The Royal Danish CollectionRosenborgCastle historyInterior and objects8 Frederik IV's CorridorQueen Louise, 1710

Queen Louise, 1710

Queen Louise. Painted by J.S. du Wahl. Louise of Mecklenburg-Güstrow was married to the crown prince of Denmark, Frederik IV, in 1695. Considering that marriages foremostly were nothing but political tools, this marriage fits into that category perfectly, and their relationsship was primarily centered on their obligation to produce legitimate offspring.

Oftentimes when a king had a sufficient number of male heirs, he would then choose to remarry, sometimes he would simply marry despite already being married, or lastly a king could of course entertain mistresses. This time around he could even choose his new spouse for his own reasons, be it love, looks, power  etc. Frederik IV did all of the above, having married during a marriage (the first one as early as 1703 was called Elisabeth Helene von Vieregg), remarried, and naturally he kept mistresses as well.

Relations

Queen Louise’s castrum doloris, 1752

Painting of Queen Louise’s castrum doloris, 1752. The picture is a gouache, a particular watercolour technique, painted by JS Bruun in 1752.

Christian VI, c. 1740

Portrait of Christian VI, painted by J.S. du Wahl. In opposition to his fathers' rather frivolous private life, he tried to distance himself and devoted himself to pietism.

Anna Sophie, 1725

Portrait of Queen Anna Sophie, alledgedly painted by J.S. du Wahl.

Louise

Louise became Queen of Denmark in 1699. She was the daughter of Gustavus Adolf of Mecklenburg-Güstrow. In 1695 she was married to Crown Prince Frederik (IV) and together they had the son Christian (VI).

1700-1725

The 18th century was initiated with yet another war between Denmark and Sweden. For Denmark the war was brief, but for Sweden it was the beginning of the Great Nordic War, which Denmark became part of again from 1709.

Frederik IV

Frederik IV was the King of Denmark-Norway from 1699; son of Christian V and Charlotte Amalie of Hesse-Kassel. Married for the first time in 1695 to Louise of Mecklenburg-Güstrow, with whom he had Christian (VI).