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.

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