The Royal Danish CollectionRosenborgCastle historyInterior and objectsE The Green CabinetFrederik III's children

Frederik III’s children

Frederik III’s five eldest children, including Crown Prince Christian (V) wearing a blue attire and is probably showing of to his sisters with his archery skills, whilst the youngest of them all, Frederik, is pulling at a basket full of flowers held by princess Anna Sophia. Enamel by Paul Prieur, 1671, from a lost painting from 1652.

Relations

Christian V with His Half-Brother, c. 1671

Christian V in conversation with his elder half-brother Ulrik Frederik Gyldenløve, and with Count Anthon Aldenburg (1633-1680). Grisaille by Anton Steenwinkel. The Gyldenløve family, the king’s ‘natural’, which is to say illegitimate children, played an important role in the political machinations of 17th century Denmark. As children of the king, they had high status in the class-divided society. At the same time, however, they were excluded from line of succession, and thus had no dynastic ambitions, making them extremely loyal to the reigning king. Ulrik Frederik Gyldenløve was the issue of a relationship Frederik (III) had with Margrethe Pape, before he married Sophie Amalie in 1643.

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.

Christian V as the prince elect

It was considered of great importance to be able to defend not only the people but more sayingly the various provinces and borders of the danish kingdom.

Silver boxes

Nine silver boxes ofwhich eight contain the umbilical cords of Frederik III's children, believed to provide protection against disease and death.

Frederik III, 1663

Enamel portrait of Frederik III. Made by Paul Prieur, 1663. The portrait is a masterpiece, since the enamel’s melting point limits both the number of colours and the size of the miniature.

Frederik VII as a child

Frederik VII as a child. Modelled by Bertel Thorvaldsen 1820, carved in marble 1825.

Ulrikke Eleonore, 1681

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