Christian V of Denmark: Difference between revisions

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	{{Short description\|King of Denmark and Norway from 1670 to 1699}}		{{Short description\|King of Denmark and Norway from 1670 to 1699}}
	{{redirect\|Christian V\|the Count of Oldenburg\|Christian V, Count of Oldenburg}}		{{redirect\|Christian V\|the Count of Oldenburg\|Christian V, Count of Oldenburg}}
	{{Use dmy dates\|date=~~July~~ ~~2013~~}}		{{Use dmy dates\|date=April 2023}}
	{{Infobox royalty		{{Infobox royalty
	\| name = Christian V		\| name = Christian V
	\| succession = ] and ]		\| succession = ] and ]
	\| moretext = (])		\| moretext = (])
	\| image = Christian~~-5-profilny~~.jpg		\| image = File:Christian V of Denmark.jpg
	\| caption =Portrait by ], ~~{{circa}} 1685. The king poses with his hand authoritatively placed on the~~ ], ~~as a true ].~~		\| caption = Portrait of Christian V by ]
	\| reign = 9 February 1670 – 25 August 1699		\| reign = 9 February 1670 – 25 August 1699
	\| coronation = 7 June 1671<br/>]		\| coronation = 7 June 1671<br/>]
	\| predecessor = ]		\| predecessor = ]
	\| successor = ]		\| successor = ]
	\| ~~spouse~~ = {{~~marriage~~\|]~~\|15 June 1667~~}}		\| reg-type1 = {{nowrap\|]}}
			\| regent1 = {{Collapsible list\|title=''See list''\|1=]<br/>]}}
	\| issue = ]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>]
			\| spouse = {{marriage\|]\|15 June 1667}}
⚫	\| issue-link = #Family
	\| issue~~-pipe~~ = ~~among~~ ~~others...~~		\| issue = {{plainlist\|
		⚫	*]
⚫	\| house = ]
			*]
⚫	~~\| father =~~ ]
			*]
⚫	\| mother = ]
			*]
⚫	\| birth_date = {{Birth date\|1646\|4\|15\|df=y}}
			*]
⚫	\| birth_place = ], ]
			*] (illegitimate)}}
⚫	\| death_date = {{Death date and age\|1699\|8\|25\|1646\|4\|15\|df=y}}
		⚫	\| issue-link = #Family
⚫	\| death_place = ]
			\| issue-pipe = among others...
⚫	\| place of burial= ]
		⚫	\| house = ]
⚫	\| religion = ]
			\| father = ]
		⚫	\| mother = ]
		⚫	\| birth_date = {{Birth date\|1646\|4\|15\|df=y}}
		⚫	\| birth_place = ], ]
		⚫	\| death_date = {{Death date and age\|1699\|8\|25\|1646\|4\|15\|df=y}}
		⚫	\| death_place = ]
		⚫	\| place of burial = ]
		⚫	\| religion = ]
			\| signature = Signature of Christian V of Denmark.svg
	}}		}}
		⚫	'''Christian V''' (15 April 1646 – 25 August 1699) was King of ] and ] from 1670 until his death in 1699.<ref>{{cite web\|url= https://runeberg.org/dbl/3/0503.html\|title = Christian V, 1646-99\|website=Dansk biografisk Lexikon \|access-date=1 December 2019}}</ref>

⚫	'''Christian V''' (15 April 1646~~{{spaced~~ ~~ndash}}~~ 25 August 1699) was ~~king~~ of ] and ] from 1670 until his death in 1699.<ref>{{cite web\|url= ~~http~~://runeberg.org/dbl/3/0503.html\|title = Christian V, 1646-99\|website=Dansk biografisk Lexikon \|access-date=December 1, 2019}}</ref>

	Well-regarded by the ], he was the first king anointed at ] chapel as ] since the decree that institutionalized the supremacy of the king in ]. Christian fortified the absolutist system against the aristocracy by accelerating his father's practice of allowing both Holstein nobles and Danish and Norwegian commoners into state service.		Well-regarded by the ], he was the first king anointed at ] chapel as ] since the decree that institutionalized the supremacy of the king in ]. Christian fortified the absolutist system against the aristocracy by accelerating his father's practice of allowing both Holstein nobles and Danish and Norwegian commoners into state service.
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	== Biography ==		== Biography ==
	===Early years===		===Early years===
	]]]		]]]
			Prince Christian was born on 15 April 1646 at ] in the city of ], then located in the ]. He was the first ] born to the then ] by his consort, ]. Prince Frederick was a younger son of ], but the death of his elder brother ] in June 1647 opened the possibility for Frederick to be elected heir apparent to the Danish throne.
⚫	] ~~Castle,~~ 1671]]

	Christian was elected successor to his father in June 1650. This was not a free choice, but ''de facto'' automatic hereditary succession. Escorted by his chamberlain Christoffer Parsberg, Christian went on a long trip abroad, to ], ], ], and home through ]. On this trip, he saw absolutism in its most splendid achievement at the young ]'s court, and heard about the theory of the ]. He returned to Denmark in August 1663. From 1664 he was allowed to attend proceedings of the State College. Hereditary succession was made official by Royal Law in 1665. Christian was hailed as heir in Copenhagen in August 1665, in Odense and Viborg in September, and in Christiania, Norway in July 1666. Only a short time before he became king, he was taken into the Council of the Realm and the Supreme Court. He became king upon his father's death on 9 February 1670, and was formally crowned in 1671. He was the first hereditary king of Denmark-Norway, and in honor of this, Denmark-Norway acquired costly new crown jewels and a magnificent new ceremonial sword.		After the death of King Christian IV in 1648, Frederick thus became King of Denmark and Norway as Frederick III. Prince Christian was elected successor to his father in June 1650. This was not a free choice, but ''de facto'' automatic hereditary succession. Escorted by his chamberlain Christoffer Parsberg, Christian went on a long trip abroad, to ], ], ], and home through ]. On this trip, he saw absolutism in its most splendid achievement at the young ]'s court, and heard about the theory of the ]. He returned to Denmark in August 1663. From 1664 he was allowed to attend proceedings of the State College. Hereditary succession was made official by Royal Law in 1665. Christian was hailed as heir in Copenhagen in August 1665, in Odense and Viborg in September, and in Christiania, Norway in July 1666. Only a short time before he became king, he was taken into the Council of the Realm and the Supreme Court.
	<ref>{{cite web\|url= http://www.danskekonger.dk/biografi/ChrV.html \|title = Christian 5. Konge af Danmark · Norge fra 1670-99 \|website= danskekonger.dk\|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100106191008/http://www.danskekonger.dk/biografi/ChrV.html \|access-date=December 1, 2019\|archive-date = 6 January 2010 }}</ref>


			===Accession===
		⚫	] of Christian V in the chapel of ] in ].]]
			On 9 February 1670, King Frederick III died at the age of 60 at the ] after a reign of 22 years. At the death of his father, Frederick immediately ascended the thrones of Denmark and Norway as the second ] ] at the age of just 24. He was ] on 7 June the following year in the chapel of ], which thereafter became the traditional place of ] during the days of the absolute monarchy.<ref>{{cite book \|last=Monrad Møller \|first=Anders \|chapter=Den første salving under enevælden \|trans-chapter=The first anointing during the absolute monarchy \|title=Enevældens kroninger. Syv salvinger – ceremoniellet, teksterne og musikken \|trans-title=The coronations of the absolute monarchy. Seven anointings – the ceremonial, the lyrics and the music \|year=2012 \|location=København \|publisher=Forlaget Falcon \|isbn=978-87-88802-29-0 \|pages=28–57 \|language=da }}</ref> He was the first hereditary king of Denmark-Norway, and in honor of this, Denmark-Norway acquired costly new crown jewels and a magnificent new ceremonial sword.<ref>{{cite book \|last=Monrad Møller \|first=Anders \|chapter=Regalier, tronstole, løver og kåber \|trans-chapter=Regalia, thrones, lions and robes \|title=Enevældens kroninger. Syv salvinger – ceremoniellet, teksterne og musikken \|trans-title=The coronations of the absolute monarchy. Seven anointings – the ceremonial, the lyrics and the music \|year=2012 \|location=København \|publisher=Forlaget Falcon \|isbn=978-87-88802-29-0 \|pages=17–24 \|language=da }}</ref>

	===Reign===		===Reign===
			]
	It is generally argued that Christian V's personal courage and affability made him popular among the common people, but his image was marred by his unsuccessful attempt to regain ] for Denmark in the ]. The war exhausted Denmark's economic resources without securing any gains.<ref name="EB">"Christian V." (2007). In ''Encyclopædia Britannica''. Retrieved 9 January 2007, from Encyclopædia Britannica Online.</ref> Part of Christian's appeal to the common people may be explained by the fact that he allowed Danish and Norwegian commoners into state service, but his attempts to curtail the influence of the nobility also meant continuing his father's drive toward ].<ref name="EB" /><ref>Jespersen, Knud J.V. {{webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060811223253/http://denmark.dk/portal/page?_pageid=374,477938&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL \|date=11 August 2006 }}. Gyldendal Leksikon, quoted by The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, on Denmark's official web site.</ref> To accommodate non-aristocrats into state service, he created the new noble ranks of ] and ]. One of the commoners elevated in this way by the king was ], named Count of Griffenfeld by Christian V in 1670 and high councillor of Denmark in 1674.<ref name="EB" /><ref>{{cite web\|url= ~~http~~://runeberg.org/dbl/15/0373.html \|title = Peder Schumacher, Greve af Griffenfeld 1635-99\|website= Dansk biografisk Lexikon\|access-date=December 1, 2019}}</ref>		It is generally argued that Christian V's personal courage and affability made him popular among the common people, but his image was marred by his unsuccessful attempt to regain ] for Denmark in the ]. The war exhausted Denmark's economic resources without securing any gains.<ref name="EB">"Christian V." (2007). In ''Encyclopædia Britannica''. Retrieved 9 January 2007, from Encyclopædia Britannica Online.</ref> Part of Christian's appeal to the common people may be explained by the fact that he allowed Danish and Norwegian commoners into state service, but his attempts to curtail the influence of the nobility also meant continuing his father's drive toward ].<ref name="EB" /><ref>Jespersen, Knud J.V. {{webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060811223253/http://denmark.dk/portal/page?_pageid=374,477938&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL \|date=11 August 2006 }}. Gyldendal Leksikon, quoted by The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, on Denmark's official web site.</ref> To accommodate non-aristocrats into state service, he created the new noble ranks of ] and ]. One of the commoners elevated in this way by the king was ], named Count of Griffenfeld by Christian V in 1670 and high councillor of Denmark in 1674.<ref name="EB" /><ref>{{cite web\|url= https://runeberg.org/dbl/15/0373.html \|title = Peder Schumacher, Greve af Griffenfeld 1635-99\|website= Dansk biografisk Lexikon\|access-date=1 December 2019}}</ref>

	], a skilled statesman, better understood the precarious situation Denmark-Norway placed itself by attacking Sweden at a time when the country was allied with France, the major European power of the era. After some hesitation, Christian V initiated the ] (~~1675-1679~~) against Sweden in an attempt to reconquer ] which Denmark had lost under the ] in 1658. As Griffenfeld predicted, Sweden's stronger ally France was the party that dictated the peace with Denmark's ally the ], and in spite of Danish victory at sea in the battles against ] in 1675–1679 during the ], Danish hopes for border changes on the ] between the two countries were dashed. The results of the war efforts proved politically and financially unremunerative for Denmark-Norway. The damage to the Danish-Norwegian economy was extensive. At this point, Christian V no longer had his most experienced foreign relations counsel around to repair the political damage — in 1676 he had been persuaded to sacrifice Griffenfeld as a traitor, and to the clamour of his adversaries, Griffenfeld was imprisoned for the remainder of his life.<ref name="Nielsen" />		], a skilled statesman, better understood the precarious situation Denmark-Norway placed itself by attacking Sweden at a time when the country was allied with France, the major European power of the era. After some hesitation, Christian V initiated the ] (1675–1679) against Sweden in an attempt to reconquer ] which Denmark had lost under the ] in 1658. As Griffenfeld predicted, Sweden's stronger ally France was the party that dictated the peace with Denmark's ally the ], and in spite of Danish victory at sea in the battles against ] in 1675–1679 during the ], Danish hopes for border changes on the ] between the two countries were dashed. The results of the war efforts proved politically and financially unremunerative for Denmark-Norway. The damage to the Danish-Norwegian economy was extensive. At this point, Christian V no longer had his most experienced foreign relations counsel around to repair the political damage — in 1676 he had been persuaded to sacrifice Griffenfeld as a traitor, and to the clamour of his adversaries, Griffenfeld was imprisoned for the remainder of his life.<ref name="Nielsen" />
	]		]
	After the Scanian War, his sister, Princess ], married Swedish king ], whose mother was a stout supporter of the ]. In spite of the family ties, war between the brothers-in-law was close again in 1689, when Charles XI nearly provoked confrontation with Denmark-Norway by his support of the exiled ] in his claims to Holstein-Gottorp in Schleswig-Holstein.<ref name="Upton" />		After the Scanian War, his sister, Princess ], married Swedish king ], whose mother was a stout supporter of the ]. In spite of the family ties, war between the brothers-in-law was close again in 1689, when Charles XI nearly provoked confrontation with Denmark-Norway by his support of the exiled ] in his claims to Holstein-Gottorp in Schleswig-Holstein.<ref name="Upton" />
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	Like ] of Sweden, who had never been outside Sweden, Christian V spoke only German and Danish and was therefore often considered poorly educated due to his inability to communicate with visiting foreign diplomats.<ref name="Upton">Upton, Anthony F. (1998). ''Charles XI and Swedish Absolutism, 1660–1697''. Cambridge University Press, 1998. {{ISBN\|0-521-57390-4}}.</ref> Christian V was also often considered dependent on his councillors by contemporary sources. The Danish monarch did nothing to dispel this notion. In his memoirs, he listed "hunting, love-making, war and maritime affairs" as his main interests in life.<ref name="Nielsen">Nielsen, Kay Søren (1999). {{Webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070425171844/http://www.thm.dk/publ/ksn/ksn1_1.htm \|date=25 April 2007 }}. The Royal Danish Arsenal Museum, Net Publications, 1999.</ref>		Like ] of Sweden, who had never been outside Sweden, Christian V spoke only German and Danish and was therefore often considered poorly educated due to his inability to communicate with visiting foreign diplomats.<ref name="Upton">Upton, Anthony F. (1998). ''Charles XI and Swedish Absolutism, 1660–1697''. Cambridge University Press, 1998. {{ISBN\|0-521-57390-4}}.</ref> Christian V was also often considered dependent on his councillors by contemporary sources. The Danish monarch did nothing to dispel this notion. In his memoirs, he listed "hunting, love-making, war and maritime affairs" as his main interests in life.<ref name="Nielsen">Nielsen, Kay Søren (1999). {{Webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070425171844/http://www.thm.dk/publ/ksn/ksn1_1.htm \|date=25 April 2007 }}. The Royal Danish Arsenal Museum, Net Publications, 1999.</ref>

	Christian V introduced the ] (''Danske Lov'') in 1683, the first law code for all of Denmark.<ref>Jespersen, Knud J.V. {{webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060811223253/http://denmark.dk/portal/page?_pageid=374,477938&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL \|date=11 August 2006 }}. Gyldendal Leksikon, quoted by The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, on Denmark's official web site.</ref> He also introduced the similar '']'' (Norwegian Code) of 1687 to replace ] from 1604 in Norway. He also introduced the ] of 1688, which attempted to work out the land value of the united monarchy in order to create a more just ].		Christian V introduced the ] (''Danske Lov'') in 1683, the first law code for all of Denmark.<ref>Jespersen, Knud J.V. {{webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060811223253/http://denmark.dk/portal/page?_pageid=374,477938&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL \|date=11 August 2006 }}. Gyldendal Leksikon, quoted by The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, on Denmark's official web site.</ref> He also introduced the similar '']'' (Norwegian Code) of 1687 to replace ] from 1604 in Norway. He also introduced the ] of 1688, which attempted to work out the land value of the united monarchy in order to create a more just ].

	During the reign of Christian V, Denmark's trade in cattle that had declined due to catastrophic fires and wars ~~has~~ been restored, and livestock and crop exports ~~have~~ also surpassed ], with thousands of cattle entering and leaving Jutland through the ]. After entering and fattening in the Danish King's German enclave ]~~，the~~ ~~castle~~ reached the big market in ]. From there, cattle are resold to all parts of North Germany via ], ] and ]. As the population continues to soar at the end of the seventeenth century, demand for beef, grains and fish is increasing, both throughout North Germany and on the Baltic coast alone. In terms of the number of livestock shipped to the South, in 1680 each market had reached 40,000 cattle. Traditional export commodities, including fish and grains, have increased their exports since the beginning of the seventeenth century.		During the reign of Christian V, Denmark's trade in cattle that had declined due to catastrophic fires and wars had been restored, and livestock and crop exports had also surpassed ], with thousands of cattle entering and leaving Jutland through the ]. After entering and fattening in the Danish King's German enclave ], the cattle reached the big market in ]. From there, cattle are resold to all parts of North Germany via ], ] and ]. As the population continues to soar at the end of the seventeenth century, demand for beef, grains and fish is increasing, both throughout North Germany and on the Baltic coast alone. In terms of the number of livestock shipped to the South, in 1680 each market had reached 40,000 cattle. Traditional export commodities, including fish and grains, have increased their exports since the beginning of the seventeenth century.
	The agricultural products exported by Denmark, especially cattle, have made a lot of money from Germany and the Netherlands for the Danish royal family, the aristocrats and the town residents. During his reign, ] witnessed a golden age due to the work of the astronomer ] in spite of the king's personal lack of scientific knowledge and interest. He died from the after-effects of a hunting accident and was interred in ].<ref name="Nielsen" /><ref>{{cite web\|url= http://denstoredanske.dk/Danmarks_geografi_og_historie/Danmarks_historie/Danmark_1536-1849/Christian_5. \|title = Christian 5 \|website= Den Store Danske, Gyldendal \|author= Knud J.V. Jespersen		The agricultural products exported by Denmark, especially cattle, have made a lot of money from Germany and the Netherlands for the Danish royal family, the aristocrats and the town residents. During his reign, ] witnessed a golden age due to the work of the astronomer ] in spite of the king's personal lack of scientific knowledge and interest. He died from the after-effects of a hunting accident and was interred in ].<ref name="Nielsen" /><ref>{{cite web\|url= http://denstoredanske.dk/Danmarks_geografi_og_historie/Danmarks_historie/Danmark_1536-1849/Christian_5. \|title = Christian 5 \|website= Den Store Danske, Gyldendal \|author= Knud J.V. Jespersen \|access-date=1 December 2019}}</ref>
	\|access-date=December 1, 2019}}</ref>

	===Family===		===Family===
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	\|]\|\|25 March 1675\|\|27 June 1695		\|]\|\|25 March 1675\|\|27 June 1695
	\|-		\|-
	\|]\|\|28 August 1677\|\|13 March 1735		\|]\|\|28 August 1677\|\|13 March 1735
	\|-		\|-
	\|Christiane Charlotte\|\|18 January 1679\|\|24 August 1689		\|Christiane Charlotte\|\|18 January 1679\|\|24 August 1689
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	!Name!!Birth!!Death		!Name!!Birth!!Death
	\|-		\|-
	\|Christiane Gyldenløve\|\|7 July 1672\|\|12 September 1689		\|]\|\|7 July 1672\|\|12 September 1689
	\|-		\|-
	\|]\|\|28 February 1674\|\|16 July 1703		\|]\|\|28 February 1674\|\|16 July 1703
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	\|Sophie Christiane Gyldenløve \|\|1675\|\| 18 August 1684		\|Sophie Christiane Gyldenløve \|\|1675\|\| 18 August 1684
	\|-		\|-
	\|Anna Christiane Gyldenløve\|\|1676\|\| 11 August 1689		\|]\|\|1676\|\| 11 August 1689
	\|-		\|-
	\|]\|\|24 June 1678\|\|8 December 1719		\|]\|\|24 June 1678\|\|8 December 1719
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	== External links ==		== External links ==
	{{Commons category\|Christian V of Denmark}}		{{Commons category\|Christian V of Denmark}}
	{{EB1911 ~~Poster~~\|Christian V.}}		{{EB1911 poster\|Christian V.}}
	* at the website of the ]		* {{Webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150314224944/http://kongehuset.dk/english/the-monarchy-in-denmark/The-Royal-Lineage \|date=14 March 2015 }} at the website of the ]
	* at the website of the ]		* at the website of the ]
	* (Order of Dannebrog, instituted by Christian V in 1671) — Official site of the Danish Monarchy		* (Order of Dannebrog, instituted by Christian V in 1671) — Official site of the Danish Monarchy
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	{{Monarchs of Denmark}}		{{Monarchs of Denmark}}
	{{Monarchs of Norway}}		{{Monarchs of Norway}}
			{{Monarchs of Iceland}}
	{{Authority control}}		{{Authority control}}

	{{DEFAULTSORT:Christian 05 Of Denmark}}

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Latest revision as of 08:53, 15 January 2025

King of Denmark and Norway from 1670 to 1699 "Christian V" redirects here. For the Count of Oldenburg, see Christian V, Count of Oldenburg.

Christian V
Portrait of Christian V by Karel van Mander III
King of Denmark and Norway (more...)
Reign	9 February 1670 – 25 August 1699
Coronation	7 June 1671 Frederiksborg Palace Chapel
Predecessor	Frederick III
Successor	Frederick IV
Grand Chancellors	See list Peder Griffenfeld Frederik Ahlefeldt

Born	(1646-04-15)15 April 1646 Duborg Castle, Flensburg
Died	25 August 1699(1699-08-25) (aged 53) Copenhagen, Denmark
Burial	Roskilde Cathedral
Spouse	Charlotte Amalie of Hesse-Kassel (m. 1667)
Issue among others...	Frederick IV Prince Christian Princess Sophia Hedwig Prince Charles Prince William Christian Gyldenløve (illegitimate)
House	Oldenburg
Father	Frederick III of Denmark
Mother	Sophie Amalie of Brunswick-Lüneburg
Religion	Lutheran
Signature

Christian V (15 April 1646 – 25 August 1699) was King of Denmark and Norway from 1670 until his death in 1699.

Well-regarded by the common people, he was the first king anointed at Frederiksborg Castle chapel as absolute monarch since the decree that institutionalized the supremacy of the king in Denmark-Norway. Christian fortified the absolutist system against the aristocracy by accelerating his father's practice of allowing both Holstein nobles and Danish and Norwegian commoners into state service.

As king, he wanted to show his power as absolute monarch through architecture, and dreamed of a Danish Versailles. He was the first to use the 1671 Throne Chair of Denmark, partly made for this purpose. His motto was: Pietate et Justitia (With piety and justice).

Biography

Early years

Prince Christian was born on 15 April 1646 at Duborg Castle in the city of Flensburg, then located in the Duchy of Schleswig. He was the first legitimate child born to the then Prince Frederick of Denmark by his consort, Sophie Amalie of Brunswick-Calenberg. Prince Frederick was a younger son of King Christian IV, but the death of his elder brother Christian, Prince-Elect of Denmark in June 1647 opened the possibility for Frederick to be elected heir apparent to the Danish throne.

After the death of King Christian IV in 1648, Frederick thus became King of Denmark and Norway as Frederick III. Prince Christian was elected successor to his father in June 1650. This was not a free choice, but de facto automatic hereditary succession. Escorted by his chamberlain Christoffer Parsberg, Christian went on a long trip abroad, to Holland, England, France, and home through Germany. On this trip, he saw absolutism in its most splendid achievement at the young Louis XIV's court, and heard about the theory of the divine right of kings. He returned to Denmark in August 1663. From 1664 he was allowed to attend proceedings of the State College. Hereditary succession was made official by Royal Law in 1665. Christian was hailed as heir in Copenhagen in August 1665, in Odense and Viborg in September, and in Christiania, Norway in July 1666. Only a short time before he became king, he was taken into the Council of the Realm and the Supreme Court.

Accession

On 9 February 1670, King Frederick III died at the age of 60 at the Copenhagen Castle after a reign of 22 years. At the death of his father, Frederick immediately ascended the thrones of Denmark and Norway as the second absolute monarch at the age of just 24. He was formally crowned on 7 June the following year in the chapel of Frederiksborg Palace, which thereafter became the traditional place of coronation of Denmark's monarchs during the days of the absolute monarchy. He was the first hereditary king of Denmark-Norway, and in honor of this, Denmark-Norway acquired costly new crown jewels and a magnificent new ceremonial sword.

Reign

It is generally argued that Christian V's personal courage and affability made him popular among the common people, but his image was marred by his unsuccessful attempt to regain Scania for Denmark in the Scanian War. The war exhausted Denmark's economic resources without securing any gains. Part of Christian's appeal to the common people may be explained by the fact that he allowed Danish and Norwegian commoners into state service, but his attempts to curtail the influence of the nobility also meant continuing his father's drive toward absolutism. To accommodate non-aristocrats into state service, he created the new noble ranks of count and baron. One of the commoners elevated in this way by the king was Peder Schumacher, named Count of Griffenfeld by Christian V in 1670 and high councillor of Denmark in 1674.

Griffenfeld, a skilled statesman, better understood the precarious situation Denmark-Norway placed itself by attacking Sweden at a time when the country was allied with France, the major European power of the era. After some hesitation, Christian V initiated the Scanian War (1675–1679) against Sweden in an attempt to reconquer Scania which Denmark had lost under the Treaty of Roskilde in 1658. As Griffenfeld predicted, Sweden's stronger ally France was the party that dictated the peace with Denmark's ally the Netherlands, and in spite of Danish victory at sea in the battles against Sweden in 1675–1679 during the Scanian War, Danish hopes for border changes on the Scandinavian Peninsula between the two countries were dashed. The results of the war efforts proved politically and financially unremunerative for Denmark-Norway. The damage to the Danish-Norwegian economy was extensive. At this point, Christian V no longer had his most experienced foreign relations counsel around to repair the political damage — in 1676 he had been persuaded to sacrifice Griffenfeld as a traitor, and to the clamour of his adversaries, Griffenfeld was imprisoned for the remainder of his life.

After the Scanian War, his sister, Princess Ulrike Eleonora of Denmark, married Swedish king Charles XI, whose mother was a stout supporter of the Duke of Holstein-Gottorp. In spite of the family ties, war between the brothers-in-law was close again in 1689, when Charles XI nearly provoked confrontation with Denmark-Norway by his support of the exiled Christian Albert, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp in his claims to Holstein-Gottorp in Schleswig-Holstein.

Like Charles XI of Sweden, who had never been outside Sweden, Christian V spoke only German and Danish and was therefore often considered poorly educated due to his inability to communicate with visiting foreign diplomats. Christian V was also often considered dependent on his councillors by contemporary sources. The Danish monarch did nothing to dispel this notion. In his memoirs, he listed "hunting, love-making, war and maritime affairs" as his main interests in life.

Christian V introduced the Danish Code (Danske Lov) in 1683, the first law code for all of Denmark. He also introduced the similar Norske Lov (Norwegian Code) of 1687 to replace Christian IVs Norwegian Code from 1604 in Norway. He also introduced the land register of 1688, which attempted to work out the land value of the united monarchy in order to create a more just taxation.

During the reign of Christian V, Denmark's trade in cattle that had declined due to catastrophic fires and wars had been restored, and livestock and crop exports had also surpassed Frederick III, with thousands of cattle entering and leaving Jutland through the Oxen Way. After entering and fattening in the Danish King's German enclave County of Oldenburg, the cattle reached the big market in Wedel. From there, cattle are resold to all parts of North Germany via Stade, Hamburg and Lübeck. As the population continues to soar at the end of the seventeenth century, demand for beef, grains and fish is increasing, both throughout North Germany and on the Baltic coast alone. In terms of the number of livestock shipped to the South, in 1680 each market had reached 40,000 cattle. Traditional export commodities, including fish and grains, have increased their exports since the beginning of the seventeenth century. The agricultural products exported by Denmark, especially cattle, have made a lot of money from Germany and the Netherlands for the Danish royal family, the aristocrats and the town residents. During his reign, science witnessed a golden age due to the work of the astronomer Ole Rømer in spite of the king's personal lack of scientific knowledge and interest. He died from the after-effects of a hunting accident and was interred in Roskilde Cathedral.

Family

Christian V had eight children by his wife and six by his Maîtresse-en-titre, Sophie Amalie Moth (1654–1719), whom he took up with when she was sixteen. Sophie was the daughter of his former tutor Poul Moth. Christian publicly introduced Sophie into court in 1672, a move which insulted his wife, and made her countess of Samsø on 31 December 1677.

Legitimate children by his queen Charlotte Amalie:

Name	Birth	Death
Frederick IV	2 October 1671	12 October 1730
Christian Vilhelm	1 December 1672	25 January 1673
Christian	25 March 1675	27 June 1695
Sophie Hedwig	28 August 1677	13 March 1735
Christiane Charlotte	18 January 1679	24 August 1689
Charles	26 October 1680	8 June 1729
Daughter	17 July 1683	17 July 1683
Vilhelm	21 February 1687	23 November 1705

Illegitimate children by his mistress, Sophie Amalie Moth, Countess of Samsø:

Name	Birth	Death
Christiane Gyldenløve	7 July 1672	12 September 1689
Christian Gyldenløve	28 February 1674	16 July 1703
Sophie Christiane Gyldenløve	1675	18 August 1684
Anna Christiane Gyldenløve	1676	11 August 1689
Ulrik Christian Gyldenløve	24 June 1678	8 December 1719
Daughter	1682	8 July 1684

Arms

Heraldry of Christian V of Denmark-Norway

Christian V's crown, produced in 1671	Royal Monogram	Coat of arms as King

Ancestry

Ancestors of Christian V of Denmark

8. Frederick II of Denmark

4. Christian IV of Denmark

9. Sophie of Mecklenburg-Güstrow

2. Frederick III of Denmark

10. Joachim Frederick, Elector of Brandenburg

5. Anne Catherine of Brandenburg

11. Catherine of Brandenburg-Küstrin

1. Christian V of Denmark

12. William the Younger, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg

6. George, Duke of Brunswick-Calenberg

13. Dorothea of Denmark

3. Sophie Amalie of Brunswick-Calenberg

14. Louis V, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt

7. Anne Eleonore of Hesse-Darmstadt

15. Magdalene of Brandenburg

References

"Christian V, 1646-99". Dansk biografisk Lexikon. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
Written by the Frederiksborg's historian staff on the official website of the institution.
Monrad Møller, Anders (2012). "Den første salving under enevælden" [The first anointing during the absolute monarchy]. Enevældens kroninger. Syv salvinger – ceremoniellet, teksterne og musikken [The coronations of the absolute monarchy. Seven anointings – the ceremonial, the lyrics and the music] (in Danish). København: Forlaget Falcon. pp. 28–57. ISBN 978-87-88802-29-0.
Monrad Møller, Anders (2012). "Regalier, tronstole, løver og kåber" [Regalia, thrones, lions and robes]. Enevældens kroninger. Syv salvinger – ceremoniellet, teksterne og musikken [The coronations of the absolute monarchy. Seven anointings – the ceremonial, the lyrics and the music] (in Danish). København: Forlaget Falcon. pp. 17–24. ISBN 978-87-88802-29-0.
^ "Christian V." (2007). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 9 January 2007, from Encyclopædia Britannica Online.
Jespersen, Knud J.V. The Introduction of Absolutism Archived 11 August 2006 at the Wayback Machine. Gyldendal Leksikon, quoted by The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, on Denmark's official web site.
"Peder Schumacher, Greve af Griffenfeld 1635-99". Dansk biografisk Lexikon. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
^ Nielsen, Kay Søren (1999). Christian V – Konge og sportsmand Archived 25 April 2007 at the Wayback Machine. The Royal Danish Arsenal Museum, Net Publications, 1999.
^ Upton, Anthony F. (1998). Charles XI and Swedish Absolutism, 1660–1697. Cambridge University Press, 1998. ISBN 0-521-57390-4.
Jespersen, Knud J.V. Denmark as a Modern Bureaucracy Archived 11 August 2006 at the Wayback Machine. Gyldendal Leksikon, quoted by The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, on Denmark's official web site.
Knud J.V. Jespersen. "Christian 5". Den Store Danske, Gyldendal. Retrieved 1 December 2019.

External links

The Royal Lineage Archived 14 March 2015 at the Wayback Machine at the website of the Danish Monarchy
Christian V at the website of the Royal Danish Collection
The Royal Orders of Chivalry (Order of Dannebrog, instituted by Christian V in 1671) — Official site of the Danish Monarchy
Nielsen, Kay Søren. "Christian V. Konge og sportsmand" (in Danish). The Royal Danish Arsenal Museum. Archived from the original on 25 April 2007. Retrieved 29 November 2009.

Regnal titles
Christian VHouse of OldenburgBorn: 14 April 1646 Died: 25 August 1699
Preceded byFrederick III	King of Denmark and Norway Count of Oldenburg 1670–1699	Succeeded byFrederick IV
Preceded byFrederick III of Denmarkas co-ruler of Christian Albert of Gottorp	Duke of Holstein and Schleswig 1670–1699 with Christian Albert (1670–1695) Frederick IV (1695–1699)	Succeeded byFrederick IV of Denmarkas co-ruler of Frederick IV of Gottorp

v t e Danish princes
The generations are numbered from the implementation of hereditary monarchy by Frederick III in 1660.
1st generation	King Christian V Prince George, Duke of Cumberland
2nd generation	King Frederick IV Prince Christian Prince Charles Prince William Prince William, Duke of Gloucester
3rd generation	King Christian VI
4th generation	King Frederick V
5th generation	King Christian VII Hereditary Prince Frederick
6th generation	King Frederick VI King Christian VIII Hereditary Prince Ferdinand
7th generation	King Frederick VII King Christian IX
8th generation	King Frederick VIII King George I of Greece Prince Valdemar
9th generation	King Christian X King Haakon VII of Norway Prince Harald Prince Gustav King Constantine I of Greece Prince George Prince Nicholas Prince Andrew Prince Christopher Prince Aage Prince Axel Prince Erik Prince Viggo
10th generation	King Frederik IX Hereditary Prince Knud King Olav V of Norway Prince Gorm Prince Oluf King George II of Greece King Alexander I of Greece King Paul I of Greece Prince Peter Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh Prince Michael Prince Georg Prince Flemming
11th generation	Prince Henrik Prince Ingolf Prince Christian King Constantine II of Greece
12th generation	King Frederik X Prince Joachim Crown Prince Pavlos of Greece Prince Nikolaos Prince Philippos
13th generation	Crown Prince Christian of Denmark Prince Vincent Prince Nikolai Prince Felix Prince Henrik Prince Constantine-Alexios Prince Achileas-Andreas Prince Odysseas-Kimon Prince Aristidis-Stavros
Also prince of Norway Also prince of Greece Also prince of Iceland Also prince of the United Kingdom Not Danish prince by birth, but created prince of Denmark Princes that lost their title are shown in italics

Monarchs of Denmark

Knýtlinga

c. 916 – 1042	Сanute I (Harthacnut) Gorm the Old Harald I Bluetooth Sweyn I Harald II Canute II Canute III (Harthacanute)

Fairhair

1042–1047	Magnus the Good

Estridsen

1047–1375

Sweyn II Estridsen
Harald III Hen
Canute IV the Saint
Olaf I Hunger
Eric I Evergood
Niels
Eric II the Memorable
Eric III Lamb
Sweyn III Grathe / Canute V / Valdemar I the Great
Canute VI
Valdemar II the Victorious / Valdemar the Young
Eric IV Plough-tax
Abel
Christopher I
Eric V Klipping
Eric VI Menved
Christopher II / Eric Christoffersen
Valdemar III
Interregnum
Valdemar IV Atterdag

Bjälbo

1376–1387	Olaf II

Estridsen

1376–1412	Margrete I

Pomerania

1397–1439	Eric VII of Pomerania

Palatinate-Neumarkt

1440–1448	Christopher III of Bavaria

Oldenburg

Senior branch 1448–1863	Christian I John Christian II Frederick I Christian III Frederick II Christian IV Frederick III Christian V Frederick IV Christian VI Frederick V Christian VII Frederick VI Christian VIII Frederick VII
Glücksburg since 1863	Christian IX Frederick VIII Christian X Frederik IX Margrethe II Frederik X

Italics indicates Danish monarchs who were also monarchs of Norway.
Also monarch of England.
Also monarch of Sweden.
Also monarch of Iceland.
Also counts of Monpezat.

Monarchs of Norway

I. Independent Norway

Foreign and non-royal
rulers in italics, disputed
monarchs in brackets

872–1387

Kalmar Union

1387–1523	Margaret Eric III Christopher Charles I Christian I John Christian II

Denmark–Norway

1524–1814	Frederick I Christian III Frederick II Christian IV Frederick III Christian V Frederick IV Christian VI Frederick V Christian VII Frederick VI

II. Independent Norway

1814	Christian Frederick

Union with Sweden

1814–1905	Charles II Charles III John Oscar I Charles IV Oscar II

III. Independent Norway

Since 1905	Haakon VII Olav V Harald V

v t e Monarchs of Iceland
Possession of Norway (1262–1814)	Haakon IV Magnus VI Eric II Haakon V Magnus VII Haakon VI Olaf IV Margaret I Eric III Christopher I Charles I Christian I John I Christian II Frederick I Christian III Frederick II Christian IV Frederick III Christian V Frederick IV Christian VI Frederick V Christian VII Frederick VI
Possession of Denmark (1814–1918)	Frederick VI Christian VIII Frederick VII Christian IX Frederick VIII Christian X
Kingdom of Iceland (1918–1944)	Kristján X (Christian X)

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