King Christian IX (April 8, 1918 – January 29, 1906) ruled Denmark from 1863 to 1906. Known as the Father-in-law of Europe,[1] he and his wife Queen Louise (September 7, 1817 – September 29, 1898) became the ancestor of many members of European royalty. Some of these descendants would play a role in the history of several European countries, including Greece, Russia, and the United Kingdom. This article describes the children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren of Christian IX and Louise.
Background
King Christian IX
For the first 13 years of his life, Christian lived in Germany.[1] Following the death of his father, Friedrich Wilhelm, in 1831, Christian trained as an officer in Copenhagen. He would go on to fight on behalf of the Danish Unitary State in the First Schleswig War.[2]
In 1852, Christian became the heir to the Danish throne. Following the death of King Frederick VII 11 years later, Christian became King of Denmark.[1] Due to Christian's German background, he was unpopular among his subjects during the start of his reign.[2] Moreover, he nearly abdicated in 1864 after Denmark's loss in the Second Schleswig War. However, as Christian's children married into several European royal families, his popularity recovered.[1]
Queen Louise
Born Princess Louise of Hesse-Kassel, Louise became Queen of Denmark in 1863. Because her mother was a sister of King Christian VIII, Louise's marriage to Christian IX was an important factor in his rise to the Danish throne. Moreover, Louise was instrumental in marrying her children across European royalty, which helped increase her husband's popularity among the Danish people.[3]
As Queen of Denmark, Louise exemplified the female ideas of her time. Despite remaining in the shadow of Christian, she showed artistic and social talent. Moreover, through her charity work, Louise founded the Diakonissestiftelsen in Copenhagen.[3]
Marriage of Christian IX and Louise
Christian and Louise were married in 1842.[2][3]
The Marriage of King Christian IX and Queen Louise | ||||
Portrait | Name | Birth | Death | Descendants |
Christian IX, King of Denmark | April 8, 1818 | January 29, 1906 | 6 children, including:
40 grandchildren, including: | |
Princess Louise of Hesse-Kassel | September 7, 1817 | September 29, 1898 |
Children of Christian IX and Louise
Grandchildren of Christian IX and Louise
Children of Frederick VIII and Louise
Portrait | Name | Birth | Death | Spouse and children |
---|---|---|---|---|
Christian X, King of Denmark r. 1912–1947 | September 26, 1870 | April 20, 1947 | Married 1898, Duchess Alexandrine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1879–1952) and had 2 children:
| |
Haakon VII, King of Norway r. 1905–1957 | August 3, 1872 | September 21, 1957 | Married 1896, Princess Maud of Wales (1869–1938) and had 1 child:
| |
Princess Louise of Denmark | February 17, 1875 | April 4, 1906 | Married 1896, Prince Frederick of Schaumburg-Lippe (1868–1945) and had 3 children:
| |
Prince Harald of Denmark | October 8, 1876 | March 30, 1949 | Married 1909, Princess Helena Adelaide of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg (1888–1962) and had 5 children:
| |
Princess Ingeborg of Denmark | August 2, 1878 | March 12, 1958 | Married 1897, Prince Carl, Duke of Västergötland (1861–1951) and had 4 children:
| |
Princess Thyra of Denmark | March 14, 1880 | November 2, 1945 | Died unmarried and without children | |
Prince Gustav of Denmark | March 4, 1887 | October 5, 1944 | Died unmarried and without children | |
Princess Dagmar of Denmark | May 23, 1890 | October 11, 1961 | Married 1922, Jørgen Castenskjold (1893–1978) and had 5 children:
|
Children of Alexandra and Edward VII
Portrait | Name | Birth | Death | Spouse and children |
---|---|---|---|---|
Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence and Avondale | January 8, 1864 | January 14, 1892 | Died unmarried and without children | |
George V, King of the United Kingdom r. 1910–1936 | June 3, 1865 | January 20, 1936 | Married 1893, Princess Victoria Mary of Teck (1867–1953) and had 6 children:
| |
Louise, Princess Royal | February 20, 1867 | January 4, 1931 | Married 1889, Alexander Duff, 1st Duke of Fife (1849–1912) and had 3 children:
| |
Princess Victoria of the United Kingdom | July 6, 1868 | December 3, 1935 | Died unmarried and without children | |
Princess Maud of Wales | November 26, 1869 | November 20, 1938 | Married 1896, Haakon VII, King of Norway (1872–1957; r. 1905–1957) and had 1 child:
| |
Prince Alexander John of Wales | April 6, 1871 | April 7, 1871 | Died unmarried and without children |
Children of George I and Olga
Children of Dagmar and Alexander III
Children of Thyra and Ernest Augustus
Portrait | Name | Birth | Death | Spouse and children |
---|---|---|---|---|
Princess Marie Louise of Hanover and Cumberland | October 11, 1879 | January 31, 1948 | Married 1900, Prince Maximilian of Baden (1867–1929) and had 2 children:
| |
Prince George William of Hanover and Cumberland | October 28, 1880 | May 20, 1912 | Died unmarried and without children | |
Princess Alexandra of Hanover and Cumberland | September 29, 1882 | August 30, 1963 | Married 1904, Frederick Francis IV, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1882–1945; r. 1897–1918) and had 5 children:
| |
Princess Olga of Hanover and Cumberland | July 11, 1884 | September 21, 1958 | Died unmarried and without children | |
Prince Christian of Hanover and Cumberland | July 4, 1885 | September 3, 1901 | Died unmarried and without children | |
Ernest Augustus, Duke of Brunswick r. 1913–1918 | November 17, 1887 | January 30, 1953 | Married 1913, Princess Victoria Louise of Prussia (1892–1980) and had 5 children:
|
Children of Valdemar and Marie
Portrait | Name | Birth | Death | Spouse and children |
---|---|---|---|---|
Prince Aage of Denmark | June 10, 1887 | February 19, 1940 | Married 1914, Mathilde Calvi dei conti di Bergolo (1885–1949) and had 1 child:
| |
Prince Axel of Denmark | August 12, 1888 | July 14, 1964 | Married 1919, Princess Margaretha of Sweden (1899–1977) and had 2 children:
| |
Prince Erik of Denmark | November 8, 1890 | September 10, 1950 | Married 1924, Lois Frances Booth (1897–1941) and had 2 children:
¶ Erik and Lois's marriage ended in divorce in 1937. | |
Prince Viggo of Denmark | December 25, 1893 | January 4, 1970 | Married 1924, Eleanor Margaret Green (1895–1966) and had no children | |
Princess Margaret of Denmark | September 17, 1895 | September 18, 1992 | Married 1921, Prince René of Bourbon-Parma (1894–1962) and had 4 children:
|
See also
- John William Friso - Another European prince with descendants in multiple royal families
- Louis IX, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt - Most recent common ancestor of all current hereditary European monarchs
- Nicholas I of Montenegro - Another European king whose descendants married into multiple royal families
- Descendants of Queen Victoria - Describes progeny of one of Christian IX's contemporaries
Notes
References
- ^ a b c d "Christian IX". Royal Palaces. National Museum of Denmark. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
- ^ a b c "Christian IX". Amalienborg Palace. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
- ^ a b c "Queen Louise". Amalienborg Palace. Retrieved March 7, 2024.