Louise of Hesse

Louise of Hesse-Cassel, Luise Wilhelmine Friederike Caroline Auguste Julie von Hessen-Kassel (in Danish, Louise Wilhelmine Frederikke Caroline Auguste Julie), (born Kassel 7 September 1817, died Bernstorff 29 September 1898), was a daughter of ancient German princely family, the Landgraves of Hesse, and became Queen of Denmark, being the Queen Consort from November 15, 1863 to her death.

Converging the succession rights

As Louise and Christian had married, Louise's mother and brother and elder sister, princes and princesses of Hesse, renounced their rights in favor of Louise and her husband. Prince Christian's wife was now the closest female heiress of Christian VIII and then of Frederick VII.

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Landgrave Frederick, a Danish military officer, had been one (and perhaps the foremost) of candidates of Christian VIII of Denmark in 1840's to succeed on the Danish throne if the latter's male line dies out. Landgrave Frederick was of practically Danish upbringing, having lived all his life in Denmark.

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In 1847, Prince Christian 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 niece of Christian VIII closer heir to the throne than her husband.)

Related Topics:
1847 - Frederik VII - Louise of Hesse-Kassel - Christian VIII

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Because of Salic Law, which also operated differently in Denmark and in Schlesweig-Holstein, the succession after childless Frederick VII was a question very thorny to arrange, and it did not go smoothly, but caused a war (Second war of Schleswig).

Related Topics:
Salic Law - Second war of Schleswig

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Denmark was also under Salic Law, but only among descendants of Frederick III of Denmark (who was the first hereditary monarch of Denmark - before him the kingdom was officially elective). Agnatic descendance of Frederick III went extinct when Frederick VII died, and at that point, the succession law promulgated by Frederick III provided a Semi-Salic succession. There were however several alternative ways to interpret to whom the crown passes then, since the provision was not entirely clear on whether it be the closest female relative or what and who to inherit. The question was solved by an election and a separate law to confirm the new successor.

Related Topics:
Frederick III of Denmark - Semi-Salic

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Some rights belonged also to the line of Glucksburg, a more junior branch of the royal clan. They were also heirs of Frederick III, through their one ancestress who was daughter of King Frederick V of Denmark, and they were a more junior agnatic heirs eligible to succeed in Schleswig- Holstein. There were Christian himself and his brothers, eldest of whom was childless, but the second eldest had produced children, also male children.

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Prince Christian had been a foster "grandson" of the sonless royal couple Frederick VI and his queen consort Marie (Marie Sophie Frederikke of Hesse), thus familiar with the royal court and the traditions of the recent monarchs. Their young ward, prince Christian was great-nephew of queen Marie, and descendant of a first cousin of Frederick VI. He was brought up as Danish, having lived in Danish-speaking lands of the royal dynasty, and was not attached to German nationalism. Although these did not mean anything legally, they made him a relatively good candidate from the Danish viewpoint. As junior agnatic descendant, he was eligible to inherit Schleswig-Holstein, but not the first in line. As descendant of Frederick III, he was eligible to succeed in Denmark, but not first in line, however that line was not very clear.

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When Christian married Louise, eldest daughter of the closest female relative of Frederick VII, this combined two potential claimants.

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When Frederick died in 1863, Christian took the throne as Christian IX

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