Louise of Mecklenburg-Güstrow

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Louise of Mecklenburg-Güstrow (28 August 1667 – 15 March 1721) was Queen consort of Denmark and Norway as the first wife of the King Frederick IV of Denmark.

She was born in Güstrow in the family of Duke Gustav Adolf of Mecklenburg-Güstrow and Magdalene Sibylle of Holstein-Gottorp. Her maternal grandparents were Frederick III of Holstein-Gottorp and Marie Elisabeth of Saxony.

On 5 December 1695, Louise married to Crown Prince Frederik and became Queen consort of Denmark in 1699. Their only children who reached maturity were King Christian VI of Denmark and Princess Charlotte Amalie of Denmark.

Louise lived quietly at the Danish Court. Unlike Frederick IV she never gained popularity with the population. Queen Louise suffered because of her husband's infidelity, which caused embarrassing scenes at the Court. Frederick even entered two morganatic marriages; in 1703, he committed bigamy with Elisabeth Helene von Vieregg, and in 1712 with Anna Sophie Reventlow. He raised Anna Sophie Reventlow to the status of Queen just days after Louise's death. Despite his bigamous relationships, the queen, ever mindful of duty, continued to bear him children. Queen Louise was close to her son Christian. She was strongly influenced by Pietism and she sought solace in religion. Her main interest was reading religious books. In 1708-09, she was regent during her husband's trip to Italy.

Rosenborg was completely abandoned as a Royal residence while Louise was Queen. The building of a new summer residence, Frederiksborg Palace, began in 1699 and was ready for occupation in 1703.

She died in Copenhagen and was buried in the Roskilde Cathedral.

[edit] Children

• Christian (28 June 1697-1 October 1698)
• King Christian VI of Denmark (10 December 1699-6 August 1746)
• Frederik Charles (23 October 1701-7 Jan 1702)
• George (6 January 1703-12 March 1704)
• Princess Charlotte Amalie of Denmark (6 October 1706-28 October 1782)

[edit] Ancestry

v • d • e Ancestors of Louise of Mecklenburg-Güstrow

16. Johann Albert I, Duke of Mecklenburg-Güstrow and Schwerin               8. Johann VII, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin                       17. Duchess Anna Sophie of Prussia               4. Johann Albrecht II, Duke of Mecklenburg-Güstrow                             18. Adolf, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp (=#24)               9. Princess Sophie of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp                       19. Landgravine Christine of Hesse (=#25)               2. Gustav Adolf, Duke of Mecklenburg-Güstrow                                   20. Joachim Ernest, Prince of Anhalt               10. Christian I, Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg                       21. Countess Agnes of Barby-Mühlingen               5. Princess Eleonore Marie of Anhalt-Bernburg                             22. Arnold III, Count of Bentheim-Steinfurt-Tecklenburg-Limburg               11. Countess Anna of Bentheim-Tecklenburg                       23. Countess Magdalena of Neuenahr and of Limburg               1. Louise of Mecklenburg-Güstrow                                         24. Adolf, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp (=#18)               12. John Adolf, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp                       25. Landgravine Christine of Hesse (=#19)               6. Frederick III, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp                             26. Frederick II of Denmark               13. Princess Augusta of Denmark                       27. Sophie of Mecklenburg-Güstrow               3. Princess Magdalene Sibylle of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp                                   28. Christian I, Elector of Saxony               14. John George I, Elector of Saxony                       29. Margravine Sophie of Brandenburg               7. Duchess Marie Elisabeth of Saxony                             30. Albert Frederick, Duke of Prussia               15. Duchess Magdalene Sibylle of Prussia                       31. Duchess Marie Eleonore of Cleves

[edit] External links

• (English) History of the Rosenborg Castle
• (Danish) Article in the Dansk biografisk Lexikon
• http://www.guide2womenleaders.com/womeninpower/Danske-Ledere.htm

Danish royalty
Preceded by Charlotte Amalie of Hesse-Kassel	Queen Consort of Denmark 1699-1721	Succeeded by Anne Sophie Reventlow
	Queen Consort of Norway 1699-1721