The Royal Danish CollectionRosenborgUlrikke Eleonore

Ulrikke Eleonore

Princess Ulrikke Eleonore was the daughter of Frederik III and Sophie Amalie, and she was the sister of Christian V. In 1680 she married King Charles XI of Sweden and became Queen of Sweden. Here she is known as Ulrika Eleonora.

Ulrikke Eleonore was highly educated by her ambitious mother, and she became engaged to the Swedish king as early as 1675. The outbreak of the Scanian War between Denmark and Sweden in the same year meant that the wedding was put on hold indefinitely. Only after the peace agreement in 1679 could the wedding plans be carried out. The marriage was political but the couple’s life together was harmonious and they had seven children together.

Ulrikke Eleonore had no political influence in her new country, where absolute monarchy was introduced the same year as the wedding. The new Swedish Queen became engaged in charity work for the sick and the poor instead. She was also a talented artist.

Relations

6: Christian V's Hall

This was originally the living room of Christian IV's morganatic (left-hand) wife, Kirsten Munk. During the reign of Frederik III, it became a part of the King's suite as an antechamber to the Marble Room.

8 Frederik IV's Corridor

This corridor is situated on the first floor and connects the central room, The Rose, with the northern end of the Palace. The walls in the corridor are covered with gilt leather tapestries from Frederiksberg Palace.  

Ulrikke Eleonore, 1681

Queen Ulrikke Eleonore of Sweden, King Christian V’s sister. Painted by D. Klöcker Ehrenstrahl, 1681.

Ulrikke Eleonore, 1690

Ulrikke Eleonore, Queen of Sweden, sister of King Christian V. Enamelled miniature in a frame of silver filigree.

Sophie Amalie

Sophie Amalie became Queen of Denmark in 1648. She was the daughter of Duke George of Brunswick-Lüneburg, and in 1643 she was married to Frederik (III). Sophie Amalie was the mother of Christian V.

1675-1700

From 1675 to 1679 the Scanian War was fought with Sweden. But the final goal, to win back Scania, was not reached as no European state would allow both sides of Øresund to be ruled by the same power again.

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.