Ulrik Frederik Gyldenløve, Count of Laurvig
Encyclopedia
Ulrik Frederik Gyldenløve, Count of Laurvig (20 July 1638 – 1704) was a statesman and the leading Norwegian general in the Scanian War
, whose Norway
-related portion is conventionally named "the Gyldenløve War", after him. He was the illegitimate son of King Frederick III of Denmark and Norway
by Margarethe Pape.
, Germany
, the illegitimate son of Prince Frederick, later King Frederick III of Denmark
, who was at the time Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen
and coadjutor of the Bishopric of Halberstadt
. His mother was Margrethe Pape who was made Baronesse of Løvendal by King Christian IV
in 15 September that same year.
When his father became King of Denmark in 1648, Ulrik Frederik assumed the name Gyldenløve
which was used by illegitimate sons of Danish kings.
During the first half of the 1650s, he traveled in Europe, visiting both France
, Italy
and Spain
. On 21 August 1655 he became a naturalised Danish noble.
) to Norway. He studied conditions in Norway very carefully, and became a strong advocate for many important reforms, such as a simplified tax system and the establishment of a Court of appeals in Norway separate from the one in Denmark. He is also remembered for his role in the construction and improvement of nine fortresses along the Swedish border.
Gyldenløve took part in the 17th-century Dano-Swedish war
s where he was particularly successful at the Battle of Nyborg on 14 November 1659. In 1666, he became commander-in-chief of the Norwegian army which was victorious in the Scanian War
s (1675–1679).
In 1671, Gyldenløve founded the city of Laurvig (modern-day Larvik
), and was named Count of Laurvig. In Larvik, he is remembered for the construction of its main church as well as Herregården (Manor House), which is still one of the largest wooden structures in Norway.
Gyldenløve implemented Hannibal Sehested
's reforms on taxation, defence and justice and protected the tenant farmer
s. He was also active in Danish politics from 1670 in association with Peder Griffenfeld
.
, began on 3 April 1672 when Frederick III laid the first stone for his illegitimate son.
, from whom he divorced in 1670. His two first marriages ended in divorces. According to contemporary stories, he also had an amorous relationship with count Peder Griffenfeld
, who went on to become a leading statesman in Denmark-Norway.
Through his daughter countess Charlotte Amalie af Laurvig, and her daughter Countess Frederikke Louise Danneskiold-Samsø, count Ulrik Frederik became the ancestor of the Dukes of Augustenborg and thus for example of Frederick VIII, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein
.
Scanian War
The Scanian War was a part of the Northern Wars involving the union of Denmark-Norway, Brandenburg and Sweden. It was fought mainly on Scanian soil, in the former Danish provinces along the border with Sweden and in Northern Germany...
, whose Norway
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...
-related portion is conventionally named "the Gyldenløve War", after him. He was the illegitimate son of King Frederick III of Denmark and Norway
Frederick III of Denmark
Frederick III was king of Denmark and Norway from 1648 until his death. He instituted absolute monarchy in Denmark and Norway in 1660, confirmed by law in 1665 as the first in western historiography. He was born the second-eldest son of Christian IV of Denmark and Anne Catherine of Brandenburg...
by Margarethe Pape.
Early life
Gyldenløve was born in BremenBremen
The City Municipality of Bremen is a Hanseatic city in northwestern Germany. A commercial and industrial city with a major port on the river Weser, Bremen is part of the Bremen-Oldenburg metropolitan area . Bremen is the second most populous city in North Germany and tenth in Germany.Bremen is...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, the illegitimate son of Prince Frederick, later King Frederick III of Denmark
Frederick III of Denmark
Frederick III was king of Denmark and Norway from 1648 until his death. He instituted absolute monarchy in Denmark and Norway in 1660, confirmed by law in 1665 as the first in western historiography. He was born the second-eldest son of Christian IV of Denmark and Anne Catherine of Brandenburg...
, who was at the time Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen
Archbishopric of Bremen
The Archdiocese of Bremen was a historical Roman Catholic diocese and formed from 1180 to 1648 an ecclesiastical state , named Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen within the Holy Roman Empire...
and coadjutor of the Bishopric of Halberstadt
Bishopric of Halberstadt
The Bishopric of Halberstadt was a Roman Catholic diocese from 804 until 1648 and an ecclesiastical state of the Holy Roman Empire from the late Middle Ages...
. His mother was Margrethe Pape who was made Baronesse of Løvendal by King Christian IV
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...
in 15 September that same year.
When his father became King of Denmark in 1648, Ulrik Frederik assumed the name Gyldenløve
Gyldenløve
Gyldenløve is the name of two important noble families in Danish and Norwegian history. The first Gyldenløve family belonged to the Norwegian high nobility...
which was used by illegitimate sons of Danish kings.
During the first half of the 1650s, he traveled in Europe, visiting both France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. On 21 August 1655 he became a naturalised Danish noble.
Civil career and holdings in Norway
In 1664 Gyldenløve was appointed Statholder (viceroyViceroy
A viceroy is a royal official who runs a country, colony, or province in the name of and as representative of the monarch. The term derives from the Latin prefix vice-, meaning "in the place of" and the French word roi, meaning king. A viceroy's province or larger territory is called a viceroyalty...
) to Norway. He studied conditions in Norway very carefully, and became a strong advocate for many important reforms, such as a simplified tax system and the establishment of a Court of appeals in Norway separate from the one in Denmark. He is also remembered for his role in the construction and improvement of nine fortresses along the Swedish border.
Gyldenløve took part in the 17th-century Dano-Swedish war
Dano-Swedish war
Dano-Swedish War may refer to one of many wars between Denmark-Norway and Sweden:*Dano-Swedish War *Swedish War of Liberation *Northern Seven Years' War *Kalmar War *Torstenson War...
s where he was particularly successful at the Battle of Nyborg on 14 November 1659. In 1666, he became commander-in-chief of the Norwegian army which was victorious in the Scanian War
Scanian War
The Scanian War was a part of the Northern Wars involving the union of Denmark-Norway, Brandenburg and Sweden. It was fought mainly on Scanian soil, in the former Danish provinces along the border with Sweden and in Northern Germany...
s (1675–1679).
In 1671, Gyldenløve founded the city of Laurvig (modern-day Larvik
Larvik
is a city and municipality in Vestfold county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Larvik. Larvik kommune - has about 41 364 inhabitants and covers 530 km2....
), and was named Count of Laurvig. In Larvik, he is remembered for the construction of its main church as well as Herregården (Manor House), which is still one of the largest wooden structures in Norway.
Gyldenløve implemented Hannibal Sehested
Hannibal Sehested (governor)
Hannibal Sehested was a Danish statesman and Governor of Norway.He was born at Arensborg Castle on Øsel, Son of Claus Maltesen Sehested. After being educated abroad, he returned to Denmark in 1632 and was attached to the court of King Christian IV...
's reforms on taxation, defence and justice and protected the tenant farmer
Tenant farmer
A tenant farmer is one who resides on and farms land owned by a landlord. Tenant farming is an agricultural production system in which landowners contribute their land and often a measure of operating capital and management; while tenant farmers contribute their labor along with at times varying...
s. He was also active in Danish politics from 1670 in association with 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...
.
Career and holdings in Denmark
The construction of Gyldenløves Palace in Copenhagen, later to be known as Charlottenborg PalaceCharlottenborg Palace
Charlottenborg Palace is a large town mansion located on the corner of Kongens Nytorv and Nyhavn in Copenhagen, Denmark. Originally built as a residence for Ulrik Frederik Gyldenløve, it has served as the base of the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts since its foundation in 1754...
, began on 3 April 1672 when Frederick III laid the first stone for his illegitimate son.
Family
Count Ulrik Frederik married thrice: once to the famous Marie GrubbeMarie Grubbe
Marie Grubbe was a Danish noble who drew a lot of attention by her love life. She has been the inspiration for books, plays and operas.- Biography :Daughter of a statesman, noble Erik Grubbe and Maren Juul...
, from whom he divorced in 1670. His two first marriages ended in divorces. According to contemporary stories, he also had an amorous relationship with count 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...
, who went on to become a leading statesman in Denmark-Norway.
Through his daughter countess Charlotte Amalie af Laurvig, and her daughter Countess Frederikke Louise Danneskiold-Samsø, count Ulrik Frederik became the ancestor of the Dukes of Augustenborg and thus for example of Frederick VIII, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein
Frederick VIII, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein
Duke Frederick VIII , succeeded nominally as the Duke of Schleswig-Holstein from 1863 while Prussia actually took overlordship and real administrative power.-Life:...
.
Other sources
- A History of Norway by Karen Larson, Princeton University Press, 1948
- The History of the Norwegian People by Knut Gjerset, MacMillan, 1915
- Ulrik Frederik Gyldenløve by O. v. Munthe af Morgenstierne, Munskgaard, 1944 (in Danish).