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Sophie of Mecklenburg-Güstrow (4 September 1557, Wismar – 14 October 1631, Nykoping) was a German noblewoman and Queen of Denmark and Norway. She was the mother of King Christian IV of Denmark.
[edit] Early lifeShe was the daughter of Duke Ulrich III of Mecklenburg-Güstrow and Princess Elizabeth of Denmark (a daughter of Frederick I and Sophie of Pomerania). Through her father, a grandson of Elizabeth of Oldenburg, she descended from King Hans of Denmark. She inherited from Ulrich a great love of knowledge. Later, she would be known as one of the most learned Queens of the time. [edit] Marriage and ChildrenSophie married her husband and cousin, Frederick II of Denmark, at fourteen; he was thirty-seven. The marriage was arranged by the Danish Council, who wished the King to marry. King Frederick married her after being barred from marrying Anne of Hardenberg, the daughter of the Lord Chancellor. Despite the age difference between Sophie and Frederick, the marriage was described as harmonious. Queen Sophie was a loving mother, nursing her children personally during their illnesses. Because her husband was well known for vast meals, heavy drinking, and restless behavior which included unfaithfulness, she sent her three eldest children to live with her parents in Güstrow for their early years. She showed a keen interest in science and visited the astronomer Tycho Brahe. She was also interested in the old songs from folklore. She also proved a diligent matchmaker. Her daughter, Anne of Denmark, would marry James I of England and become Queen Consort in 1589. She arranged the marriage against the will of the Council. On 20 July 1572, in Copenhagen, she married Frederick II of Denmark. They had eight children, seven of whom lived to adulthood:
[edit] Later lifeQueen Sophie had no political power while her husband was alive. When her underage son Christian IV was declared King in 1588, she was given no place in the Regency Council in Denmark itself. However, she acted as Regent for the Duchies of Schleswig-Holstein for her son from 1590. She arranged for a grand funeral for her spouse, arranged the dowries for her daughters and her own allowance, all against the will of the Council. She was engaged in a power struggle with the Regents of Denmark and The Council of State, which had Christian declared of age in 1593. She wished the Duchies to be divided between her younger sons, which caused a conflict. Sophie only gave up her position the following year, 1594. As such, she came into conflict with the Government, which exiled her to the Palace of Nykøbing Slot on the island of Falster. She spent her time there in the study of chemistry, astronomy and other sciences. The Dowager Queen Sophie managed her estates in Lolland-Falster so well that her son had to borrow money from her on several occasions for his warfares. She was also engaged in large-scale trade and money-lending. She often visited Mecklenburg, and was present at her daughter's wedding in Dresden in 1602. In 1603, she became involved in a inheritance dispute with her uncle, which remained unsolved at his death in 1610. She also renovated Nykøbing Slot. Sophie died as the richest woman in Northern Europe at age seventy-four. [edit] External links and references
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