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'''Sophie Magdalene of Brandenburg-Kulmbach''' (28 November 1700 – 27 May 1770) was [[queen-consort]] of [[Denmark]] and [[Norway]] as the wife of King [[Christian VI of Denmark]] and Norway.
'''Sophie Magdalene of Brandenburg-Kulmbach''' (28 November 1700 – 27 May 1770) was [[queen-consort]] of [[Denmark]] and [[Norway]] as the wife of King [[Christian VI of Denmark]] and Norway.


==Background==
==Early Life==
She was born in [[Lauf an der Pegnitz|Castle Schonberg]], to [[Christian Heinrich, Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth-Kulmbach]] by his wife, Countess [[Sophie Christiane of Wolfstein]]. She was the [[lady-in-waiting]] to the Queen of Poland, [[Christiane Eberhardine of Brandenburg-Bayreuth]], where Christian came to choose his spouse. On 7 August 1721, she was married to Prince Christian. As Crown Princess, she lived discreetly with her spouse: the couple was in opposition to the second marriage of the King. She is often considered to have been behind the fact that her spouse broke his promise to respect and protect the rights of his father's widow, [[Anne Sophie Reventlow]].
She was born in [[Lauf an der Pegnitz|Castle Schonberg]], to [[Christian Heinrich, Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth-Kulmbach]] by his wife, Countess [[Sophie Christiane of Wolfstein]]. She was the [[lady-in-waiting]] to the Queen of Poland, [[Christiane Eberhardine of Brandenburg-Bayreuth]], where Christian came to choose his spouse. On 7 August 1721, she was married to Prince Christian. As Crown Princess, she lived discreetly with her spouse: the couple was in opposition to the second marriage of the King. She is often considered to have been behind the fact that her spouse broke his promise to respect and protect the rights of his father's widow, [[Anne Sophie Reventlow]].


==Queen==
==Marriage==
King [[Frederick IV of Denmark]] allowed his son, Crown Prince Christian, to find a suitable bride. During a trip through Europe accompanied by Chancellor [[Ulrik Adolf Holstein]] the Crown Prince meet Sophie Magdalene while she was serving as lady-in-waiting of the Queen of Poland at the [[Pretzsch, Wittenberg|Pretzsch Castle]]. She came from a small (the Margraviate of Kulmbach wasn't greater than Lolland-Falster), insignificant, relatively poor and large German princely family (she had 13 siblings); however, the King gave his permission. In the Crown Prince's letters he wrote that he fell for the Sophie Magdalene's intense religiosity, who matched with his own beliefs. It would affect his later reign. The wedding took place on 7 August 1721 at Pretzsch Castle in Saxony.
⚫
[[File:Hirschholm (J. J. Bruun).jpg|thumb|left|180px|[[Hirschholm Palace]] was Sophie Magdalene's favorite summer retreat]]


A French envoy to the Danish court sent a description home of the 20-year-old Crown Princess:
⚫
[[File:Ordre de L Union Parfait.jpg|thumb|left|180px|Ordenen de l'Union Parfaite]]

::''...She's a proud, impressive woman, although she is not high growth or of beautiful forms. She's not exactly pretty, but her majestic attitude was notorious. Her skin is very white, her face-range is fine, vibrant and soulful with light blue eyes; they still shaped lips crimped sometimes of a sneer. She dressed with the greatest splendor and used a lot of diamonds and other precious stones''.<ref>Ellen B. Danstrup: ''Christian 6., Sophie Magdalene og Norgesrejsen 1733'', 1989, p. 12.</ref>

About the Crown Prince, the French diplomat made one unflattering description:

::''... He's a small, frail, sickly-looking gentleman. His face is elongated, pale, somewhat haggard, his nose is very big. The eyes are very prominent and mouth pulled up in a forced, stereotyped smile"''.


{{external media | width = 150px | align = right | headerimage= [[File:German - Turned Cup - Walters 71339.jpg|150px]] | video1 = [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gcct__OJpEY The Royal Lathe], ''Sophie... like other queens of her day, devoted much of her time turning items of ivory or precious woods''. }}
{{external media | width = 150px | align = right | headerimage= [[File:German - Turned Cup - Walters 71339.jpg|150px]] | video1 = [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gcct__OJpEY The Royal Lathe], ''Sophie... like other queens of her day, devoted much of her time turning items of ivory or precious woods''. }}


==Family and Religion==
Sophie Magdalene's religiosity and strong influence of [[Pietism]] was expressed when in 1737 she founded at [[Vallø Castle]] the Noble Vallø Foundation for Unmarried Daughters (da: ''Det Adelige Stift Vallø for ugifte døtre''), a home for aging and aristocratic unmarried ladies. She never forgot that she came from a poor noble family, and always supported her family. As Queen, she got several of her relatives to Denmark. Her younger sister, [[Sophie Caroline of Brandenburg-Kulmbach|Sophie Caroline, Dowager Princess of Ostfriesland]] was appointed by her as Abbess at Vallø, with an annual pension of 16,600 thalers,<ref name="Prytz">Signe Prytz: ''Sorgenfri Slot'', 1979, p. 31.</ref> a large sum in those times.

At the National Archives was store a letter from Sophie Magdalene to her husband. She asked him to allowed the return of her sister to Ostfriesland. The reason would be that the Queen was violently jealous of her, and was sure that Sophie Caroline and Christian VI had an affair. The King replied ''that he with all his heart was willing to let her go, if with this he could win his wife's confidence and heart, but it would hurt the Princess''.<ref name="Prytz2">Signe Prytz: ''Sorgenfri Slot'', 1979.</ref> At end, Sophie Caroline wasn't expelled.

Two of Sophie Magdalene's brothers were Danish admirals, and her mother, [[Sophie Christiane of Wolfstein|Dowager Margravine Sophie Christiane of Brandenburg-Kulmbach]], arrived to Denmark after the announcement of Sophie Magdalene's first pregnancy in 1723, staying at [[Sorgenfri Palace]] in [[Kongens Lyngby]], where she remained for the rest of her life.<ref name="Prytz2"/>

Sophie Magdalene and her grandson, the later [[Christian VI of Denmark|King Christian VII]], had a warm and close relationship. He could find at the side of his grandmother a loving refuge from his strict overhofmester, Ditlev Reventlow. Christian and his cousin, Prince Charles of Hesse-Kassel, spent much time with Sophie Magdalene at [[Hirschholm Palace]], much to Reventlow's regret; he complained that the Crown Prince ''was so spoiled by Sophie Magdalene during his days with her that he became a boy again''.<ref>Overhofmarskallatet: ''Dagjournaler, 14. jan. forskellige år''; Biehl 1901, pp. 6-7.</ref> In addition, Sophie Magdalene also hosted almost all Christian's birthdays celebrations.<ref name="Langen">Ulrik Langen: ''Den Afmægtige'', 2008.</ref>

For Sophie Magdalene was source of great concern and dissapointment that none of her two surviving children inherited the strict ideals and lifestyle of their parents. King Frederick V was known in history as a notorious drunkard with sadistic tendencies, while Princess Louise reportedly became pregnant by a [[Valet de chambre]], an scandal that caused that she would be hastily married with the Duke of Saxe-Hildburghausen, who received a large dowry in compensation.

Sophie Magdalene was distantly related with King Christian VII's mistress, Anne Cathrine Benthagen, the famous ''[[Støvlet-Cathrine]]'', who reportedly was the illegitimate daughter of Prince Georg Ludwig of Brunswick-Bevern, whose sister was married with one of the Queen's brothers.<ref>Ulrik Langen: ''Den Afmægtige'', 2008, p. 210.</ref>

==Unpopular Queenship==
⚫
[[File:Hirschholm (J. J. Bruun).jpg|thumb|left|180px|[[Hirschholm Palace]] was Sophie Magdalene's favorite summer retreat.]]
⚫
[[File:Ordre de L Union Parfait.jpg|thumb|left|180px|Ordenen de l'Union Parfaite.]]
She became queen of Denmark in 1730. The royal couple's life together was harmonious and her spouse respected and trusted her, but Sophie Magdalene was unpopular. She was accused of creating a certain closedness around the Court and the royal family. She was seen as haughty, arrogant and proud. Her background in a religious environment, marked by [[Pietism]], strongly influenced the introduction of the subdued life at the Court. However, although her court was strict, it was also very luxurious. Sophie, following the fashion of queens of her day, owned a lathe built by [[Diderich de Thurah]], 1735-36, which she used for turning items of ivory or precious woods. She was interested in luxury, pomp, fashion and jewelry and spent large sums of money on luxury during a time of poverty in the country. She made the most of her position as Queen in etiquette and ceremonial matters.
She became queen of Denmark in 1730. The royal couple's life together was harmonious and her spouse respected and trusted her, but Sophie Magdalene was unpopular. She was accused of creating a certain closedness around the Court and the royal family. She was seen as haughty, arrogant and proud. Her background in a religious environment, marked by [[Pietism]], strongly influenced the introduction of the subdued life at the Court. However, although her court was strict, it was also very luxurious. Sophie, following the fashion of queens of her day, owned a lathe built by [[Diderich de Thurah]], 1735-36, which she used for turning items of ivory or precious woods. She was interested in luxury, pomp, fashion and jewelry and spent large sums of money on luxury during a time of poverty in the country. She made the most of her position as Queen in etiquette and ceremonial matters.


Revision as of 22:28, 8 January 2016

Sophie Magdalene of Brandenburg-Kulmbach
Portrait by Andreas Brünniche, c. 1740
Queen consort of Denmark and Norway
Tenure1730–1746
Born28 November 1700
Castle Schonberg
Died27 May 1770(1770-05-27) (aged 69)
Christiansborg Palace
Burial
Roskilde Cathedral
SpouseChristian VI of Denmark
IssueFrederick V of Denmark
Louise, Duchess of Saxe-Hildburghausen
HouseHouse of Hohenzollern
FatherChristian Heinrich, Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth-Kulmbach
MotherSophie Christiane of Wolfstein
ReligionLutheranism

Sophie Magdalene of Brandenburg-Kulmbach (28 November 1700 – 27 May 1770) was queen-consort of Denmark and Norway as the wife of King Christian VI of Denmark and Norway.

Early Life

She was born in Castle Schonberg, to Christian Heinrich, Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth-Kulmbach by his wife, Countess Sophie Christiane of Wolfstein. She was the lady-in-waiting to the Queen of Poland, Christiane Eberhardine of Brandenburg-Bayreuth, where Christian came to choose his spouse. On 7 August 1721, she was married to Prince Christian. As Crown Princess, she lived discreetly with her spouse: the couple was in opposition to the second marriage of the King. She is often considered to have been behind the fact that her spouse broke his promise to respect and protect the rights of his father's widow, Anne Sophie Reventlow.

Marriage

King Frederick IV of Denmark allowed his son, Crown Prince Christian, to find a suitable bride. During a trip through Europe accompanied by Chancellor Ulrik Adolf Holstein the Crown Prince meet Sophie Magdalene while she was serving as lady-in-waiting of the Queen of Poland at the Pretzsch Castle. She came from a small (the Margraviate of Kulmbach wasn't greater than Lolland-Falster), insignificant, relatively poor and large German princely family (she had 13 siblings); however, the King gave his permission. In the Crown Prince's letters he wrote that he fell for the Sophie Magdalene's intense religiosity, who matched with his own beliefs. It would affect his later reign. The wedding took place on 7 August 1721 at Pretzsch Castle in Saxony.

A French envoy to the Danish court sent a description home of the 20-year-old Crown Princess:

...She's a proud, impressive woman, although she is not high growth or of beautiful forms. She's not exactly pretty, but her majestic attitude was notorious. Her skin is very white, her face-range is fine, vibrant and soulful with light blue eyes; they still shaped lips crimped sometimes of a sneer. She dressed with the greatest splendor and used a lot of diamonds and other precious stones.[1]

About the Crown Prince, the French diplomat made one unflattering description:

... He's a small, frail, sickly-looking gentleman. His face is elongated, pale, somewhat haggard, his nose is very big. The eyes are very prominent and mouth pulled up in a forced, stereotyped smile".
External videos
video icon The Royal Lathe, Sophie... like other queens of her day, devoted much of her time turning items of ivory or precious woods.

Family and Religion

Sophie Magdalene's religiosity and strong influence of Pietism was expressed when in 1737 she founded at Vallø Castle the Noble Vallø Foundation for Unmarried Daughters (da: Det Adelige Stift Vallø for ugifte døtre), a home for aging and aristocratic unmarried ladies. She never forgot that she came from a poor noble family, and always supported her family. As Queen, she got several of her relatives to Denmark. Her younger sister, Sophie Caroline, Dowager Princess of Ostfriesland was appointed by her as Abbess at Vallø, with an annual pension of 16,600 thalers,[2] a large sum in those times.

At the National Archives was store a letter from Sophie Magdalene to her husband. She asked him to allowed the return of her sister to Ostfriesland. The reason would be that the Queen was violently jealous of her, and was sure that Sophie Caroline and Christian VI had an affair. The King replied that he with all his heart was willing to let her go, if with this he could win his wife's confidence and heart, but it would hurt the Princess.[3] At end, Sophie Caroline wasn't expelled.

Two of Sophie Magdalene's brothers were Danish admirals, and her mother, Dowager Margravine Sophie Christiane of Brandenburg-Kulmbach, arrived to Denmark after the announcement of Sophie Magdalene's first pregnancy in 1723, staying at Sorgenfri Palace in Kongens Lyngby, where she remained for the rest of her life.[3]

Sophie Magdalene and her grandson, the later King Christian VII, had a warm and close relationship. He could find at the side of his grandmother a loving refuge from his strict overhofmester, Ditlev Reventlow. Christian and his cousin, Prince Charles of Hesse-Kassel, spent much time with Sophie Magdalene at Hirschholm Palace, much to Reventlow's regret; he complained that the Crown Prince was so spoiled by Sophie Magdalene during his days with her that he became a boy again.[4] In addition, Sophie Magdalene also hosted almost all Christian's birthdays celebrations.[5]

For Sophie Magdalene was source of great concern and dissapointment that none of her two surviving children inherited the strict ideals and lifestyle of their parents. King Frederick V was known in history as a notorious drunkard with sadistic tendencies, while Princess Louise reportedly became pregnant by a Valet de chambre, an scandal that caused that she would be hastily married with the Duke of Saxe-Hildburghausen, who received a large dowry in compensation.

Sophie Magdalene was distantly related with King Christian VII's mistress, Anne Cathrine Benthagen, the famous Støvlet-Cathrine, who reportedly was the illegitimate daughter of Prince Georg Ludwig of Brunswick-Bevern, whose sister was married with one of the Queen's brothers.[6]

Unpopular Queenship

Hirschholm Palace was Sophie Magdalene's favorite summer retreat.
Ordenen de l'Union Parfaite.

She became queen of Denmark in 1730. The royal couple's life together was harmonious and her spouse respected and trusted her, but Sophie Magdalene was unpopular. She was accused of creating a certain closedness around the Court and the royal family. She was seen as haughty, arrogant and proud. Her background in a religious environment, marked by Pietism, strongly influenced the introduction of the subdued life at the Court. However, although her court was strict, it was also very luxurious. Sophie, following the fashion of queens of her day, owned a lathe built by Diderich de Thurah, 1735-36, which she used for turning items of ivory or precious woods. She was interested in luxury, pomp, fashion and jewelry and spent large sums of money on luxury during a time of poverty in the country. She made the most of her position as Queen in etiquette and ceremonial matters.

Later, she was criticized also for never having discarded her Germanness, even though German culture and language had been dominant at the Court before her time. She did in fact never learn Danish. Her German entourage was given important positions at court and was favoured over Danes. Her sister, Sophie Caroline of Brandenburg-Kulmbach, lived at the Danish court from 1740, and it was rumoured that she was the mistress of her husband.

In 1732, she founded the order Ordre de l'Union Parfaite, which was to be given only to women who lived in happy marriages. In 1737, she founded Vallø stift, a Protestant convent for unmarried noblewomen.

Sophie Magdalene was behind the making of a new Danish queen's crown when she refused to wear the same one that the hated Queen Anna Sophie had worn. Queen Sophie Magdelene established the collection of crown jewels when she bequeathed a large part of her jewellery for that purpose. This includes the emeralds given to Sophie by King Christian VI upon the birth of the future Frederik V. [7] She had Hirschholm Palace built and lived there after being widowed in 1746.

Later life

Coin by Johann Karl von Hedlinger with portrait of Sophie Magdalene

As a queen dowager, she lived a discreet life under the reign of her son, with whom she was too different in character to get along. She disliked his favourite, Moltke, whom she blamed for the distance between them.

During the reign of her grandson, she got more attention, as she was on much better terms with her grandchildren than with her children. Crown Prince Christian and his cousin, Prince Charles of Hesse-Kassel, spent much time with the queen on Hirschholm. During Christian's visits to her as a child, she spoilt him so much that he was considered impossible to deal with and more rebellious than ever. During Christian's reign, Moltke was disfavoured and Danneskjöld was favoured on her advice. She spent her later years in bad health, or, as it was said, in hypochondria.

She died in Christiansborg Palace and was buried in Roskilde Cathedral.

Children

Ancestry

Family of Sophie Magdalene of Brandenburg-Kulmbach
16. John George, Elector of Brandenburg
8. Christian, Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth
17. Princess Elisabeth of Anhalt-Zerbst
4. Georg Albrecht, Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth-Kulmbach
18. Albert Frederick, Duke of Prussia
9. Duchess Marie of Prussia
19. Duchess Marie Eleonore of Cleves
2. Christian Heinrich, Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth-Kulmbach
20. John II, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg
10. Philipp, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Norburg
21. Duchess Elisabeth of Brunswick-Grubenhagen
5. Princess Marie Elisabeth of Schleswig-Holstein-Glücksburg
22. Francis II, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg
11. Princess Sophie Hedwig of Saxe-Lauenburg
23. Duchess Marie of Brunswick-Lüneburg
1. Sophie Magdalene of Brandenburg-Kulmbach
24. Johann Adam, Count of Wolfstein
12. Johann Friedrich, Count of Wolfstein
25. Countess Elisabeth of Limpurg-Speckfeld
6. Albrecht Friedrich, Count of Wolfstein
26. Georg, Baron Teufel von Guntersdorf
13. Baroness Barbara Teufel von Guntersdorf
27. Elisabeth von Puchheim
3. Countess Sophie Christiane of Wolfstein
28. Wolfgang II, Count of Castell-Remlingen
14. Wolfgang Georg I, Count of Castell-Remlingen
29. Countess Juliana of Hohenlohe-Weikersheim
7. Countess Sophie Luise of Castell-Remlingen
30. Ludwig Eberhard, Count of Hohenlohe-Waldenburg-Pfedelbach and Gleichen
15. Countess Sophie Juliana of Hohenlohe-Waldenburg-Pfedelbach
31. Countess Dorothea of Erbach

References

  1. ^ Ellen B. Danstrup: Christian 6., Sophie Magdalene og Norgesrejsen 1733, 1989, p. 12.
  2. ^ Signe Prytz: Sorgenfri Slot, 1979, p. 31.
  3. ^ a b Signe Prytz: Sorgenfri Slot, 1979.
  4. ^ Overhofmarskallatet: Dagjournaler, 14. jan. forskellige år; Biehl 1901, pp. 6-7.
  5. ^ Ulrik Langen: Den Afmægtige, 2008.
  6. ^ Ulrik Langen: Den Afmægtige, 2008, p. 210.
  7. ^ "The Danish Emerald Parure Tiara". Order of Splendor.
  • Template:Dk icon Article in the Dansk biografisk Lexikon
  • Biography
  • Damstrup, Ellen B., Christian 6., Sophie Magdalene og Norgesrejsen 1733 , 1989
  • Dehn-Nielsen, Henning, Christian 7. – den gale konge, 2000
  • Dehn-Nielsen, Henning, Danmarks Konger og Regenter, 1996
  • Langen, Ulrik, Den Afmægtige – en biografi om Christian 7., 2008
  • Langer, Jerk W., Kongehusets sygdomme – fra Gorm den Gamle til dronning Margrethe, 1997
  • Nielsen, Kay m.f., Danmarks Konger og Dronninger
  • Tillyard, Stella, En Kongelig Affære – Caroline Matilde og hendes søskende, 2007 (original English edition 2006)

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sophia Magdalene of Brandenburg-Kulmbach.
Sophie Magdalene of Brandenburg-Kulmbach
Born: 28 November 1700 Died: 27 May 1770
Danish royalty
Preceded by Queen consort of Denmark and Norway
1730–1746 		Succeeded by

Template:Persondata

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