Father-in-law of Europe
Encyclopedia
The Father-in-law of Europe is a sobriquet
which has been used to refer to Europe
an monarch
s of the late 19th and early 20th century: Christian IX of Denmark
and Nicholas I of Montenegro
, both on account of their children's marriages to foreign princes and princesses.
The fact that each was a monarch of moderate or modest power and the number of children each had allowed them to marry their children to heirs of greater fortunes across the continent.
Christian IX used to gather his children, children-in-law and grand children for the so-called Fredensborg days at Fredensborg Palace
north of Copenhagen
in the summer time.
Sobriquet
A sobriquet is a nickname, sometimes assumed, but often given by another. It is usually a familiar name, distinct from a pseudonym assumed as a disguise, but a nickname which is familiar enough such that it can be used in place of a real name without the need of explanation...
which has been used to refer to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an monarch
Monarch
A monarch is the person who heads a monarchy. This is a form of government in which a state or polity is ruled or controlled by an individual who typically inherits the throne by birth and occasionally rules for life or until abdication...
s of the late 19th and early 20th century: Christian IX of Denmark
Christian IX of Denmark
Christian IX was King of Denmark from 16 November 1863 to 29 January 1906.Growing up as a prince of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, a junior branch of the House of Oldenburg which had ruled Denmark since 1448, Christian was originally not in the immediate line of succession to the Danish...
and Nicholas I of Montenegro
Nicholas I of Montenegro
Nikola I Mirkov Petrović-Njegoš was the only king of Montenegro, reigning as king from 1910 to 1918 and as prince from 1860 to 1910. He was also a poet, notably penning "Onamo, 'namo!", a popular song from Montenegro.-Early life:Nikola was born in the village of Njeguši, the ancient home of the...
, both on account of their children's marriages to foreign princes and princesses.
The fact that each was a monarch of moderate or modest power and the number of children each had allowed them to marry their children to heirs of greater fortunes across the continent.
Christian IX of Denmark
Christian IX (1818–1906) was the father of:- Alexandra of DenmarkAlexandra of DenmarkAlexandra of Denmark was the wife of Edward VII of the United Kingdom...
, who married King Edward VII of the United KingdomEdward VII of the United KingdomEdward VII was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910... - Frederick VIII of DenmarkFrederick VIII of DenmarkFrederick VIII was King of Denmark from 1906 to 1912.-Early life:Frederick was born on 3 June 1843 in the Yellow Palace in Copenhagen as Prince Frederick of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, a junior male line of the House of Oldenburg descended from Christian III of Denmark and who had...
- His son became King Haakon VII of NorwayHaakon VII of NorwayHaakon VII , known as Prince Carl of Denmark until 1905, was the first king of Norway after the 1905 dissolution of the personal union with Sweden. He was a member of the House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg...
- His son became King Haakon VII of Norway
- George I of GreeceGeorge I of GreeceGeorge I was King of Greece from 1863 to 1913. Originally a Danish prince, George was only 17 years old when he was elected king by the Greek National Assembly, which had deposed the former king Otto. His nomination was both suggested and supported by the Great Powers...
- Maria Feodorovna (Dagmar of Denmark), who married Czar Alexander III of RussiaAlexander III of RussiaAlexander Alexandrovich Romanov , historically remembered as Alexander III or Alexander the Peacemaker reigned as Emperor of Russia from until his death on .-Disposition:...
- Thyra of Denmark, who married Ernest Augustus, Crown Prince of Hanover
Christian IX used to gather his children, children-in-law and grand children for the so-called Fredensborg days at Fredensborg Palace
Fredensborg Palace
Fredensborg Palace, , is a palace located on the eastern shore of Lake Esrum in Fredensborg on the island of Zealand in Denmark. It is the Danish Royal Family’s spring and autumn residence, and is often the site of important state visits and events in the Royal Family...
north of Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
in the summer time.
Nicholas I
Nicholas I (1841–1921) was the father of:- Elena of MontenegroElena of MontenegroElena of Montenegro was the daughter of King Nikola I Petrović-Njegoš of Montenegro and his wife, Milena Vukotić...
, who married King Victor Emmanuel III of ItalyVictor Emmanuel III of ItalyVictor Emmanuel III was a member of the House of Savoy and King of Italy . In addition, he claimed the crowns of Ethiopia and Albania and claimed the titles Emperor of Ethiopia and King of Albania , which were unrecognised by the Great Powers... - Zorka of MontenegroZorka of MontenegroPrincess Ljubica Petrović-Njegoš of Montenegro , and later became Princess Zorka Karađorđević in Serbia. She was better known as Princess Zorka....
, who married King Peter I of Serbia - Anna of MontenegroPrincess Anna of MontenegroAnna Petrović-Njegoš, Princess of Montenegro was the seventh child and sixth daughter of Nicholas I of Montenegro and his wife Milena Vukotić.-Family and early life:...
, who married Prince Francis Joseph of BattenbergPrince Francis Joseph of BattenbergPrince Francis Joseph of Battenberg, also known as Prince Franz Joseph of Battenberg, , was the youngest son of Prince Alexander of Hesse and by Rhine and Countess Julia von Hauke.-Biography:... - Two daughters who married brothers:
- Anastasia of Montenegro, who married Grand Duke Nicholas Nikolaevich of Russia after divorcing George, Duke of LeuchtenbergGeorge Maximilianovich, 6th Duke of LeuchtenbergGeorge Maximilianovich, 6th Duke of Leuchtenberg, also known as Prince Georgii Romanovsky or Georges de Beauharnais was the youngest son of Maximilian de Beauharnais, 3rd Duke of Leuchtenberg and his wife Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna of Russia.-Family and early life:George's father Maximilian de...
- Milica of Montenegro, who married Grand Duke Peter Nikolaevich of Russia
- Anastasia of Montenegro, who married Grand Duke Nicholas Nikolaevich of Russia after divorcing George, Duke of Leuchtenberg
See also
- Queen Victoria was known as the grandmother of Europe.