The Royal Danish CollectionRosenborgCastle historyInterior and objects7: The Stone CorridorThe homage of 1660

The homage of 1660

Paying homage to the Hereditary King in front of the Castle of Copenhagen, 18th October, 1660. Painted by Wolfgang Heimbach, 1666. After having installed absolutism and hereby also succesive law, replacing the existing system of elective law, where the heir to the throne in theory had to be choosen by the State Counsil, Frederik III held this homage, where people of high and low had to swear faithful allegiance without recieving much in return.

The deaf-mute painter, Wolfgang Heimbach, did not just sign the painting, but he also had a small depiction of himself waving his hat included in the bottom left corner. It took him more than six years to finish.

Notice the sunbeam coming from the top right corner that showers Frederik III and his wife in light, hereby symbolizing that his power was not only handed over by the people, and more importantly the aristocracy, but was God given.

The painting produces an excellent view of the city around the time of Frederik III after the completion of some of the buildings erected by Christian IV, such as the stock exchange with the twisting tower.

Relations

The Royal Statutes

The Royal Statutes, was the constitution of the Danish absolute monarchy 1665-1849, in a silver case with Frederik III's monogram.

The assault of Copenhagen

The assault of Copenhagen, 11th February, 1659. Painting by Daniel Vertangen.

Frederik III, 1659

Portrait of Frederik III kneeling during the battle of Nyborg. Painted by Wolfgang Heimbach, 1659.

Wolfgang Heimbach

The painter Wolfgang Heimbach was from Oldenburg and studied in Germany and the Low Countries. He was deaf-mute but compensated by being able to read and write several languages.

1650-1675

The wars of Charles Gustavus (1657-1658 and 1658-1660) were the important events in foreign politics of the period. The loss of Scania, Halland and Blekinge at the Peace of Roskilde in 1658 was a nadir of power politics in Danish history.

Frederik III

Frederik III was the King of Denmark-Norway from 1648; he was married to Sophie Amalie of Brunswick-Lüneburg in 1643 and father to Christian V.

‘Throwing Coins’ from the Coronation of Frederik III in 1648

At the coronation on 23 November 1648 in Copenhagen, the king rode in a procession from the Church of Our Lady to Copenhagen Castle. He may have been seated in the exhibited saddle, which was, however, made for his elder brother’s wedding in 1634. The magnificent saddle can be seen in the same display case as the coins. Behind the king rode people who threw these specially minted ‘largesse’ coins to the rabble. At the same time the city’s fountains flowed with wine, and portions of roast ox were handed out — all ways in which the king displayed his wealth and his ability to provide for his people. The tradition of throwing coins to the rabble isn’t particularly Danish; it is known across Europe and stems from antiquity. There is no explanation for why the coins are square rather than round. For the anointing of Christian V in 1670 they were even triangular!

Sophie Amalie in Coronation Robes

Frederik III and Sophie Amalie in coronation robes, 1648. Frederik III wears Christian IV’s crown, redesigned as a closed crown with arches. Miniature in oils, artist unknown.