..
. .
..
.
Map of
Denmark
.
|
...
Åbenrå Municipality’s
art-exhibition of Danish kings, at Museum Sønderjylland, Åbenrå
.
King
Frederik 4th |
Queen
Louise of Mecklenburg |
..
:
When
Christian 5th died in 1699, the new absolute monarchy was
internally fastened and organized. But outwardly he had not reached his
goal to break Gottorp’s influence, to win back the command of The
Sound and to take back the Skånske lands.
Frederik 4th, who now should complete the doing of his father,
had not had a particular good education.
He wrote Danish and German, but with many errors and had bad knowledge
of history and sience of state. He was kind and straightforward, he had
a healthy intellect, a fine memory and great desire for work.
In his first years of governing he was busy operating great plans of
reforms. In 1701 he founded a national army, the farmer-militia and
abolished the Zealand militia in 1702. Yet, the conditions for the
farmers were not improved as much, as the king had wanted, partly
because he during many years (1700-1720) participated in The Great
Nordic War to fulfill his predecessors plans outwardly.
Frederik 4th was strongly caught by Pietism, and in 1708 he
arranged a poverty-system, and he founded 240 so-called rider-schools,
which was the first attempt to give the children of the farmers
elementary knowledge.
Frederik was as a king laborious, but without any superior skill of
governing.
The best efforts of his governing, come from the deeds to where his
religiousness led him. Influenced by the German Pietism, which put
emphasis on the fact, that Christians lived a pious life and did not
leave it at beleaving alone, he founded Vajsenhuset for orphans and
founded common schools for worker’s children at the crown-estates.
At the same time the missionary work was started in the Danish colonies,
and the Norcic priest Hans Egede left for Greenland.
In his personal life Christian 4th was debauched in spite of
his sincere religiousness. He disregarded his queen for mistresses and
second-wifes, and when the queen died, he made Anna Sofie Reventlow, his
up to now wife to his left hand, a queen.
By these terms crown prince Christian removed himself further from his
father, but Christian’s already then havy mind became by that even
more reserved and bitter.
Frederik 4th born at Copenhagen Castle 11th
October 1671 was son of Christian 5th and Charlotte Amalie.
Frederik was married at Copenhagen Castle 15th December 1695
to Louise of Mecklenburg-Güstrow (1667-1721).
In 1703 married to left hand to Elisabeth Helene von Viregg (1679-1704).
Died from childbirth in 1704.
In 1721 married to reight hand to Anna Sofie Reventlow, who later was
crowned queen.
Frederik 4th and Louise had the children:
Christian
(1697-98)
Christian
6th (1699-1746), later king
Frederik
Karl
(1701-02)
Georg,
born and died in 1704
Charlotte
Amalie
(1706-82), she build Charlottenlund Castle.
Frederik 4th and Elisabeth Helene von Viregg had the child:
Frederik
Gyldenløve (1704-05)
Frederik 4th and Anna Sofie Reventlow had six children, who
all of them died when infant.
Frederik 4th had together with a mistress Charlotte Helene
von Schindel a daughter (1710-11).
Frederik 4th died 12th October 1730 in Odense from
tuberculosis.
Buried in Roskilde Cathedral.
|
