Karoline Amalia of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg
Encyclopedia
Caroline Amalie of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenborg (28 June 1796 – 9 March 1881), was Queen consort
of Denmark
as the second spouse of King Christian VIII
between 1839 and 1848.
and lived there until 1807, when she moved with her family to Augustenborg
.
In 1814 she was promised in marriage to the heir to the Danish throne, the future Christian VIII, and were married in 1815. Christian had divorced his first spouse Charlotte Fredericka of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
in 1810 on grounds of dultery], and had just returned to Denmark after his abdication
of the Norwegian
throne. This meant that Christian could devote himself to the sciences, mineralogy and geology in particular. While Christian became celebrated as a man with scientific tendencies, Caroline Amalie was a composer who wrote numerous piano
pieces. Her acceptance of her spouse's infidelity was regarded as something suitable and appropriate for a woman of the time.
Between 1816 and 1817, the couple lived in Odense
, where Christian served as Governor of Fionia. Between 1818 and 1822, she undertook numerous trips through Europe with her husband.
In 1839, when King Frederick VI died, Caroline Amalie, as the wife of Christian VIII, became Queen of Denmark. She was considered instrumental in the pro-German party on the matter of the duchies of Schleswig-Holstein
. The extent of her political influence is unclear, but she was exposed to some hostility during the conflict between Denmark and Holstein and accused of conspiring with her brothers against Denmark.
Caroline Amalie was active in many social and humanitarian projects, especially the founding and support of orphanages. Caroline Amalie also acted as the protector of Nikolai Frederik Severin Grundtvig, the leader of an ecclesiastic Danish party. Except for the suspicions directed toward her during the conflict between Holstein and Denmark, she was quite popular, and continued to be so as Queen Dowager
.
Caroline Amalie became a widow in 1848 and survived her spouse for more than thirty years. She also outlived her stepson by seventeen years. Hence she lived to see Christian IX become king with her spouse's niece Louise of Hesse-Kassel
as queen.
She died in 1881 without issue and was buried at Roskilde Cathedral
next to her husband.
Queen consort
A queen consort is the wife of a reigning king. A queen consort usually shares her husband's rank and holds the feminine equivalent of the king's monarchical titles. Historically, queens consort do not share the king regnant's political and military powers. Most queens in history were queens consort...
of Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
as the second spouse of King Christian VIII
Christian VIII of Denmark
Christian VIII , was king of Denmark from 1839 to 1848 and, as Christian Frederick, king of Norway in 1814. He was the eldest son of Hereditary Prince Frederick of Denmark and Norway and Sophia Frederica of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, born in 1786 at Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen...
between 1839 and 1848.
Biography
Caroline Amalie was the daughter of Frederick Christian II, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg, and Princess Louise Auguste of Denmark, the only daughter of Christian VII and his British wife, Queen Caroline Matilde. She was born in CopenhagenCopenhagen
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...
and lived there until 1807, when she moved with her family to Augustenborg
Augustenborg
Augustenborg is a town with a population of 3,279 on Als Island in Sønderborg Municipality, Region of Southern Denmark in Denmark. The town lies at the head of Als Fjord. To the east is the Little Belt...
.
In 1814 she was promised in marriage to the heir to the Danish throne, the future Christian VIII, and were married in 1815. Christian had divorced his first spouse Charlotte Fredericka of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Duchess Charlotte Frederica of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Charlotte Frederica of Mecklenburg-Schwerin , was the first wife of King Christian VIII from 1806 until 1810, before he became King of Denmark. She was a daughter of Frederick Francis I, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, and Princess Louise of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg.-Marriage:Charlotte Frederica...
in 1810 on grounds of dultery], and had just returned to Denmark after his abdication
Abdication
Abdication occurs when a monarch, such as a king or emperor, renounces his office.-Terminology:The word abdication comes derives from the Latin abdicatio. meaning to disown or renounce...
of the Norwegian
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
throne. This meant that Christian could devote himself to the sciences, mineralogy and geology in particular. While Christian became celebrated as a man with scientific tendencies, Caroline Amalie was a composer who wrote numerous piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
pieces. Her acceptance of her spouse's infidelity was regarded as something suitable and appropriate for a woman of the time.
Between 1816 and 1817, the couple lived in Odense
Odense
The city of Odense is the third largest city in Denmark.Odense City has a population of 167,615 and is the main city of the island of Funen...
, where Christian served as Governor of Fionia. Between 1818 and 1822, she undertook numerous trips through Europe with her husband.
In 1839, when King Frederick VI died, Caroline Amalie, as the wife of Christian VIII, became Queen of Denmark. She was considered instrumental in the pro-German party on the matter of the duchies of Schleswig-Holstein
Schleswig-Holstein
Schleswig-Holstein is the northernmost of the sixteen states of Germany, comprising most of the historical duchy of Holstein and the southern part of the former Duchy of Schleswig...
. The extent of her political influence is unclear, but she was exposed to some hostility during the conflict between Denmark and Holstein and accused of conspiring with her brothers against Denmark.
Caroline Amalie was active in many social and humanitarian projects, especially the founding and support of orphanages. Caroline Amalie also acted as the protector of Nikolai Frederik Severin Grundtvig, the leader of an ecclesiastic Danish party. Except for the suspicions directed toward her during the conflict between Holstein and Denmark, she was quite popular, and continued to be so as Queen Dowager
Queen Dowager
A queen dowager or dowager queen is a title or status generally held by the widow of a deceased king. In the case of the widow of a deceased emperor, the title of empress dowager is used...
.
Caroline Amalie became a widow in 1848 and survived her spouse for more than thirty years. She also outlived her stepson by seventeen years. Hence she lived to see Christian IX become king with her spouse's niece Louise of Hesse-Kassel
Louise of Hesse-Kassel
Louise of Hesse was a German Princess and the queen consort to King Christian IX of Denmark.-Early Life and Ancestry:...
as queen.
She died in 1881 without issue and was buried at Roskilde Cathedral
Roskilde Cathedral
Roskilde Cathedral , in the city of Roskilde on the island of Zealand in eastern Denmark, is a cathedral of the Lutheran Church of Denmark. The first Gothic cathedral to be built of brick, it encouraged the spread of the Brick Gothic style throughout Northern Europe...
next to her husband.