Dorothea of Saxe-Lauenburg facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dorothea of Saxe-Lauenburg |
|
|---|---|
Portrait by Jakob Binck
|
|
| Queen consort of Denmark | |
| Tenure | 1534–1559 |
| Coronation | 12 August 1537 Copenhagen Cathedral |
| Queen consort of Norway | |
| Tenure | 1537–1559 |
| Born | 9 July 1511 Lauenburg Castle, Saxe-Lauenburg, Holy Roman Empire |
| Died | 7 October 1571 (aged 60) Sønderborg Castle, Sønderborg, Denmark |
| Burial | Roskilde Cathedral, Zealand, Denmark |
| Spouse |
Christian III of Denmark
(m. 1525; died 1559) |
| Issue | Anne, Electress of Saxony Frederick II, King of Denmark and Norway Magnus, King of Livonia John II, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg Dorothea, Duchess of Brunswick-Lüneburg |
| House | House of Ascania |
| Father | Magnus I, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg |
| Mother | Catherine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel |
Dorothea of Saxe-Lauenburg (born July 9, 1511 – died October 7, 1571) was a powerful queen. She became the queen consort of Denmark and Norway. This happened when she married King Christian III of Denmark. She was known for having a lot of influence in how the country was run.
Contents
Early Life and Marriage
Dorothea was the daughter of Magnus I, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg. Her mother was Catherine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel. She was also the sister of Catherine of Saxe-Lauenburg. Catherine became the first queen of King Gustav I of Sweden.
Dorothea grew up in a part of Germany that was one of the first to accept the Protestant Reformation. She learned about Lutheranism early in her life.
She married Christian on October 29, 1525. Their wedding took place at Lauenburg Castle. After they married, they lived at their own homes in Haderslev and Törning.
Becoming Queen
Dorothea officially became queen of Denmark in 1533. However, a civil war called the Count's Feud started right after her husband became king. Because of this war, her coronation ceremony was delayed until 1537.
On August 6, 1536, Queen Dorothea finally entered Copenhagen, the capital city, with the king. On August 12, 1537, she rode a white horse next to her husband for their coronation. People were impressed by her beauty and graceful appearance. In 1537, she also became queen of Norway. This happened after her husband took control and became king of Norway.
Queen's Influence and Personality
Many people said that Queen Dorothea and King Christian had a happy marriage. The king trusted her a lot and allowed her to have much influence. People at the time often mentioned that she was active in politics. She took part in state affairs. However, they didn't write down exactly how she used her influence.
Soon after her husband became king, there were plans to make Dorothea a future regent. This meant she would rule Denmark-Norway if her son became king while he was still young. The king and his German advisors supported this idea. But the Danish council, especially Johan Friis, did not agree. The queen reportedly disliked Friis because of this. She was also not allowed to have a formal seat in the council. Her influence was informal, meaning she helped make decisions behind the scenes. She is thought to have helped choose and remove officials.
Dorothea learned to speak Danish. She always wrote her letters in German and had a German religious advisor. She was described as beautiful and graceful. She had a strong and passionate personality. She loved hunting and was an excellent rider. Even in 1555, she was noted for riding with such energy that she fell off her horse.
As the main lady of the royal household, Queen Dorothea hosted grand parties. These events showed off the royal power. But in her daily life, she was described as strict, moral, and careful with money. She managed the household's finances herself. She made sure there was no waste. She kept everyone at court busy, even her ladies-in-waiting had little free time.
Family Life and Children
Dorothea was a very controlling mother. She kept strict watch over her children even after they grew up. Her care for them was described as very strict and intense. Like many noble families at the time, she also took in children from other noble families. These foster children were raised in her home as her courtiers and maids-of-honor. She also kept strict control over them.
In 1540, she helped Birgitte Gøye get out of an arranged engagement. This event led to a new law that stopped arranged engagements for children. Her daughters were taught household skills and prepared for marriage. Her sons received a strict education. They were not allowed to stray from their studies much before they became adults. In 1548, she went with her daughter Anna to her wedding in Saxony. She continued to visit her daughters in Germany once a year for the rest of her life.
She became a widow in 1559 when her husband died.
Queen Dowager
After her husband died, Queen Dorothea became a queen dowager. She lived with her own court at Koldinghus.
Queen Dowager Dorothea developed feelings for her brother-in-law, Duke John II of Schleswig-Holstein-Haderslev. He was her neighbor. Even though she was very sad when her husband died, she started talks to marry her brother-in-law soon after. However, her marriage plans were stopped. Many religious leaders said it was wrong for a widow to marry her late husband's brother. Dorothea tried for several years to make it happen, but it never did. This caused problems in her relationship with her son, King Frederick. They had never been very close. At the same time, Dorothea successfully stopped her son, the king, from marrying her maid of honor, Anne Hardenberg. This issue also lasted for years.
The relationship between Queen Dowager Dorothea and her son, King Frederick II, was difficult. Frederick had his own court when he was twenty. Dorothea often used her power as his mother to scold him for his lifestyle choices. This continued even after Frederick became king. She preferred her younger sons, especially Magnus. She protected her younger children from her eldest son, the king, and what she saw as his bad influence. Her less favorable view of her eldest son might also have been because he did not visit his father on his deathbed. This was despite his mother repeatedly asking him to come during his father's illness.
Dorothea believed it was her duty as a mother to advise and guide her children, including the king. She once wrote that a good mother should not stay silent if her children are heading for trouble. However, Frederick II disliked her criticisms and her attempts to get involved in state affairs. She had been involved during his father's reign.
The difficult relationship between Dorothea and Frederick II finally broke down during the Nordic Seven Years War (1562–1570). Dorothea strongly disliked the war. She repeatedly offered to help make peace. Her son Frederick II greatly disliked her interference. He warned her to stay out of state affairs very clearly. She replied that she had no intention of causing trouble. But she continued her efforts to act as a mediator the next year.
Dorothea made separate contact with Sweden. In 1567, Frederick II found out that his mother had secretly planned a marriage. She wanted his brother Magnus to marry Princess Sophia of Sweden. She did this to try and make peace, without the king knowing, during the war. She defended herself by saying she only wanted to help Denmark. But the king suspected her of working against him. He informally sent her away to Sønderborg Castle. She lived there for the rest of her life. Frederick II also seized a ship she sent to Magnus with supplies. He suspected it was going to Sweden.
Queen Dorothea is buried next to her husband in Roskilde Cathedral near Copenhagen.
Children
Dorothea had the following children:
- Anne of Denmark (1532–1585). She married Augustus, Elector of Saxony.
- Frederick II (1534–1588). He became King of Denmark and Norway.
- Magnus, King of Livonia (1540–1583).
- Johann II, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Plön (1545–1622).
- Dorothea of Denmark (1546–1617). She married William, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg. She was the mother of George, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg.
