Eiler Holck, 1st Baron of Holckenhavn (4 June 1627 – 28 June 1696) was a

Danish Danish may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to the country of Denmark People * A national or citizen of Denmark, also called a "Dane," see Demographics of Denmark * Culture of Denmark * Danish people or Danes, people with a Danish ance ...

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

and

military officer An officer is a person who holds a position of authority as a member of an armed force or uniformed service. Broadly speaking, "officer" means a commissioned officer, a non-commissioned officer, or a warrant officer. However, absent contex ...

, from 1671 with the

title A title is one or more words used before or after a person's name, in certain contexts. It may signify either generation, an official position, or a professional or academic qualification. In some languages, titles may be inserted between the f ...

of baron.

Biography

Holck participated in the fighting at Frederiksodde in the

Second Northern War The Second Northern War (1655–60), (also First or Little Northern War) was fought between Sweden and its adversaries the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth (1655–60), the Tsardom of Russia ( 1656–58), Brandenburg-Prussia (1657–60), th ...

and in the defense of

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 ...

. Despite being of an old Danish noble family, he supported the introduction of

absolutism Absolutism may refer to: Government * Absolute monarchy, in which a monarch rules free of laws or legally organized opposition * Absolutism (European history), period c. 1610 – c. 1789 in Europe ** Enlightened absolutism, influenced by the E ...

and was rewarded with high offices. He was appointed commandant of

Kronborg 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 UN ...

and county governor (da. Amtmand) of the County of Kronborg (da. Kronborg Amt). In 1664 he was promoted to

major general Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of a ...

and became a member of the War Council (da. Krigskollegiet). In 1672 he acquired Ellensborg, which had been confiscated by the Crown after

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 wit ...

fell into disfavour, and founded the

Barony of Holckenhavn The Barony of Holckenhavn was a Denmark, Danish majorat on the island of Funen, which existed from 1671 to 1921. History The Barony of Holckenhavn was established on 4 October 1671 by King Christian V of Denmark for Eiler Holck, a member of the ...

. From 1675 his political career waned. He died at Holckenhavn Castle and is buried at Vindinge Church.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Holck, Eiler Danish military officers 1627 births 1696 deaths