Princess Vilhelmine Marie of Denmark
Encyclopedia
Princess Vilhelmine Marie of Denmark and Norway (18 January 1808 in Kiel
, Duchy of Schleswig – 30 May 1891 in Glücksburg
, Schleswig-Holstein
, Prussia
) was the youngest daughter of Frederick VI of Denmark
and his wife and first cousin Marie Sophie of Hesse-Kassel
. Her paternal grandfather, Christian VII of Denmark
, had major psychological problems and as result, her father had been acting as Regent since 1784. Within two months of her birth, Vilhelmine Marie's grandfather died of a cerebral aneurysm
and her father ascended as king.
of the then newly established Bernadotte dynasty. On 1 November 1828 in Copenhagen
, she married Prince Frederick of Denmark
, the future King Frederick VII. The engagement had been made official in 1826. Prince Frederick was a direct male-line descendant of King Frederick V
by his second queen Juliana Maria of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel
. The marriage united the two lines of the Royal House, which had been in a strained relationship since 1814, and was very popular: the public celebrations was unusually vivid, with illuminations, poems, public festivities and a foundation, Vilhelmine-Stiftelsen, for the benefit of providing brides with a suitable equipment. The marriage soon turned out to be an unhappy one. That was not least because of Frederick's debauched lifestyle with infidelity and heavy drinking. It was said that Vilhelmine, although good hearted and mild, lacked character and was unable to gain any influence on Frederick, and that Frederick deeply hurt her "female feelings". Her unhappy marriage was also a cause of concern for her parents, who felt sorry for her. The couple were separated in 1834, and divorced in 1837.
on 19 May 1838 she married second Karl, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg
, eldest brother of the future King Christian IX of Denmark
, and took residence in Kiel
. Her second marriage was said to have been very happy. Both her marriages were childless. Many believe that she was barren
as there are no records of her having any miscarriages or stillbirths.
During the First Schleswig War (1848–1851), her spouse actively sided against Denmark. That caused Vilhelmine's relations with the Danish Royal family to be severed for some time. During the war, she resided in Dresden. In 1852 there was a reconciliation and she again enjoyed a close relationship with her family in Copenhagen
, returning to Denmark with Karl, often living at Louisenlund Castle. Her status as the daughter of a well-loved King and abused Queen of a vilified King helped her to regain her popularity among the Danish people. Her consort never did. In 1870, she took residence in Glücksburg castle, where she lived the rest of her life. Karl died in 1878. Vilhelmine spent her old age isolated, as she had difficulty communicating in social life after she lost her hearing, but she spent a lot of time on charity and became popular in Glücksburg because of this. She was reportedly sorry for Denmark's loss of the duchies in 1864 and happy over the new royal dynasty in Denmark.
Kiel
Kiel is the capital and most populous city in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein, with a population of 238,049 .Kiel is approximately north of Hamburg. Due to its geographic location in the north of Germany, the southeast of the Jutland peninsula, and the southwestern shore of the...
, Duchy of Schleswig – 30 May 1891 in Glücksburg
Glücksburg
Glücksburg is a small town in the district Schleswig-Flensburg, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany.It is situated on the south side of the Flensburg Fjord, an inlet of the Baltic Sea, approx. 10 km northeast of Flensburg...
, Schleswig-Holstein
Province of Schleswig-Holstein
The Province of Schleswig-Holstein was a province of the Kingdom of Prussia and the Free State of Prussia from 1868 to 1946. It was created from the Duchies of Schleswig and Holstein, which had been conquered by Prussia and the Austrian Empire from Denmark in the Second War of Schleswig in 1864...
, Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
) was the youngest daughter of Frederick VI of Denmark
Frederick VI of Denmark
Frederick VI reigned as King of Denmark , and as king of Norway .-Regent of Denmark:Frederick's parents were King Christian VII and Caroline Matilda of Wales...
and his wife and first cousin Marie Sophie of Hesse-Kassel
Marie Sophie of Hesse-Kassel
thumb|Queen Marie Sophie portrayed by [[Cornelius Høyer]] Marie Sophie Frederikke of Hesse-Kassel was Queen Consort of Denmark and Norway. She also served as Regent of Denmark in 1814–1815.-Background:...
. Her paternal grandfather, Christian VII of Denmark
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....
, had major psychological problems and as result, her father had been acting as Regent since 1784. Within two months of her birth, Vilhelmine Marie's grandfather died of a cerebral aneurysm
Cerebral aneurysm
A cerebral or brain aneurysm is a cerebrovascular disorder in which weakness in the wall of a cerebral artery or vein causes a localized dilation or ballooning of the blood vessel.- Signs and symptoms :...
and her father ascended as king.
First marriage
Since her father had no surviving sons, Vilhelmine Marie was a very desirable bride. Among her suitors was the future Oscar I of SwedenOscar I of Sweden
Oscar I was King of Sweden and Norway from 1844 to his death. When, in August 1810, his father Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte was elected Crown Prince of Sweden, Oscar and his mother moved from Paris to Stockholm . Oscar's father was the first ruler of the current House of Bernadotte...
of the then newly established Bernadotte dynasty. On 1 November 1828 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...
, she married Prince Frederick of Denmark
Frederick VII of Denmark
Frederick VII was a King of Denmark. He reigned from 1848 until his death. He was the last Danish monarch of the older Royal branch of the House of Oldenburg and also the last king of Denmark to rule as an absolute monarch...
, the future King Frederick VII. The engagement had been made official in 1826. Prince Frederick was a direct male-line descendant of King Frederick V
Frederick V of Denmark
Frederick V was king of Denmark and Norway from 1746, son of Christian VI of Denmark and Sophia Magdalen of Brandenburg-Kulmbach.-Early life:...
by his second queen 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...
. The marriage united the two lines of the Royal House, which had been in a strained relationship since 1814, and was very popular: the public celebrations was unusually vivid, with illuminations, poems, public festivities and a foundation, Vilhelmine-Stiftelsen, for the benefit of providing brides with a suitable equipment. The marriage soon turned out to be an unhappy one. That was not least because of Frederick's debauched lifestyle with infidelity and heavy drinking. It was said that Vilhelmine, although good hearted and mild, lacked character and was unable to gain any influence on Frederick, and that Frederick deeply hurt her "female feelings". Her unhappy marriage was also a cause of concern for her parents, who felt sorry for her. The couple were separated in 1834, and divorced in 1837.
Second marriage
In Amalienborg PalaceAmalienborg 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...
on 19 May 1838 she married second Karl, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg
Karl, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg
Karl of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg was the second Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg...
, eldest brother of the future King 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...
, and took residence in Kiel
Kiel
Kiel is the capital and most populous city in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein, with a population of 238,049 .Kiel is approximately north of Hamburg. Due to its geographic location in the north of Germany, the southeast of the Jutland peninsula, and the southwestern shore of the...
. Her second marriage was said to have been very happy. Both her marriages were childless. Many believe that she was barren
Barren
Barren primarily refers to a state of Barrenness Barren as a place name can refer to:*Barren County, Kentucky*Barren Island *Barren Island, Brooklyn*Barren River LakeBarren can also refer to:...
as there are no records of her having any miscarriages or stillbirths.
During the First Schleswig War (1848–1851), her spouse actively sided against Denmark. That caused Vilhelmine's relations with the Danish Royal family to be severed for some time. During the war, she resided in Dresden. In 1852 there was a reconciliation and she again enjoyed a close relationship with her family 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...
, returning to Denmark with Karl, often living at Louisenlund Castle. Her status as the daughter of a well-loved King and abused Queen of a vilified King helped her to regain her popularity among the Danish people. Her consort never did. In 1870, she took residence in Glücksburg castle, where she lived the rest of her life. Karl died in 1878. Vilhelmine spent her old age isolated, as she had difficulty communicating in social life after she lost her hearing, but she spent a lot of time on charity and became popular in Glücksburg because of this. She was reportedly sorry for Denmark's loss of the duchies in 1864 and happy over the new royal dynasty in Denmark.
Titles and styles
- 18 January 1808 – 1 November 1828: Her Royal Highness Princess Vilhelmine Marie of Denmark
- 1 November 1828 – 4 September 1837: Her Royal Highness Princess Frederick of Denmark
- 4 September 1837 – 19 May 1838: Her Royal Highness Princess Vilhelmine Marie of Denmark
- 19 May 1838 – 24 October 1878: Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg
- 24 October 1878 – 30 May 1891: Her Royal Highness The Dowager Duchess of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg