The Royal Danish CollectionRosenborgCharlotte Amalie

Charlotte Amalie

Charlotte Amalie became the Queen of Denmark in 1670. She was the daughter of Landgrave William VI of Hesse-Kassel. In 1667 she was married to Christian (V); as well as other children they had the son Frederik (IV) and the daughter Sophie Hedevig.

Charlotte Amalie was raised in the Reformed faith, which she stayed loyal to after her marriage to Christian. She was a popular Queen, and her popularity increased in 1700, when she took part in organising the defence of Copenhagen after King Charles XII of Sweden invaded Zealand.

Charlotte Amalie owned several estates around the country and she administered them skilfully. After the death of Christian V in 1699, she moved to a mansion which she had bought: Charlottenborg on Kongens Nytorv in Copenhagen, where she lived from 1700 until she passed away. The mansion, which is named after her, has housed the Royal Danish Academy of Art since 1754.

Relations

Christian V, 1681

Christian V. Enamelled miniature made by Paul Prieur 1681.

Costume jewellery

Costume jewellery; eleven hearts of silver with rubies. From the 17th century.

Porcelain figures

Chinese porcelain figures; placed in this room in the time of Queen Charlotte Amalie, who died in 1714.

Firescreen

On the front a Harlequin scene embroidered in wool presumably by Queen Charlotte Amalie and Princess Sophie Hedevig; on the back Frederik IV’s monogram worked in silver thread on velvet. Silver tripod and top made by Jean Henri de Moor in Copenhagen, 1690.

Eclipsarium

Eclipsarium. Designed by Ole Rømer to calculate the Moon's orbit and eclipses. Made in Paris 1678-1679 by Isaac Thuret, royal clockmaker.

Planetarium

Planetarium. Designed by Ole Rømer to demonstrate the orbit of the planets around the Sun. Made in Paris 1678-1679 by Isaac Thuret, royal clockmaker.

Charlotte Amalie, 1680

Queen Charlotte Amalie. Painted in oil on copper, probably by Jacob d’Agar.

Lacquered cabinet

Japanese lacquered cabinet on a gilded foot with King Christian V’s and Queen Charlotte Amalie’s coats-of-arms. The cabinet contained the Queen’s collection of conch shells. The table foot was possibly carved by Christian Nerger.