Christian Ditlev, Count of Reventlow (10 March 1710 – 30 March 1775) was a Danish Privy Councillor,

nobleman Nobility is a social class found in many societies that have an aristocracy. It is normally appointed by and ranked immediately below royalty. Nobility has often been an estate of the realm with many exclusive functions and characteristics. T ...

and a landowner.

Early life and ancestry

Being a member of an old House of Reventlow, he was born into the family of significant influence and wealth. He was the third son of Count Christian Ditlev Reventlow and his wife, Benedicte Margrethe von Brockdorff (1673–1739). His father, an officer and diplomat, had close familial ties to the Danish royal family and had been betrothed to Anna Christiane Gyldenløve (1676–1689), illegitimate daughter of King

Christian V of Denmark Christian V (15 April 1646 – 25 August 1699) was King of Denmark and Norway from 1670 until his death in 1699. Well-regarded by the common people, he was the first king anointed at Frederiksborg Castle chapel as absolute monarch since the dec ...

, who died young. Furthermore, his paternal aunt was Anne Sophie Reventlow,

morganatic Morganatic marriage, sometimes called a left-handed marriage, is a marriage between people of unequal social rank, which in the context of royalty or other inherited title prevents the principal's position or privileges being passed to the spous ...

wife of King Frederik IV of Denmark, and later Queen of Denmark. Despite his position, Reventlow devoted his life to his family and the maintenance of his estates, showing very little interest in life at court.

Personal life

He married in 1737 Baroness Johanne Sophie Frederikke von Bothmer (1718–1754), a daughter of

Baron Baron is a rank of nobility or title of honour, often Hereditary title, hereditary, in various European countries, either current or historical. The female equivalent is baroness. Typically, the title denotes an aristocrat who ranks higher than ...

Friedrich Johann von Bothmer (1658–1729), elder brother of

Count Count (feminine: countess) is a historical title of nobility in certain European countries, varying in relative status, generally of middling rank in the hierarchy of nobility. Pine, L. G. ''Titles: How the King Became His Majesty''. New York: ...

Hans Caspar von Bothmer. Though he had little-to-no political influence, he fathered three of the most prominent members of the Reventlow family: Prime Minister

Christian Ditlev Frederik Reventlow Christian Ditlev Frederik, Count of Reventlow (11 March 1748 – 11 October 1827) was a Danish statesman and reformer, the son of Privy Councillor Christian Ditlev Reventlow (1710–1775) by his first wife, baroness Johanne Sophie Frederikke vo ...

; ; and, saloniste Louise Stolberg.Reventlow, Christian Ditlev. In Dansk Biografisk Leksikon (Danish Biographical Dictionary). URL: http://rosekamp.dk/DBL_All/DBL_19_text.pdf He is buried in Gorslunde Church.

References

1710 births 1775 deaths Politicians from Copenhagen Nobility from Copenhagen 18th-century Danish politicians Christian Ditlev {{Denmark-politician-stub