Hedwig of Denmark
Encyclopedia
Princess Hedwig of Denmark (5 August 1581 – 26 November 1641) was the youngest daughter of King Frederick II of Denmark
and Sophie of Mecklenburg-Güstrow, and Electress of Saxony
from 1602 to 1611 as the wife of Christian II.
The marriage was childless, and her husband was succeeded by his brother John George
. After Christian's death in 1611, the Dowager Electress Hedwig held a powerful position in Saxony.
in Denmark, the seventh child and fourth daughter of King Frederick II of Denmark
and Sophie of Mecklenburg-Güstrow. One of her three sisters was Princess Anne of Denmark
, future queen of England and Scotland, and one of her brothers became Christian IV of Denmark
.
She was married on 12 September 1602 to Christian II, Elector of Saxony, her first cousin once removed, in Dresden
. The nine-year marriage was childless. Christian died in Dresden on 23 June 1611.
, but her subjects considered her their sovereign. She was able to maintain her independence from her brother-in-law when it came to trade and commerce. She acted independently, granting letters of free passage etc, something that was normally the prerogative of the Elector. Additionally, she founded churches and aided the poor, sick, and disabled.
As sister of the Danish king Christian IV
and sister-in-law of the British king
she cultivated important connections for her brother-in-law, Elector John George I, and was involved in arranging the marriages of five of his seven children.
Because of her position and connections, her territories were hardly attacked during the Thirty Years' War
.
She died on 26 November 1641 at Schloss Lichtenburg in Prettin
.
Frederick II of Denmark
Frederick II was King of Denmark and Norway and duke of Schleswig from 1559 until his death.-King of Denmark:Frederick II was the son of King Christian III of Denmark and Norway and Dorothea of Saxe-Lauenburg. Frederick II stands as the typical renaissance ruler of Denmark. Unlike his father, he...
and Sophie of Mecklenburg-Güstrow, and Electress of Saxony
Electorate of Saxony
The Electorate of Saxony , sometimes referred to as Upper Saxony, was a State of the Holy Roman Empire. It was established when Emperor Charles IV raised the Ascanian duchy of Saxe-Wittenberg to the status of an Electorate by the Golden Bull of 1356...
from 1602 to 1611 as the wife of Christian II.
The marriage was childless, and her husband was succeeded by his brother John George
John George I, Elector of Saxony
John George I was Elector of Saxony from 1611 to 1656.-Biography:Born in Dresden, he was the second son of the Elector Christian I and Sophie of Brandenburg....
. After Christian's death in 1611, the Dowager Electress Hedwig held a powerful position in Saxony.
Early life and marriage
Hedwig was born on 5 August 1581 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...
in Denmark, the seventh child and fourth daughter of King Frederick II of Denmark
Frederick II of Denmark
Frederick II was King of Denmark and Norway and duke of Schleswig from 1559 until his death.-King of Denmark:Frederick II was the son of King Christian III of Denmark and Norway and Dorothea of Saxe-Lauenburg. Frederick II stands as the typical renaissance ruler of Denmark. Unlike his father, he...
and Sophie of Mecklenburg-Güstrow. One of her three sisters was Princess Anne of Denmark
Anne of Denmark
Anne of Denmark was queen consort of Scotland, England, and Ireland as the wife of King James VI and I.The second daughter of King Frederick II of Denmark, Anne married James in 1589 at the age of fourteen and bore him three children who survived infancy, including the future Charles I...
, future queen of England and Scotland, and one of her brothers became Christian IV of Denmark
Christian IV of Denmark
Christian IV was the king of Denmark-Norway from 1588 until his death. With a reign of more than 59 years, he is the longest-reigning monarch of Denmark, and he is frequently remembered as one of the most popular, ambitious and proactive Danish kings, having initiated many reforms and projects...
.
She was married on 12 September 1602 to Christian II, Elector of Saxony, her first cousin once removed, in Dresden
Dresden
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
. The nine-year marriage was childless. Christian died in Dresden on 23 June 1611.
Life as Dowager Electress
When her husband died in 1611, Hedwig became Dowager Electress in charge of the police and courts. She shared her authority with the new ElectorJohn George I, Elector of Saxony
John George I was Elector of Saxony from 1611 to 1656.-Biography:Born in Dresden, he was the second son of the Elector Christian I and Sophie of Brandenburg....
, but her subjects considered her their sovereign. She was able to maintain her independence from her brother-in-law when it came to trade and commerce. She acted independently, granting letters of free passage etc, something that was normally the prerogative of the Elector. Additionally, she founded churches and aided the poor, sick, and disabled.
As sister of the Danish king Christian IV
Christian IV of Denmark
Christian IV was the king of Denmark-Norway from 1588 until his death. With a reign of more than 59 years, he is the longest-reigning monarch of Denmark, and he is frequently remembered as one of the most popular, ambitious and proactive Danish kings, having initiated many reforms and projects...
and sister-in-law of the British king
James I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
she cultivated important connections for her brother-in-law, Elector John George I, and was involved in arranging the marriages of five of his seven children.
Because of her position and connections, her territories were hardly attacked during the Thirty Years' War
Thirty Years' War
The Thirty Years' War was fought primarily in what is now Germany, and at various points involved most countries in Europe. It was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history....
.
She died on 26 November 1641 at Schloss Lichtenburg in Prettin
Prettin
Prettin is a town and a former municipality in Wittenberg district in Saxony-Anhalt. Since 1 January 2011, it is part of the town Annaburg. It was part of the former administrative community of Annaburg-Prettin....
.