Ellen Marsvin
Encyclopedia
Ellen Marsvin was a Danish noble, landowner and county administrator. She was the mother-in-law of King Christian IV of Denmark
as the mother of Kirsten Munk
.
She was the daughter of the noble, council and governor Jørgen Marsvin and Karen Gyldenstierne. She was married to Ludvig Munk
in 1589. Widowed in 1602, she married the governor and noble Knud Rud in 1607. She was twice widowed in 1611.
In 1615, her only child, Kirsten, married the king; Ellen had demanded that her daughter be married and not the mistress of the king, and she also formed the marriage contract, in which is was stated that Kirsten should be the legal spouse of the king and receive a county as widow pension. Ellen was made the guardian of her daughters children with the king and the trustée of the allowances given to her grandchildren and made responsible for their fortune. She was made county administrator of Dalum Kloster 1620 (until 1639), unusual for her gender in the 17th-century.
Marsvin was one of the most successful landowners in Denmark: by her inheritance, money and connections, she bought, sold and built large estates with great success, and was in 1625 one of the richest landowners in Denmark.
In 1629, when her daughter was accused of adultery, she introduced the king to his next lover, Vibeke Kruse
; to justify Kirsten's adultery, or to keep her personal influence over the monarch. The king respected her for her skill as a businessperson. In 1639, however, the king grew tired of her persistent demand that he recognize his wife's youngest daughter Dorothea Elisabeth, (her own youngest grandchild) as his, and as a result, he fired her as county administrator. She left court and lived the rest of her life at her estates.
Christian IV of Denmark
Christian IV was the king of Denmark-Norway from 1588 until his death. With a reign of more than 59 years, he is the longest-reigning monarch of Denmark, and he is frequently remembered as one of the most popular, ambitious and proactive Danish kings, having initiated many reforms and projects...
as the mother of Kirsten Munk
Kirsten Munk
Kirsten Munk was a Danish noble, the second spouse of King Christian IV of Denmark, and mother to twelve of his children.- Early life and Morganatic marriage:...
.
She was the daughter of the noble, council and governor Jørgen Marsvin and Karen Gyldenstierne. She was married to Ludvig Munk
Ludvig Munk
Ludvig Ludvigsen Munk was born in 1537 in Vejle, and died 8 April 1602 at Nørlund Slot in Funen. He was a Danish-Norwegian official and Count. He was the son of Ludvik Munk , and is also referred to as Ludvig Ludvigsen Munk von Schleswig-Holstein and Ludvig Munk til Nørlund.He was a Junker at the...
in 1589. Widowed in 1602, she married the governor and noble Knud Rud in 1607. She was twice widowed in 1611.
In 1615, her only child, Kirsten, married the king; Ellen had demanded that her daughter be married and not the mistress of the king, and she also formed the marriage contract, in which is was stated that Kirsten should be the legal spouse of the king and receive a county as widow pension. Ellen was made the guardian of her daughters children with the king and the trustée of the allowances given to her grandchildren and made responsible for their fortune. She was made county administrator of Dalum Kloster 1620 (until 1639), unusual for her gender in the 17th-century.
Marsvin was one of the most successful landowners in Denmark: by her inheritance, money and connections, she bought, sold and built large estates with great success, and was in 1625 one of the richest landowners in Denmark.
In 1629, when her daughter was accused of adultery, she introduced the king to his next lover, Vibeke Kruse
Vibeke Kruse
Vibeke Kruse was the official mistress of King Christian IV of Denmark between 1629 and 1648 and the mother of one of his three acknowledged, illegitimate sons, Ulrik Christian Gyldenløve. She was described as influential.- Biography :...
; to justify Kirsten's adultery, or to keep her personal influence over the monarch. The king respected her for her skill as a businessperson. In 1639, however, the king grew tired of her persistent demand that he recognize his wife's youngest daughter Dorothea Elisabeth, (her own youngest grandchild) as his, and as a result, he fired her as county administrator. She left court and lived the rest of her life at her estates.