Princess Caroline of Denmark
Encyclopedia
Princess Caroline Mathilde of Denmark (28 October 1793, Copenhagen
– 31 March 1881, Copenhagen
), was a member of the Danish Royal Family
, the eldest surviving daughter of Frederick VI of Denmark
. She was known in Denmark as "kronprinsesse Caroline" (English: Crown Princess Caroline) prior to her marriage, and later as "Arveprinsesse Caroline" (English: Hereditary Princess Caroline).
She married her father’s first cousin, Hereditary Prince Ferdinand of Denmark, who was heir presumptive
to the throne of Denmark from 1848 to 1863.
in Copenhagen on 28 October 1793. Her parents were Crown Prince Frederick (the future King Frederick VI of Denmark) and his spouse and first cousin, Princess Marie of Hesse-Kassel
. Her paternal grandfather King Christian VII
being mentally unstable, her father had acted as regent
since 1784.
Her birth was much welcomed by the public, as her siblings had died soon after their birth. At her birth it was said: «Denne er Dydens Løn, flere er Folkets Bøn!» ("This is the revard of virtue, the answer to the people's prayer!")
Four months after her birth, on 26 February 1794, Christiansborg Palace was destroyed by fire. Subsequently Princess Caroline moved with her parents to Amalienborg Palace
where she grew up, spending the summers at Frederiksberg Palace
. At the death of her grandfather Christian VII of Denmark
in 1808, her father ascended as king.
She had a very close relationship with her father. She was given a broad, but not very thorough or deep, education. Caroline was not described as either talented or beautiful.
. Despite of this fact, however, she was still commonly called and referred to as Crown Princess prior to her marriage, as the eldest child of her father, though she did not have the formal title. Several possible marriages were planned for her but without result. After her father's accession, Napoleon suggested, in 1810, a marriage with the heir to the Swedish throne, Prince Christian August of Augustenborg
; her father disapproved but began negotiations, which were interrupted by the death of Christian August shortly afterward. Among the grooms suggested was also the British Prince William, Duke of Clarence. In 1812, she was engaged to Prince Christian of Hesse
, but he died in 1814. Finally, on 1 August 1829 at Frederiksberg Palace she married her first cousin, Prince Ferdinand of Denmark. The marriage was arranged for political reasons and was childless. After her marriage, she was no longer called crown princess until her spouse became crown prince.
In 1830, Caroline suffered terrible burn injuries in a fire, which disfigured her face; her hair ornament caught fire, and she was severely burnt in the face and hair. The damage upon her looks was permanent, and she was later to remark, when she caught a glimpse of herself in a mirror, that she was sincerely grateful that she managed to acquire any friends who could stand to look at her face. She suffered a similar burn injury in 1858.
Between 1831 and 1839, she presided regularly at the supervision of the Aarhus troops. When her spouse was appointed General Commandant for Nørrejylland in 1839, she followed him on his inspection tour through the county's villages, and was celebrated by the public; she was a skillful rider, and when she followed her spouse on his inspections of the troops in Sjælland, she paraded herself on horse before the troops.
She founded an asylum in Aarhus (1836) and became the protector of Vallø Stift in 1852.
in 1848, her husband became heir presumptive to the throne of Denmark and received the title of Hereditary Prince. Caroline now became hereditary princess again, but in contrast to the case before her marriage, she now received the title formally. She never became queen, however, as Hereditary Prince Ferdinand died in 1863, shortly before his nephew King Frederick VII
, and the throne passed to King Christian IX
.
The spouses lived in the palace Bernstorffske Palæ, which had been renovated for them by King Frederick VI, but did not play any active role at the royal court. Caroline eventually came to live quite harmoniously with her spouse. She tolerated his adultery and money problems. After her father's death in 1839, she became distanced from court, fixated as she was with "The reign of Papa". Her spouse was given the task of escorting Louise Rasmussen
at court, while she was estranged from the royal couple. In 1853, the couple became popular when they were the only members of the royal family to stay in the Capital during an epimedic.
She was a great patriot, and used to say that there was no reason to travel as it was always best in Denmark. She was also loyal toward Copenhagen and stayed during the cholera
epidemic of 1853 out of loyalty to the city. She was described as loyal, content and punctual.
As a widow, she lived an isolated life, occupying herself by paying her husband's debts. The last years, she became deaf.
Hereditary Princess Caroline died in her residence in Copenhagen on 31 March 1881.
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...
– 31 March 1881, 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...
), was a member of the Danish Royal Family
Danish Royal Family
The Danish Royal Family includes the Queen of Denmark and her family. All members except the Queen hold the title of Prince/Princess of Denmark with the style of His/Her Royal Highness or His/Her Highness. The Queen is styled Her Majesty. The Queen and her siblings belong to the House of...
, the eldest surviving daughter of Frederick VI of Denmark
Frederick VI of Denmark
Frederick VI reigned as King of Denmark , and as king of Norway .-Regent of Denmark:Frederick's parents were King Christian VII and Caroline Matilda of Wales...
. She was known in Denmark as "kronprinsesse Caroline" (English: Crown Princess Caroline) prior to her marriage, and later as "Arveprinsesse Caroline" (English: Hereditary Princess Caroline).
She married her father’s first cousin, Hereditary Prince Ferdinand of Denmark, who was heir presumptive
Heir Presumptive
An heir presumptive or heiress presumptive is the person provisionally scheduled to inherit a throne, peerage, or other hereditary honour, but whose position can be displaced by the birth of an heir or heiress apparent or of a new heir presumptive with a better claim to the position in question...
to the throne of Denmark from 1848 to 1863.
Early life
Princess Caroline was born at Christiansborg PalaceChristiansborg Palace
Christiansborg Palace, , on the islet of Slotsholmen in central Copenhagen, is the seat of the Folketing , the Danish Prime Minister's Office and the Danish Supreme Court...
in Copenhagen on 28 October 1793. Her parents were Crown Prince Frederick (the future King Frederick VI of Denmark) and his spouse and first cousin, Princess Marie of Hesse-Kassel
Marie Sophie of Hesse-Kassel
thumb|Queen Marie Sophie portrayed by [[Cornelius Høyer]] Marie Sophie Frederikke of Hesse-Kassel was Queen Consort of Denmark and Norway. She also served as Regent of Denmark in 1814–1815.-Background:...
. Her paternal grandfather King Christian VII
Christian VII of Denmark
Christian VII was King of Denmark and Norway and Duke of Schleswig and Holstein from 1766 until his death. He was the son of Danish King Frederick V and his first consort Louisa, daughter of King George II of Great Britain....
being mentally unstable, her father had acted as regent
Regent
A regent, from the Latin regens "one who reigns", is a person selected to act as head of state because the ruler is a minor, not present, or debilitated. Currently there are only two ruling Regencies in the world, sovereign Liechtenstein and the Malaysian constitutive state of Terengganu...
since 1784.
Her birth was much welcomed by the public, as her siblings had died soon after their birth. At her birth it was said: «Denne er Dydens Løn, flere er Folkets Bøn!» ("This is the revard of virtue, the answer to the people's prayer!")
Four months after her birth, on 26 February 1794, Christiansborg Palace was destroyed by fire. Subsequently Princess Caroline moved with her parents to Amalienborg Palace
Amalienborg Palace
Amalienborg Palace is the winter home of the Danish royal family, and is located in Copenhagen, Denmark. It consists of four identical classicizing palace façades with rococo interiors around an octagonal courtyard ; in the centre of the square is a monumental equestrian statue of Amalienborg's...
where she grew up, spending the summers at Frederiksberg Palace
Frederiksberg Palace
Frederiksberg Palace is a Baroque residence, located in Frederiksberg, Denmark, adjacent to the Copenhagen Zoo. It commands an impressive view over Frederiksberg Park, originally designed as a palace garden in the Baroque style...
. At the death of her grandfather Christian VII of Denmark
Christian VII of Denmark
Christian VII was King of Denmark and Norway and Duke of Schleswig and Holstein from 1766 until his death. He was the son of Danish King Frederick V and his first consort Louisa, daughter of King George II of Great Britain....
in 1808, her father ascended as king.
She had a very close relationship with her father. She was given a broad, but not very thorough or deep, education. Caroline was not described as either talented or beautiful.
Marriage
Her father had no surviving sons and Caroline was excluded from succession to the throne as a result of Salic LawSalic law
Salic law was a body of traditional law codified for governing the Salian Franks in the early Middle Ages during the reign of King Clovis I in the 6th century...
. Despite of this fact, however, she was still commonly called and referred to as Crown Princess prior to her marriage, as the eldest child of her father, though she did not have the formal title. Several possible marriages were planned for her but without result. After her father's accession, Napoleon suggested, in 1810, a marriage with the heir to the Swedish throne, Prince Christian August of Augustenborg
Charles August, Crown Prince of Sweden
Charles August was a German prince. He is best known for serving as Crown Prince of Sweden briefly in 1810, adopted by Charles XIII, before his sudden death from stroke. Earlier, he had been a general in the Royal Danish Army as well as the Danish Governor-general of Norway...
; her father disapproved but began negotiations, which were interrupted by the death of Christian August shortly afterward. Among the grooms suggested was also the British Prince William, Duke of Clarence. In 1812, she was engaged to Prince Christian of Hesse
Prince Christian of Hesse
Prince Christian of Hesse was a German prince and member of the House of Hesse-Kassel. As a son of the Danish Field Marshal Prince Charles of Hesse-Kassel and Princess Louise of Denmark, he was a member of the extended Danish Royal Family and spent his entire life in Denmark.-Early life:Prince...
, but he died in 1814. Finally, on 1 August 1829 at Frederiksberg Palace she married her first cousin, Prince Ferdinand of Denmark. The marriage was arranged for political reasons and was childless. After her marriage, she was no longer called crown princess until her spouse became crown prince.
In 1830, Caroline suffered terrible burn injuries in a fire, which disfigured her face; her hair ornament caught fire, and she was severely burnt in the face and hair. The damage upon her looks was permanent, and she was later to remark, when she caught a glimpse of herself in a mirror, that she was sincerely grateful that she managed to acquire any friends who could stand to look at her face. She suffered a similar burn injury in 1858.
Between 1831 and 1839, she presided regularly at the supervision of the Aarhus troops. When her spouse was appointed General Commandant for Nørrejylland in 1839, she followed him on his inspection tour through the county's villages, and was celebrated by the public; she was a skillful rider, and when she followed her spouse on his inspections of the troops in Sjælland, she paraded herself on horse before the troops.
She founded an asylum in Aarhus (1836) and became the protector of Vallø Stift in 1852.
Hereditary Princess
After the death of her brother-in-law King Christian VIIIChristian 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...
in 1848, her husband became heir presumptive to the throne of Denmark and received the title of Hereditary Prince. Caroline now became hereditary princess again, but in contrast to the case before her marriage, she now received the title formally. She never became queen, however, as Hereditary Prince Ferdinand died in 1863, shortly before his nephew King Frederick VII
Frederick VII of Denmark
Frederick VII was a King of Denmark. He reigned from 1848 until his death. He was the last Danish monarch of the older Royal branch of the House of Oldenburg and also the last king of Denmark to rule as an absolute monarch...
, and the throne passed to King Christian IX
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...
.
The spouses lived in the palace Bernstorffske Palæ, which had been renovated for them by King Frederick VI, but did not play any active role at the royal court. Caroline eventually came to live quite harmoniously with her spouse. She tolerated his adultery and money problems. After her father's death in 1839, she became distanced from court, fixated as she was with "The reign of Papa". Her spouse was given the task of escorting Louise Rasmussen
Louise Rasmussen
Louise Christine Rasmussen, also known as Countess Danner , was a Danish Ballet dancer and stage actor. She was the mistress and later the morganatic spouse of King Frederick VII of Denmark...
at court, while she was estranged from the royal couple. In 1853, the couple became popular when they were the only members of the royal family to stay in the Capital during an epimedic.
She was a great patriot, and used to say that there was no reason to travel as it was always best in Denmark. She was also loyal toward Copenhagen and stayed during the cholera
Cholera
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine that is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The main symptoms are profuse watery diarrhea and vomiting. Transmission occurs primarily by drinking or eating water or food that has been contaminated by the diarrhea of an infected person or the feces...
epidemic of 1853 out of loyalty to the city. She was described as loyal, content and punctual.
As a widow, she lived an isolated life, occupying herself by paying her husband's debts. The last years, she became deaf.
Hereditary Princess Caroline died in her residence in Copenhagen on 31 March 1881.
Titles and styles
- 28 October 1793 – 1 August 1829: Her Royal Highness Princess Caroline Mathilde of Denmark
- 1 August 1829 – 20 January 1848: Her Royal Highness Princess Ferdinand of Denmark
- 20 January 1848 – 29 June 1863: Her Royal Highness The Hereditary Princess of Denmark
- 29 June 1863 – 31 March 1881: Her Royal Highness The Dowager Hereditary Princess of Denmark