Sophie Amalie Moth
Encyclopedia
Sophie Amalie Moth, Countess of Samsø (1654 – 17 January 1719) was Christian V of Denmark
’s acknowledged official lover. She was the first officially acknowledged royal mistress in Denmark.
.
In 1677 Sophie Amalie was given the title Countess of Samsø
, a title which chancellor Peder Griffenfeld
had been deprived of after falling from favor. The relationship was known within the royal court from the start, but it was not official until she was given her title and officially presented at court.
In 1679, her children were acknowledged; in 1685, they were officially introduced at court.
Moth lived quite discreetly and did not have any politicall influence; the only times she used her influence were when she secured a few favours from the monarch for relatives of hers. Her brother Matthias Moth, in particular, used the connection to his advantage. In 1682, she was granted estates in Gottorp
.
After Niels Juel
's death in 1697, the king arranged for her to take over his mansion, today known as the Thott Palace after a later owner and housing the French Embassy in Copenhagen
. Two years later Christian died and she lived a quiet life on her estate until her death in 1719, twenty years later. Christian Gyldenløve
, their oldest son, took over the mansion after her.
Christian V of Denmark
Christian V , was king of Denmark and Norway from 1670 to 1699, the son of Frederick III of Denmark and Sophie Amalie of Brunswick-Lüneburg...
’s acknowledged official lover. She was the first officially acknowledged royal mistress in Denmark.
Biography
Sophie Amalie was the daughter of Poul Moth (1601–1670), doctor of the royal court, and Ida Dorothea Bureneus (1624–1684). The relationship with the monarch was more or less arranged by her mother, and started in 1671 or 1672. Sophie bore Christian five children, each of whom he acknowledged publicly. Consistent with the practice of his father and grandfather, all were given the surname GyldenløveGyldenløve
Gyldenløve is the name of two important noble families in Danish and Norwegian history. The first Gyldenløve family belonged to the Norwegian high nobility...
.
In 1677 Sophie Amalie was given the title Countess of Samsø
Samsø
Samsø is a Danish island in the Kattegat off the Jutland Peninsula. Samsø is located in Samsø municipality. The community has 4,300 inhabitants called Samsingers and is 114 km² in area. Due to its central location, the island was used during the Viking Age as a meeting place...
, a title which chancellor Peder Griffenfeld
Peder Griffenfeld
Count Peder Griffenfeld was a Danish statesman.-Early years:Born at Copenhagen into a wealthy trading family connected with the leading civic, clerical and learned circles in the Danish capital, he was prepared for university byJens Vorde...
had been deprived of after falling from favor. The relationship was known within the royal court from the start, but it was not official until she was given her title and officially presented at court.
In 1679, her children were acknowledged; in 1685, they were officially introduced at court.
Moth lived quite discreetly and did not have any politicall influence; the only times she used her influence were when she secured a few favours from the monarch for relatives of hers. Her brother Matthias Moth, in particular, used the connection to his advantage. In 1682, she was granted estates in Gottorp
Gottorp
Gottorf Castle is a castle and estate in the city of Schleswig, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It is the ancestral home of the Holstein-Gottorp branch of the House of Oldenburg...
.
After Niels Juel
Niels Juel
Niels Juel was a Dano–Norwegian admiral. He was the brother of the diplomat Jens Juel.-Biography:Niels Juel was born the son of Erik Juel and Sophie Clausdatter Sehested, both were descendant of Danish nobility, who lived in Jutland where the father had a career as a local functionary and judge...
's death in 1697, the king arranged for her to take over his mansion, today known as the Thott Palace after a later owner and housing the French Embassy in Copenhagen
Embassy of France in Copenhagen
The French Embassy in Copenhagen is the main diplomatic mission of France to Denmark. It is located in the Thott Palace at Kongens Nytorv 4 in central Copenhagen, Denmark...
. Two years later Christian died and she lived a quiet life on her estate until her death in 1719, twenty years later. Christian Gyldenløve
Christian Gyldenløve
Christian Gyldenløve was one of five illegitimate children fathered by Christian V of Denmark with Sophie Amalie Moth. The others, all named Gyldenløve, were:* Christiane Gyldenløve * Sophie Christiane Gyldenløve...
, their oldest son, took over the mansion after her.
Children
Sophie Amalie's 5 acknowledged illegitimate children by Christian V were:- Christiane Gyldenløve (1672–1689)
- Christian GyldenløveChristian GyldenløveChristian Gyldenløve was one of five illegitimate children fathered by Christian V of Denmark with Sophie Amalie Moth. The others, all named Gyldenløve, were:* Christiane Gyldenløve * Sophie Christiane Gyldenløve...
(1674–1703) - Sophie Christiane Gyldenløve (b. 1675); died in childhood
- Anna Christiane Gyldenløve (b. 1676); died in childhood
- Ulrik Christian Gyldenløve (24 June 1678 – 8 December 1719)
Sources
- Sophie Amalie Moth (1654 - 1719) at Dansk Kvindebiografisk Leksikon (in Danish)