The Royal Danish CollectionRosenborgSophie

Sophie

Sophie became Queen of Denmark when she was married to Frederik II in 1572. She was the daughter of Duke Ulrich of Mecklenburg and the mother of Christian IV.

Sophie was only 14 years old when she was married to Frederik II, who was 23 years older than her. Nevertheless, they had a harmonious marriage. She had no political power while Frederik II was alive but after his death in 1588, she played a more prominent role, for example as Guardian of the young Christian IV in Schleswig and Holstein. As such, she came into conflict with the government, which expelled her to the palace of Nykøbing Slot on the island of Falster.

Sophie proved to be an able administrator of her estates on Lolland and Falster. She was also engaged in large-scale trade and money lending, and several European princes borrowed money from her. They included her son, Christian IV, who had to borrow from her because of his costly wars.

Relations

Order of the Elephant, Frederik II

The Order of the Elephant in its oldest existing form, with Frederik II’s picture, monogram and motto. Made in 1580 by Hans Raadt, possibly from a drawing by Melchior Lorck.

Christian IV, 1585

Portrait of Christian IV at the age of 7 a short while after he was elected the crownprince and succesor by the Royal Council; painted around 1585 by Hans Knieper.

7: The Stone Corridor

The long passage connecting the two large gable rooms on the ground floor, was originally divided in two. It can be seen that the stucco of the ceiling is different at the two ends of the passage; at the northern end it dates from the time of Christian IV.  

2: Christian IV's Writing Room

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

Pieter Isaacsz

The dutch painter Pieter Isaacsz grew up in Elsinore but returned as a young man to the Low Countries. In Amsterdam he became an apprentice of Cornelius Ketel and served with Hans von Achen.

1575-1600

This period was not only the end of a century but also the last part of an period of prosperity. It was also a time of peace, with a pause in the otherwise regular wars with Sweden.

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.

Frederik II

Frederik II was the King of Denmark and Norway from 1559. Son of Christian III and Queen Dorothea of Saxony-Lauenburg. In 1572 he was married to Sophie of Mecklenburg, with whom he had Christian IV.