Prince Charles of Denmark
Encyclopedia
Prince Charles of Denmark (26 October 1680 - 8 June 1729) was the youngest son of Christian V of Denmark
and his consort Queen Charlotte Amalie, and thus a younger brother of King Frederick IV
. He never married and had no children, nor did he ever engage in any political activities. Instead he maintained a withdrawn life on his estates.
as the youngest son of Christian V
and his consort Queen Charlotte Amalie. As was the tradition at the court, his upbringing was left to others, including Johan Georg Holstein, who was replaced by Carl Ahlefeldt as his hofmeister in 1796. In particular Christian Siegfried von Plessen was charged with his upbringing.
Prince Charles suffered from weak health and was hard of hearing. In order to benefit from a milder climate he was sent to France
and Italy
on a study trip from 1696 to 1699, spending most of the time in Montpellier
. On the journey he was accompanied by Carl Adolph von Plessen, the three years older son of his mentor, who remained a close friend and companion of the prince for the rest of his life, with title of first hoffmeister and later chamberlain.
which he was given by his older brother, now King Frederick IV of Denmark
since his ascent to the throne. He immediately embarked on a major extension of the castle and passionately fond of horses, an interest he shared with his father and brother, he also founded a stud farm on the estate.
From his mother, who died in 1715, he inherited Vemmetofte Manor
and Højstrup Manors on Zealand and Charlottenborg Palace
in Copenhagen. His holdings also included a pleasure garden in Copenhagen located outside the city's Northern City Gate. It was known as Prinsens Have (English: The Prince's Garden) and later Blågård (English: Blue Farm), a name which is commemorated in several toponyms today.
crowned as his queen, it led to a breach between the two brothers, and together with Princess Sophia Hedwig, his three years older sister, Prince Charles took up permanent residence at Vemmetofte Manor where they maintained an extravagant household. Carl Adolph von Plessen remained a close friend who had a reputation for exercising such a great influence on the prince that on one occasion it prompted the king to exclaim "Well there comes Prince Plessen with my brother Charles!". Ultimately the two brothers were reconciled and in the end Prince Charles even ended up godfathering one of the king's children by Anne Sophie.
After suffering from weak health throughout his life, he died in 1729 and was interred at Roskilde Cathedral
.
Christian V of Denmark
Christian V , was king of Denmark and Norway from 1670 to 1699, the son of Frederick III of Denmark and Sophie Amalie of Brunswick-Lüneburg...
and his consort Queen Charlotte Amalie, and thus a younger brother of King Frederick IV
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:...
. He never married and had no children, nor did he ever engage in any political activities. Instead he maintained a withdrawn life on his estates.
Early life and education
Prince Charles was born on 26 October 1680 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....
as the youngest son of Christian V
Christian V of Denmark
Christian V , was king of Denmark and Norway from 1670 to 1699, the son of Frederick III of Denmark and Sophie Amalie of Brunswick-Lüneburg...
and his consort Queen Charlotte Amalie. As was the tradition at the court, his upbringing was left to others, including Johan Georg Holstein, who was replaced by Carl Ahlefeldt as his hofmeister in 1796. In particular Christian Siegfried von Plessen was charged with his upbringing.
Prince Charles suffered from weak health and was hard of hearing. In order to benefit from a milder climate he was sent to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
on a study trip from 1696 to 1699, spending most of the time in Montpellier
Montpellier
-Neighbourhoods:Since 2001, Montpellier has been divided into seven official neighbourhoods, themselves divided into sub-neighbourhoods. Each of them possesses a neighbourhood council....
. On the journey he was accompanied by Carl Adolph von Plessen, the three years older son of his mentor, who remained a close friend and companion of the prince for the rest of his life, with title of first hoffmeister and later chamberlain.
Land owner and horse breeder
Back in Denmark Prince Charles settled at Jægerspris CastleJægerspris Castle
Jægerspris Castle, in Jægerspris on the Hornsherred peninsula west of Copenhagen, is a Danish manor house. It has belonged to the Danish monarchs for most of its history which dates back to the 13th century...
which he was given by his older brother, now 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:...
since his ascent to the throne. He immediately embarked on a major extension of the castle and passionately fond of horses, an interest he shared with his father and brother, he also founded a stud farm on the estate.
From his mother, who died in 1715, he inherited Vemmetofte Manor
Vemmetofte Convent
Vemmetofte Convent is a former manor house in Faxe Municipality south of Copenhagen, Denmark. It was turned into a convent by Princess Sophia Hedwig of Denmark in 1735...
and Højstrup Manors on Zealand and Charlottenborg Palace
Charlottenborg Palace
Charlottenborg Palace is a large town mansion located on the corner of Kongens Nytorv and Nyhavn in Copenhagen, Denmark. Originally built as a residence for Ulrik Frederik Gyldenløve, it has served as the base of the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts since its foundation in 1754...
in Copenhagen. His holdings also included a pleasure garden in Copenhagen located outside the city's Northern City Gate. It was known as Prinsens Have (English: The Prince's Garden) and later Blågård (English: Blue Farm), a name which is commemorated in several toponyms today.
Final years at Vemmetofte Manor
When Frederick IV had his wife by bigamy Anne Sophie ReventlowAnne Sophie Reventlow
Anne Sophie Reventlow was a Danish noble, royal mistress, spouse by bigamy and, later, queen consort of Denmark and Norway 1721–30, the second spouse of king Frederick IV of Denmark and Norway....
crowned as his queen, it led to a breach between the two brothers, and together with Princess Sophia Hedwig, his three years older sister, Prince Charles took up permanent residence at Vemmetofte Manor where they maintained an extravagant household. Carl Adolph von Plessen remained a close friend who had a reputation for exercising such a great influence on the prince that on one occasion it prompted the king to exclaim "Well there comes Prince Plessen with my brother Charles!". Ultimately the two brothers were reconciled and in the end Prince Charles even ended up godfathering one of the king's children by Anne Sophie.
After suffering from weak health throughout his life, he died in 1729 and was interred 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...
.