Frederick II of Denmark

Frederick II (1534–1588) was King of Denmark and Norway from 1559 until his death[1][4], born on July 1, 1534, at Haderslev[1] and the eldest son of Christian III, King of Denmark and Norway, and Dorothea of Saxe-Lauenburg[2].

Early Life and Succession

At the age of two, Frederick was proclaimed successor to the throne at the Rigsdag of Copenhagen on October 30, 1536, and homage was done to him at Oslo for Norway in 1548[4]. The choice of his governor, the patriotic historiographer Hans Svaning, ensured the devotion of the future king to everything Danish, though Svaning was a poor pedagogue, and the wild and wayward lad suffered all his life from the defects of his early training[4]. When Frederik was eight years old, he traveled around Denmark so the people could see the heir to the throne[2].

Frederick succeeded his father, Christian III, in 1559 as king of Denmark and Norway[1][2] and was crowned on August 20, 1559, at the Church of Our Lady in Copenhagen[2].

The Seven Years' War of the North

Frederick's competition with Sweden for supremacy in the Baltic broke out into open warfare in 1563, the start of the Seven Years' War of the North[1]. Frederick hoped to take over Sweden and resurrect the Kalmar Union of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden[1]. During the war, which was marked by extraordinary ferocity throughout, the Danes were generally victorious on land owing to the genius of Daniel Rantzau, but at sea the Swedes were almost uniformly triumphant[4].

He was unable to gain any military advantage in the war, however, and reluctantly signed the Peace of Stettin with Sweden in 1570[1]. Sweden remained independent and shared control of Baltic coastal territories with Denmark[1]. By 1570 the strife had degenerated into a barbarous devastation of border provinces[4], and the conflict ended with a costly and modest Danish victory[3].

Economic Recovery and Sound Dues

In the postwar years of his reign, Frederick concentrated on rebuilding Denmark's damaged economy and defenses[1]. His chief adviser, Peder Okse, taxed the nobles and successfully maintained the toll Denmark imposed on shipping through The Sound (Øresund) to the Baltic Sea, a route crucial to the economies of the major north European nations[1]. The toll revenues provided a key support for the Danish economy, which then also benefited from reduced competition from the trading centres of the Hanseatic League[1].

After state finances collapsed during the years 1566 to 1567, Frederik called Peder Oxe home to address the kingdom's economy. The taking over of Danish administration and finances by the able councillor provided a marked improvement for the national treasury[8]. Subsequently government finances were put in order and Denmark's economy improved.[8] This was a period of affluence and growth in Danish history.

Architectural Legacy and Kronborg Castle

Maintaining Danish control of the Baltic waters, Frederick cleared pirates from the seas adjacent to Denmark and built Kronborg Castle at Elsinore to guard The Sound[1]. Construction of Kronborg began in 1574 and took around 12 years - an impressive achievement for the time[3]. Built to awe and intimidate, it was not only a magnificent royal residence but also a strategic fortress, securing Denmark's control over the vital trade routes in the Sound[3].

The castle soon gained fame, attracting diplomats, royalty, and artists from all over the continent. It was here that Frederick II showcased his power and vision for Denmark and threw some of the wildest parties in all of Europe[3]. In the 1570s, he built Kronborg, a large Renaissance castle that became famous. Its dance hall was the biggest in Northern Europe at the time[14].

Patronage of Science and Tycho Brahe

Also a great patron of science and the arts, he granted the Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe the island of Ven, near Copenhagen, and gave him the means to found an observatory there[1]. His most significant contribution was his patronage of Tycho Brahe, whom he provided with the island of Ven to establish Uraniborg, one of the most advanced observatories of the period[12]. He gave it to Tycho Brahe and said: "I want you to continue to pursue your studies because you will bring fame to the Kingdom of Denmark. I want you to do it on that island within sight of the new castle that I'm building here. That will be the showplace of the realm and I want your little island to be part of that showplace"[15].

From 1576 until he was asked to leave by Christian IV in 1597, Brahe ran the first scientific research center in Europe that was paid for by the government[14]. Brahe's astronomical work laid the groundwork for future scientific discoveries, including those of Johannes Kepler[12].

Marriage and Family

On July 20, 1572, in Copenhagen, Denmark, Frederik II married Sophie[2] of Mecklenburg-Güstrow. Despite a 23-year age difference, Frederik and Sophie had a happy marriage[2]. In 1572, at the age of 38, Frederick II married his young cousin Sophie, making it one of the happiest royal marriages in Europe. Their relationship became one of the happiest royal marriages in Europe[11].

He had seven children with Sophie of Mecklenburg, including the future king Christian IV[3]. In the first ten years after their wedding night, they had seven children, and Sophie was always in the king's thoughts[11].

Character and Personal Life

As a person Frederick was often described as hot-headed, vain, courageous and ambitious[8]. Frederick II stands as the typical renaissance ruler of Denmark. He was a lover of hunting, wine, women and feasts[8]. He is also remarkable as one of the few kings of the house of Oldenburg who had no illicit liaison[4].

Frederick II was severely dyslexic and preferred to avoid writing letters unless it was to his closest associates[3]. Among other things he never learned to write the danish language correctly[5].

Death and Legacy

Frederick II died on April 4, 1588, at Antvorskov[1][4]. When he died, the minister Anders S. Vedel revealed in his sermon, that the death of the king was the result of his excessive consumption of alcohol[5]. No other Danish king was ever so beloved by his people[4].

His ambition was to put Denmark firmly on the European map as a major political and cultural power. Building Kronborg was among his greatest achievements - a striking symbol of his authority and refined taste, and a clear statement of Denmark's role as a key power in Northern Europe[3]. For the rest of his reign, he focused on asserting Denmark's dominance in the Nordic region through peaceful tools of power such as art, science, and architecture[3].