Sofie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (d. 1631)
Encyclopedia
Sophie of Mecklenburg-Güstrow (4 September 1557, Wismar
– 14 October 1631, Nyköping
) was a German noble and Queen of Denmark and Norway. She was the mother of King Christian IV of Denmark
. She was Regent of Schleswig-Holstein
1590–94.
and Princess Elizabeth of Denmark (a daughter of Frederick I
and Sophie of Pomerania
). Through her father, a grandson of Elizabeth of Oldenburg, she descended from King John of Denmark. She inherited from Ulrich a great love of knowledge. Later, she would be known as one of the most learned Queens of the time.
, at fourteen; he was thirty-seven. The marriage was arranged by the Danish Council, who wished the King to marry.
King Frederick married her after being barred from marrying Anne of Hardenberg
, the daughter of the Lord Chancellor. Despite the age difference between Sophie and Frederick, the marriage was described as harmonious. Queen Sophie was a loving mother, nursing her children personally during their illnesses. Because her spouse was well known for vast meals, heavy drinking, and restless behavior which included unfaithfulness, she sent her three eldest children to live with her parents in Güstrow
for their early years. She showed a keen interest in science and visited the astronomer Tycho Brahe
. She was also interested in the old songs of folklore
.
She proved a diligent matchmaker. Her daughter, Anne of Denmark
, would marry James VI of Scotland and become queen consort in 1589. She arranged the marriage against the will of the Council.
On 20 July 1572, in Copenhagen
, she married Frederick II of Denmark. They had eight children, seven of whom lived to adulthood:
for her son. She arranged for a grand funeral for her spouse, arranged for the dowries for her daughters and for her own allowance, all independently and against the will of the Council. She was engaged in a power struggle with the Regents of Denmark and The Council of State, which had Christian declared of age in 1593. She wished the Duchies to be divided between her younger sons, which caused a conflict. Sophie only gave up her position the following year, 1594. As such, she came into conflict with the Government, which exiled her to the Palace of Nykøbing Slot
on the island of Falster
. She spent her time there in the study of chemistry
, astronomy
and other sciences. She also renovated Nykøbing Slot.
The Dowager Queen Sophie managed her estates in Lolland
-Falster so well that her son had to borrow money from her on several occasions for his warfares. She was also engaged in large-scale trade and money-lending. She often visited Mecklenburg, and she was present at her daughter's wedding in Dresden
in 1602. In 1603, she became involved in an inheritance dispute with her uncle, which remained unsolved at his death in 1610. In 1608, she managed to soften the punishment of Rigborg Brockenhuus
, and in 1628, she was one of the influential people who prevented her son from having her grandson's lover, Anne Lykke
, accused of witchcraft
. Sophie died as the richest woman in Northern Europe at age seventy-four.
Wismar
Wismar , is a small port and Hanseatic League town in northern Germany on the Baltic Sea, in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern,about 45 km due east of Lübeck, and 30 km due north of Schwerin. Its natural harbour, located in the Bay of Wismar is well-protected by a promontory. The...
– 14 October 1631, Nyköping
Nyköping
Nyköping is a locality and the seat of Nyköping Municipality, Södermanland County, Sweden with 32,427 inhabitants in 2005. The city is also the capital of Södermanland County.- History :...
) was a German noble and Queen of Denmark and Norway. She was the mother of King 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 Regent of Schleswig-Holstein
Schleswig-Holstein
Schleswig-Holstein is the northernmost of the sixteen states of Germany, comprising most of the historical duchy of Holstein and the southern part of the former Duchy of Schleswig...
1590–94.
Early life
She was the daughter of Duke Ulrich III of Mecklenburg-GüstrowUlrich III of Mecklenburg-Güstrow
Ulrich, Duke of Mecklenburg was Duke of Mecklenburg from 1555-56 to 1603.-Early life:Ulrich was the third son of Duke Albrecht VII and Anna of Brandenburg. Ulrich was educated in the Bavarian court. Later, he studied theology and law in Ingolstadt...
and Princess Elizabeth of Denmark (a daughter of Frederick I
Frederick I of Denmark
Frederick I of Denmark and Norway was the King of Denmark and Norway. The name is also spelled Friedrich in German, Frederik in Danish, and Fredrik in Swedish and Norwegian...
and Sophie of Pomerania
Sophie of Pomerania
Sophie of Pomerania was a Queen consort of Denmark and Norway as the spouse of King Frederick I of Denmark...
). Through her father, a grandson of Elizabeth of Oldenburg, she descended from King John of Denmark. She inherited from Ulrich a great love of knowledge. Later, she would be known as one of the most learned Queens of the time.
Marriage and children
Sophie married her spouse and cousin, Frederick II of DenmarkFrederick 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...
, at fourteen; he was thirty-seven. The marriage was arranged by the Danish Council, who wished the King to marry.
King Frederick married her after being barred from marrying Anne of Hardenberg
Anne of Hardenberg
Anne Corfitzdatter of Hardenberg was a Danish noblewoman. She served as a lady-in-waiting to the Dowager Queen Dorothea of Denmark from 1559–1572 and was the mistress to Frederick II.-Biography:...
, the daughter of the Lord Chancellor. Despite the age difference between Sophie and Frederick, the marriage was described as harmonious. Queen Sophie was a loving mother, nursing her children personally during their illnesses. Because her spouse was well known for vast meals, heavy drinking, and restless behavior which included unfaithfulness, she sent her three eldest children to live with her parents in Güstrow
Güstrow
Güstrow is a town in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany the capital of the district of Güstrow. It has a population of 30,500 and is the seventh largest town in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Since 2006 Güstrow has the official suffix Barlachstadt.-Geography:The town of Güstrow is located...
for their early years. She showed a keen interest in science and visited the astronomer Tycho Brahe
Tycho Brahe
Tycho Brahe , born Tyge Ottesen Brahe, was a Danish nobleman known for his accurate and comprehensive astronomical and planetary observations...
. She was also interested in the old songs of folklore
Folklore
Folklore consists of legends, music, oral history, proverbs, jokes, popular beliefs, fairy tales and customs that are the traditions of a culture, subculture, or group. It is also the set of practices through which those expressive genres are shared. The study of folklore is sometimes called...
.
She proved a diligent matchmaker. Her daughter, 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...
, would marry James VI of Scotland and become queen consort in 1589. She arranged the marriage against the will of the Council.
On 20 July 1572, 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 Frederick II of Denmark. They had eight children, seven of whom lived to adulthood:
- ElizabethElisabeth of Denmark, Duchess of BraunshweigElisabeth of Denmark was duchess consort of Brunswick-Lüneburg as married to Duke Henry Julius of Brunswick-Lüneburg. She was regent of Brunswick-Lüneburg in 1616-1622....
(25 August 1573 – 19 June 1626), married in 1590 to Henry Julius, Duke of Brunswick-LüneburgHenry Julius, Duke of Brunswick-LüneburgHenry Julius was duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and prince of Wolfenbüttel from 1589 until his death. In 1576 he had become the first rector of the Protestant University of Helmstedt.- Life :...
. - AnneAnne of DenmarkAnne 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...
(12 December 1574 – 2 March 1619), married on 23 November 1589 to King James VI of Scotland (later James I of England)James I of EnglandJames 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... - Christian IV of Denmark and Norway (12 April 1577 – 28 February 1648)
- UlrikUlrik of Denmark (1578–1624)Prince Ulrik John of Denmark, was a son of King Frederick II of Denmark and his consort, Sophie of Mecklenburg-Güstrow...
(30 December 1578 – 27 March 1624 in RühnRühnRühn is a municipality in the Rostock district, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany....
), last Bishop of the old Schleswig see (1602–1624), and as Ulrich II Lutheran Administrator of the Prince-Bishopric of Schwerin (1603–1624), married with Lady Catherine HahnVon Hahnvon Hahn is the name of the German-Baltic-Russian noble family with the coat of arms: Striding red rooster on the silver shield.-Origin:...
-Hinrichshagen - John August (1579–1579), died in infancy
- AugustaAugusta of DenmarkPrincess Augusta of Denmark was the third daughter of King Frederick II of Denmark and Sophia of Mecklenburg-Güstrow, and Duchess of Holstein-Gottorp as the wife of Duke John Adolf...
(8 April 1580 – 5 February 1639), married on 30 August 1596 to Duke Johann Adolf of Holstein-Gottorp - HedwigHedwig of DenmarkPrincess Hedwig of Denmark 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....
(5 August 1581 – 26 November 1641), married on 12 September 1602 to Christian II, Elector of Saxony - John, Prince of Schleswig-HolsteinJohn, Prince of Schleswig-HolsteinJohan of Schleswig-Holstein was the youngest son of Frederick II of Denmark and Norway and Sophia of Mecklenburg-Schwerin...
(9 July 1583 – 28 October 1602)
Regent and later life
Queen Sophie had no political power while her spouse was still alive. When her underage son Christian IV was declared King in 1588, she was given no place in the Regency Council in Denmark itself. From 1590, however, she acted as Regent for the Duchies of Schleswig-HolsteinSchleswig-Holstein
Schleswig-Holstein is the northernmost of the sixteen states of Germany, comprising most of the historical duchy of Holstein and the southern part of the former Duchy of Schleswig...
for her son. She arranged for a grand funeral for her spouse, arranged for the dowries for her daughters and for her own allowance, all independently and against the will of the Council. She was engaged in a power struggle with the Regents of Denmark and The Council of State, which had Christian declared of age in 1593. She wished the Duchies to be divided between her younger sons, which caused a conflict. Sophie only gave up her position the following year, 1594. As such, she came into conflict with the Government, which exiled her to the Palace of Nykøbing Slot
Nyköping Castle
Nyköping Castle in Nyköping, Sweden, is a Mediaeval castle from the Birger Jarl era, partly in ruins. The castle is mostly known for the ghastly Nyköping Banquet which took place here in 1317.-Construction:...
on the island of Falster
Falster
Falster is an island in south-eastern Denmark with an area of 514 km² and 43,398 inhabitants as of 1 January 2010. Located in the Baltic sea, it is part of Region Sjælland and is administered by Guldborgsund Municipality...
. She spent her time there in the study of chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
, astronomy
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
and other sciences. She also renovated Nykøbing Slot.
The Dowager Queen Sophie managed her estates in Lolland
Lolland
Lolland is the fourth largest island of Denmark, with an area of 1,243 square kilometers . Located in the Baltic sea, it is part of Region Sjælland...
-Falster so well that her son had to borrow money from her on several occasions for his warfares. She was also engaged in large-scale trade and money-lending. She often visited Mecklenburg, and she was present at her daughter's wedding 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....
in 1602. In 1603, she became involved in an inheritance dispute with her uncle, which remained unsolved at his death in 1610. In 1608, she managed to soften the punishment of Rigborg Brockenhuus
Rigborg Brockenhuus
Rigborg Brockenhuus , was a Danish noble and lady-in-waiting. She was the central figure in a famous sexual offence case in 1599.Daughter of nobles Laurids Brockenhuus and Karen Skrams, she was the sister of Jakob Brockenhuus and the maternal aunt of Corfitz Ulfeldt. She became maid of honor to the...
, and in 1628, she was one of the influential people who prevented her son from having her grandson's lover, Anne Lykke
Anne Lykke
Anne Lykke was a Danish noblewoman and royal mistress of Christian, Prince Elect of Denmark.Anne Henriksdatter Lykke was born into one of Denmark's more prosperous noble families. She was the daughter of the noble statesman Henrik Lykke and Karen Frandsdatter Banner . She was born at Vordingborg...
, accused of witchcraft
Witchcraft
Witchcraft, in historical, anthropological, religious, and mythological contexts, is the alleged use of supernatural or magical powers. A witch is a practitioner of witchcraft...
. Sophie died as the richest woman in Northern Europe at age seventy-four.
Ancestry
External links and references
- http://www.guide2womenleaders.com/womeninpower/Womeninpower1570.htm
- http://www.rosenborgslot.dk/v1/person.asp?PersonID=12&countryID=2&PersonTypeID=2
- http://www.thepeerage.com/p10139.htm
- http://www.kvinfo.dk/side/597/bio/1348/origin/170/