Christian IX of Denmark

Christian IX of Denmark (April 8, 1818 – January 29, 1906) was King of Denmark from November 15, 1863 to January 29, 1906.

Related Topics:
April 8 - 1818 - January 29 - 1906 - Denmark - November 15 - 1863

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

He was born in Gottorp the fourth son of Friedrich Wilhelm, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg and Louise Caroline, Princess of Hesse. Through his mother, Christian was a great-grandson of Frederik V of Denmark, great-great-grandson of George II of Great Britain and descendant of several other monarchs, but had no strong claim to any European throne.

Related Topics:
Gottorp - Friedrich Wilhelm, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg - Louise Caroline, Princess of Hesse - Frederik V of Denmark - George II of Great Britain

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Through his father, Christian was member of a junior male branch of the royal Danish clan of Oldenburg and was (albeit a junior) agnatic descendant of Helwig of Schauenburg (countess of Oldenburg), mother of the first king Christian of Denmark, who was the "Semi-Salic" heiress of his brother Adolf of Schauenburg, last Schauenburg Duke of Schleswig and Count of Holstein. As such, Christian was eligible to succeed in the twin duchies of Schleswig-Holstein, but not first in the line.

Related Topics:
Christian of Denmark - Adolf of Schauenburg - Schleswig-Holstein

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

He grew up in Denmark and was educated in the Military Academy of Copenhagen.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

As a young man, he unsuccessfully sought the hand of Queen Victoria in marriage. In 1842 he married Luise of Hesse-Kassel, a niece of Christian VIII.

Related Topics:
Queen Victoria - Luise of Hesse-Kassel - Christian VIII

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1847, he was, under the blessing from the great powers of Europe, chosen to be a future successor to the Danish throne by Christian VIII, as Christian VIII did not expect his only surviving son, the future Frederik VII to have any sons. A justification for this choice of heir, was through Christian's wife Louise of Hesse-Kassel. (She was, as a great-niece of Christain VII closer heir to the throne than her husband.)

Related Topics:
1847 - Frederik VII - Louise of Hesse-Kassel - Christain VII

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Therefore, he succeeded Frederik VII to the throne on November 15, 1863. He was immediately plunged into a crisis over the possession and status of Schleswig and Holstein, two territories to Denmark's south when, under pressure, he signed the November Constitution, a treaty that made Schleswig part of Denmark. This resulted in a brief war between Denmark and a Prussian/Austrian alliance in 1864. The war ended with the incorporation of Schleswig into Prussia in 1865. Holstein was likewise incorporated into Prussia in 1865, following further battle between Austria and Prussia.

Related Topics:
November 15 - 1863 - Schleswig - Holstein - 1864 - Austria - Prussia

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~