Frederick V of Denmark
Encyclopedia
Frederick V (31 March 1723 14 January 1766) was king of Denmark
and Norway
from 1746, son of Christian VI of Denmark
and Sophia Magdalen of Brandenburg-Kulmbach
.
. He was the grandson of King Frederick IV of Denmark
and the son of Crown Prince Christian
and Sophia Magdalen of Brandenburg-Kulmbach. On 12 October 1730, King Frederick IV died and Frederick's father ascended the throne as King Christian VI. Frederick himself became Crown Prince.
Christian VI and Sophia Magdalen were deeply devoted to Pietism
, and Frederick was given a strictly religious upbringing. Although not unfamiliar with religious sentiments, Frederick grew into a hedonist who enjoyed the pleasures of life such as wine and women.
, Holstein
, on 11 December 1743 to Princess Louise of Great Britain
, daughter of King George II
and Caroline of Ansbach
. They were the parents of six children, but one was stillborn.
Louise died on 19 December 1751 at Christiansborg Palace
, predeceasing her husband by fourteen years, and was buried at Roskilde Cathedral
. At the time of her death, she was pregnant with her seventh child, who also died.
on 8 July 1752 to Duchess Juliana Maria of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel
, daughter of Ferdinand Albert II, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg. Their notable child was the Hereditary Prince Frederick of Denmark and Norway, who was, in his turn, father of King Christian VIII of Denmark
and grandfather of Louise of Hesse, the future queen of Denmark.
She died in 1796 having been regent for her son Prince Frederick.
King Frederick was also the father of five illegitimate children by Else Hansen
.
an wars of his time. The country remained neutral even for the duration of the Seven Years' War
(1756–63), despite its proximity to combatants Russia
and Sweden
.
He founded the Royal Danish Academy of Art
(Det Kongelige Danske Kunstakademi) in Copenhagen
, which officially opened on 31 March 1754, his 31st birthday. Frederick also purchased what would become known as the Danish West Indies
from the Danish West India Company
in 1754.
Frederick V is interred in Roskilde Cathedral
next to Queen Louise.
On 1 August 1771, five years after the king's death, an equestrian statue of Frederick V dressed in the garb of a Roman emperor
by the French sculptor Jacques François Joseph Saly
was unveiled at Amalienborg Square
in Copenhagen
.
The town of Frederiksværk
on the island of Zealand, the town of Frederiksted on the island of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as the district Frederiksstaden
in Copenhagen
are named after Frederick V.
Within one hundred years of his time, Denmark faced the crisis of his male issue (the main branch of the Royal House) becoming extinct. This created a succession crisis beginning from his grandson's reign that affected both Denmark and Schleswig-Holstein. Finally, his great-grandson through the female line, Christian IX of Denmark
, who was married to his great-granddaughter Louise of Hesse-Kassel
(or Hesse-Cassel), became the designated heir.
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
and Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
from 1746, son of Christian VI of Denmark
Christian VI of Denmark
Christian VI was King of Denmark and Norway from 1730 to 1746.He was the son of King Frederick IV of Denmark and Norway and Louise of Mecklenburg-Güstrow. He married Sophia Magdalen of Brandenburg-Kulmbach and fathered Frederick V.-The reign and personality of Christian VI:To posterity Christian...
and Sophia Magdalen of Brandenburg-Kulmbach
Sophia Magdalen of Brandenburg-Kulmbach
Sophia Magdalene of Brandenburg-Kulmbach was queen-consort of Denmark and Norway as the wife of King Christian VI of Denmark and Norway.-Background:...
.
Early life
Frederick was born on 31 March 1723 at Copenhagen CastleCopenhagen Castle
Copenhagen Castle was a castle on Slotsholmen in Copenhagen, Denmark, built in the late 14th century at the site of the current Christiansborg Palace....
. He was the grandson of King Frederick IV of Denmark
Frederick IV of Denmark
Frederick IV was the king of Denmark and Norway from 1699 until his death. Frederick was the son of King Christian V of Denmark and Norway and Charlotte Amalie of Hesse-Kassel .-Foreign affairs:...
and the son of Crown Prince Christian
Christian VI of Denmark
Christian VI was King of Denmark and Norway from 1730 to 1746.He was the son of King Frederick IV of Denmark and Norway and Louise of Mecklenburg-Güstrow. He married Sophia Magdalen of Brandenburg-Kulmbach and fathered Frederick V.-The reign and personality of Christian VI:To posterity Christian...
and Sophia Magdalen of Brandenburg-Kulmbach. On 12 October 1730, King Frederick IV died and Frederick's father ascended the throne as King Christian VI. Frederick himself became Crown Prince.
Christian VI and Sophia Magdalen were deeply devoted to Pietism
Pietism
Pietism was a movement within Lutheranism, lasting from the late 17th century to the mid-18th century and later. It proved to be very influential throughout Protestantism and Anabaptism, inspiring not only Anglican priest John Wesley to begin the Methodist movement, but also Alexander Mack to...
, and Frederick was given a strictly religious upbringing. Although not unfamiliar with religious sentiments, Frederick grew into a hedonist who enjoyed the pleasures of life such as wine and women.
First marriage
He was first married at AltonaAltona, Hamburg
Altona is the westernmost urban borough of the German city state of Hamburg, on the right bank of the Elbe river. From 1640 to 1864 Altona was under the administration of the Danish monarchy. Altona was an independent city until 1937...
, Holstein
Holstein
Holstein is the region between the rivers Elbe and Eider. It is part of Schleswig-Holstein, the northernmost state of Germany....
, on 11 December 1743 to Princess Louise of Great Britain
Louise of Great Britain
Louise of Great Britain was the youngest surviving daughter of George II of Great Britain and Caroline of Ansbach, and became queen consort of Denmark and Norway.-Early life:...
, daughter of King George II
George II of Great Britain
George II was King of Great Britain and Ireland, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and Archtreasurer and Prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire from 11 June 1727 until his death.George was the last British monarch born outside Great Britain. He was born and brought up in Northern Germany...
and Caroline of Ansbach
Caroline of Ansbach
Caroline of Brandenburg-Ansbach was the queen consort of King George II of Great Britain.Her father, John Frederick, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach, was the ruler of a small German state...
. They were the parents of six children, but one was stillborn.
Louise died on 19 December 1751 at Christiansborg Palace
Christiansborg Palace
Christiansborg Palace, , on the islet of Slotsholmen in central Copenhagen, is the seat of the Folketing , the Danish Prime Minister's Office and the Danish Supreme Court...
, predeceasing her husband by fourteen years, and was buried at Roskilde Cathedral
Roskilde Cathedral
Roskilde Cathedral , in the city of Roskilde on the island of Zealand in eastern Denmark, is a cathedral of the Lutheran Church of Denmark. The first Gothic cathedral to be built of brick, it encouraged the spread of the Brick Gothic style throughout Northern Europe...
. At the time of her death, she was pregnant with her seventh child, who also died.
Second marriage
Frederick married a second time at Frederiksborg PalaceFrederiksborg Palace
Frederiksborg castle is a castle in Hillerød, Denmark. It was built as a royal residence for King Christian IV, and is now known as The Museum of National History. The current building replaced a previous castle erected by Frederick II, and is the largest Renaissance palace in Scandinavia...
on 8 July 1752 to Duchess Juliana Maria of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel
Juliana Maria of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel
Duchess Juliane Marie of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel , , was queen of Denmark between 1752 and 1766, second consort of king Frederick V of Denmark and Norway, mother of the prince-regent Hereditary Prince Frederick of Denmark and Norway and herself de facto regent 1772–1784.- Early life and queen :Born...
, daughter of Ferdinand Albert II, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg. Their notable child was the Hereditary Prince Frederick of Denmark and Norway, who was, in his turn, father of King Christian VIII of Denmark
Christian VIII of Denmark
Christian VIII , was king of Denmark from 1839 to 1848 and, as Christian Frederick, king of Norway in 1814. He was the eldest son of Hereditary Prince Frederick of Denmark and Norway and Sophia Frederica of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, born in 1786 at Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen...
and grandfather of Louise of Hesse, the future queen of Denmark.
She died in 1796 having been regent for her son Prince Frederick.
King Frederick was also the father of five illegitimate children by Else Hansen
Else Hansen
Else Hansen , known as Madam Hansen, later enobled as de Hansen , was the royal Danish mistress of king Frederick V of Denmark.Hansen was enobled de Hansen, but the line died with her son...
.
Reign
The personal influence of Frederick was limited. He was afflicted by alcoholism and most of his rule was dominated by very able ministers like A. G. Moltke, J. H. E. Bernstorff and H. C. Schimmelmann. They avoided involving Denmark in the EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an wars of his time. The country remained neutral even for the duration of the Seven Years' War
Seven Years' War
The Seven Years' War was a global military war between 1756 and 1763, involving most of the great powers of the time and affecting Europe, North America, Central America, the West African coast, India, and the Philippines...
(1756–63), despite its proximity to combatants Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
and Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
.
He founded the Royal Danish Academy of Art
Royal Danish Academy of Art
The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts has provided a practice-oriented complement to the scholarly investigation of the arts carried out at Danish universities for more than 250 years, playing a crucial part in the development of the distinctive tradition of the art of Denmark.- History :The Royal...
(Det Kongelige Danske Kunstakademi) in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
, which officially opened on 31 March 1754, his 31st birthday. Frederick also purchased what would become known as the Danish West Indies
Danish West Indies
The Danish West Indies or "Danish Antilles", were a colony of Denmark-Norway and later Denmark in the Caribbean. They were sold to the United States in 1916 in the Treaty of the Danish West Indies and became the United States Virgin Islands in 1917...
from the Danish West India Company
Danish West India Company
The Danish West India Company or Danish West India-Guinea Company was a Danish chartered company that exploited colonies in the Danish West Indies. It was founded as the Danish Africa Company in 1659 in Glückstadt by a German Hendrik Carloff and two Dutchmen Isaac Coymans and Nicolaes Pancras....
in 1754.
Death and burial
The king died at the age of 42, and after twenty years of reign. His last words were reportedly: "It is a great consolation to me in my last hour that I have never wilfully offended anyone and that there is not a drop of blood on my hands."Frederick V is interred in Roskilde Cathedral
Roskilde Cathedral
Roskilde Cathedral , in the city of Roskilde on the island of Zealand in eastern Denmark, is a cathedral of the Lutheran Church of Denmark. The first Gothic cathedral to be built of brick, it encouraged the spread of the Brick Gothic style throughout Northern Europe...
next to Queen Louise.
Legacy
Roman Emperor
The Roman emperor was the ruler of the Roman State during the imperial period . The Romans had no single term for the office although at any given time, a given title was associated with the emperor...
by the French sculptor Jacques François Joseph Saly
Jacques Saly
Jacques François Joseph Saly, also known as Jacques Saly , French-born sculptor who worked in France, Denmark, and Italy, was born in Valenciennes to Francois Marie Saly and wife Marie Michelle....
was unveiled at Amalienborg Square
Amalienborg Palace
Amalienborg Palace is the winter home of the Danish royal family, and is located in Copenhagen, Denmark. It consists of four identical classicizing palace façades with rococo interiors around an octagonal courtyard ; in the centre of the square is a monumental equestrian statue of Amalienborg's...
in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
.
The town of Frederiksværk
Frederiksværk
Frederiksværk is a town with a population of 12,257 in Halsnæs Municipality on Zealand in Region Hovedstaden in Denmark.-History:A French cannon founder, Peyrembert, received permission to build a cannon factory here...
on the island of Zealand, the town of Frederiksted on the island of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as the district Frederiksstaden
Frederiksstaden
Frederiksstaden is a district in Copenhagen, Denmark. Constructed during the reign of Frederick V in the second half of the 18th century and it is considered to be one of the most important rococo complexes in Europe....
in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
are named after Frederick V.
Titles and styles
- 31 March 1723 – 12 October 1730: His Royal Highness Prince Frederick
- 12 October 1730 – 6 August 1746: His Royal Highness The Crown Prince
- 6 August 1746 – 14 January 1766: His Majesty The King
Issue
| Name | Birth | Death | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prince Christian | Copenhagen Copenhagen Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region... , 7 July 1745 |
Frederiksborg Frederiksborg Frederiksborg is a Danish placename that can refer to:* Frederiksborg Palace* Frederiksborg County* Frederiksborg horse... , 3 June 1747 |
died in infancy |
| Sophia Magdalena, Queen of Sweden Sophia Magdalena of Denmark Sofia Magdalena of Denmark and Norway was a Queen consort of Sweden as the spouse of Gustav III of Sweden.... |
3 July 1746 | 21 August 1813 | married, 1766, Gustav III, King of Sweden Gustav III of Sweden Gustav III was King of Sweden from 1771 until his death. He was the eldest son of King Adolph Frederick and Queen Louise Ulrica of Sweden, she a sister of Frederick the Great of Prussia.... ; had issue |
| Caroline, Landgravine of Hesse-Kassel Princess Wilhelmina Caroline of Denmark and Norway Wilhelmina Caroline of Denmark Wilhelmina Caroline of Denmark Wilhelmina Caroline of Denmark (10 July 1747 in Christiansborg Palace, Copenhagen – 14 January 1820 in Kassel, was the Electress of Hesse-Kassel.- Biography :... (or Hesse-Cassel) |
10 July 1747 | 19 January 1820 | married, 1763, William I, Elector of Hesse William I, Elector of Hesse William I, Elector of Hesse was the eldest surviving son of Frederick II, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel and Princess Mary of Great Britain, the daughter of George II.-Early life:... ; had issue |
| King Christian VII Christian VII of Denmark Christian VII was King of Denmark and Norway and Duke of Schleswig and Holstein from 1766 until his death. He was the son of Danish King Frederick V and his first consort Louisa, daughter of King George II of Great Britain.... |
29 January 1749 | 13 March 1808 | married, 1766, Princess Caroline Matilda; had issue |
| Louise, Princess Charles of Hesse | 30 January 1750 | 12 January 1831 | married, 1766, Prince Charles of Hesse-Kassel; had issue |
| Hereditary Prince Frederick Frederick, Hereditary Prince of Denmark and Norway Frederick , was a Hereditary Prince of Denmark and Norway. He was the surviving son of the second marriage of King Frederick V of Denmark with Juliana Maria of Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel.... |
11 October 1753 | 7 December 1805 | married, 1774, Duchess Sophia Frederica of Mecklenburg-Schwerin; had issue |
Within one hundred years of his time, Denmark faced the crisis of his male issue (the main branch of the Royal House) becoming extinct. This created a succession crisis beginning from his grandson's reign that affected both Denmark and Schleswig-Holstein. Finally, his great-grandson through the female line, Christian IX of Denmark
Christian IX of Denmark
Christian IX was King of Denmark from 16 November 1863 to 29 January 1906.Growing up as a prince of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, a junior branch of the House of Oldenburg which had ruled Denmark since 1448, Christian was originally not in the immediate line of succession to the Danish...
, who was married to his great-granddaughter Louise of Hesse-Kassel
Louise of Hesse-Kassel
Louise of Hesse was a German Princess and the queen consort to King Christian IX of Denmark.-Early Life and Ancestry:...
(or Hesse-Cassel), became the designated heir.