, etc."
[Treaty of Bremen]
. In Davenport, Frances G. ''European Treaties Bearing on the History of the United States and Its Dependencies''. The Lawbook Exchange, Ltd., 2004.
References
Further reading
* Lockhart, Paul D. ''Denmark in the Thirty Years’ War, 1618–1648: King Christian IV and the Decline of the Oldenburg State'' (Susquehanna University Press, 1996)
* Lockhart, Paul D. ''Denmark, 1513–1660: the Rise and Decline of a Renaissance Monarchy'' (Oxford University Press, 2007).
*
* Scocozza, Benito, ''Christian IV'', 2006
External links
The Royal Lineageat the website of the
Danish Monarchy
The monarchy of Denmark is a constitutional institution and a historic office of the Kingdom of Denmark. The Kingdom includes Denmark proper and the autonomous territories of the Faroe Islands and Greenland. The Kingdom of Denmark was alre ...
Christian IVat the website of the
Royal Danish Collection
*
Harington's account of the drunken masque.
{{Authority control
1577 births
1648 deaths
16th-century monarchs of Denmark
17th-century monarchs of Denmark
16th-century Norwegian monarchs
17th-century Norwegian monarchs
People from Hillerød Municipality
Dukes of Schleswig
Dukes of Holstein
Denmark–Norway
Danish people of the Thirty Years' War
Burials at Roskilde Cathedral
Extra Knights Companion of the Garter
People of the Kalmar War
Children of Frederick II of Denmark