Denmark - History - Biographies

Denmark
6. History
6.23 Biographies

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Vitus Bering
Christian IV
Margrete I
C.D.F. Reventlow
Saxo
Thorvald Stauning

Painting; Christian IV, King of Denmark and Norway Christian IV, 1577-1648, King of Denmark and Norway from 1596, son of Frederik II and Sophie of Mecklenburgh, father of Frederik III. Despite Christian IV's ambitious attempts to extend his own and his country's power and influence, Denmark's status as a great power in Europe was weakened during his reign. The continued rivalry with Sweden resulted in the Kalmar War of 1611-1613, won by Denmark, and the Torstensson Feud of 1643-1645, which it lost, so that parts of the kingdom had to be ceded to Sweden. The King's intervention in the Thirty Years' War against the German Emperor Ferdinand II from 1625 to 1629 had particularly catastrophic consequences; after a crushing defeat at Lutter am Barenberg in 1626 Jutland was occupied by German troops from 1627 to 1629.

Despite his injudicious foreign adventures, Christian IV occupies a very special place in the mind of the Danes. His 52-year reign has left many traces in Copenhagen, among other things in the form of buildings such as Børsen (the Stock Exchange), Rosenborg Palace and Rundetårn (The Round Tower). Moreover, many letters in the King's hand have been preserved, testifying to a temperamental but vivid personality with a propensity for meddling in every matter, large or small. Christian IV's well-documented and frequent carousings also form part of his reputation as the flamboyant and popular Renaissance king.
Thomas Sehested
David Bailly (c. 1630), Rosenborg/ Kit Weiss

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