The Royal Danish CollectionRosenborgKirsten Munk

Kirsten Munk

In 1615 Kirsten Munk became the second wife of Christian IV. She was the daughter of Ludvig Munk and Ellen Marsvin. She and the King had twelve children, of which eight survived.

Kirsten Munk had a close relationship with Christian IV and she is described as having an intelligent and independent personality. In 1626, though, she began a relationship with Rhinegrave Otto Ludwig, and she and the King grew ever more distant from each other. In 1630 she left the Court and lived from then on at her estates Boller and Rosenvold in Jutland, where at times she was in reality under house arrest.

Five of Kirsten Munk’s daughters, among them Leonora Christina, were married to powerful Danish noblemen, who were to play important roles in the Danish Rigsråd (Government). Hence the designation “the Party of the Sons-in-law”, which, from Christian IV’s death in 1648 until 1651, in many ways held the real power in Denmark.

Relations

2: Christian IV's Writing Room

In this tower chamber, which was easily heated, Christian IV carried out his vast correspondence.

Corfitz Ulfeldt

Corfitz Ulfeldt married Christian IV’s daughter Leonora Christina in 1636. He became the governor of Copenhagen Castle in 1637, ‘rigshofmester’ (the highest standing civil servant) in 1643, and quickly became the privy council’s leading figure. His relationship with Christian IV soured towards the end of the king’s reign. The situation only got worse once Frederik III had ascended the throne, and in 1651 Ulfeldt fled together with Leonora Christina. He entered Swedish service and was one of the chief negotiators on the Swedish side in 1658, when Scania, Halland, and Blekinge were ceded to Sweden in the Treaty of Roskilde. Ulfeldt was arrested by the Swedes in 1659, accused of treason. He and Leonora Christina succeeded in fleeing back to Denmark, where they were held captive at Hammershus castle until the king released them on strict conditions. Ulfeldt soon went abroad again; he offered the Danish throne to the Elector of Brandenburg, and in 1663 he was accused of high treason. A doll of Corfitz was ‘executed’ and a monument of infamy erected in Copenhagen. He died on the run in a boat on the Rhine.

Leonora Christina

Princess Leonora Christina was the daughter of Christian IV and Kirsten Munk. In 1636 she was married to Corfitz Ulfeldt.Leonora Christina was a favourite of Christian IV.

Vibeke Kruse

Vibeke Kruse was the mistress of Christian IV. The first part of Vibeke Kruse's life is not known. She came into the service of Kirsten Munk, the second wife of Christian IV, and later of Kirsten Munk's mother, Ellen Marsvin.

Ellen Marsvin

The noble lady Ellen Marsvin was the mother of Kirsten Munk, Christian IV’s second wife. Ellen Marsvin was one of the greatest landowners in Denmark in her time.

1600-1625

The first decades of the 17th century was a great period for the entrepreneurial and ambitious Christian IV. An economic depression was on its way, but its full force had not yet been felt.

1625-1650

The second half of Christian IV's reign became a time of recession. The economic crisis became more severe, and at the same time the fortunes of war turned.

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.