Princess Christiana of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, often referred to as ''Christiane'' (22 September 1634 in
Copenhagen – 20 May 1701 at
Delitzsch
Delitzsch (; Slavic: ''delč'' or ''delcz'' for hill) is a town in Saxony in Germany, 20 km north of Leipzig and 30 km east of Halle (Saale). With 24,850 inhabitants at the end of 2015, it is the largest town in the district of Nordsach ...
Castle) was the consort of
Christian I, Duke of Saxe-Merseburg, who was the ruling
Duke of
Saxe-Merseburg from 1650 until his death.
Life
Christiana was the fourth daughter, and the ninth of 15 children,
[Essegern, p. 383] of
Philip, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg and his wife, Sophie Hedwig of Saxe-Lauenburg. Christiana was born in
Copenhagen,
Denmark. She was raised by
Magdalene Sibylle of Saxony, the widow of the Danish
Crown Prince, at her widow seat
Nyköpingshus.
On 19 November 1650, at the age of 16, Christiana married at
Dresden Castle to
Christian I, Duke of Saxe-Merseburg, the third son of
Prince-Elector John George I of Saxony and his second wife,
Duchess Magdalene Sibylle of Prussia. This was part of a double wedding: Christiana's elder sister Sophie Hedwig married Christian's younger brother
Maurice. The double wedding was followed by four weeks of celebrations, including ballet and other performances, tournaments, parades and fireworks.
After her husband died in 1691, Christiana retreated to her
widow seat,
Delitzsch
Delitzsch (; Slavic: ''delč'' or ''delcz'' for hill) is a town in Saxony in Germany, 20 km north of Leipzig and 30 km east of Halle (Saale). With 24,850 inhabitants at the end of 2015, it is the largest town in the district of Nordsach ...
Castle, which she had received in 1688, replacing the earlier
jointure Sangerhausen Castle.
[Essegern, p. 416] Delitzsch Castle had been renovated and remodeled to serve as her residence, however, the renovated had not been completed when she moved in on 31 May 1692. During her time at Delitsch, Christiana added a
French formal garden to the castle.
Marriage and issue
Christian and Christiana had eleven children:
* Magdalene Sophie (19 October 1651 in
Dresden – 29 March 1675 in
Merseburg)
* John George (4 December 1652 in Merseburg – 3 January 1654 in Merseburg)
*
Christian II, Duke of Saxe-Merseburg (19 November 1653 in Merseburg – 20 October 1694 in Merseburg), inherited Merseburg.
*
August (15 February 1655 in Merseburg, 15 February 1655 – 27 March 1715 in
Zörbig), inherited Zörbig.
* Stillborn son (1 February 1656 in Merseburg)
*
Philip
Philip, also Phillip, is a male given name, derived from the Greek (''Philippos'', lit. "horse-loving" or "fond of horses"), from a compound of (''philos'', "dear", "loved", "loving") and (''hippos'', "horse"). Prominent Philips who popularize ...
(26 October 1657 in Merseburg – killed in action on 1 July 1690 at
Fleurus); inherited Lauchstädt.
*
Christiane Christiane is a given name, a form of the Latin ''Christiana'', feminine form of ''Christianuis'' (see Christian), or a Latinized form of Middle English ''Christin'' 'Christian' (Old English ''christen'', from Latin)..
A short form is Chris. Alter ...
(1 June 1659 Merseburg – 13 March 1679 in
Eisenberg Eisenberg is a German name in geography and a surname. Literally translated it means ″iron mountain″. ''Eisenberg'' may refer to:
Mountains
* Eisenberg (Knüll), a mountain in Hesse
* Eisenberg (Korbach), a mountain in Hesse
* Eisenberg (Ore ...
), married on 13 February 1677 to
Christian, Duke of Saxe-Eisenberg.
*
Sophie Hedwig (4 August 1660 in Merseburg – 2 August 1686 in
Saalfeld), married on 18 February 1680 to
Johann Ernst, Duke of Saxe-Saalfeld.
*
Heinrich, Duke of Saxe-Merseburg (2 September 1661 in Merseburg – 28 July 1738 in
Doberlug
Doberlug-Kirchhain ( dsb, Dobrjoług-Góstkow) is a German town in the district of Elbe-Elster, Lower Lusatia, Brandenburg.
History
937. The town of Kirchhain was built by Margrave Gero. A document written in 1005 mentions the town Doberlug ('' ...
), inherited Spremberg; later (1731) also inherited Merseburg.
* Maurice (29 October 1662 in Merseburg – 21 April 1664 in Merseburg)
* Sibylle Maria (28 October 1667 in Merseburg – 9 October 1693 in
Bernstadt); married on 27 October 1683 to
Christian Ulrich I, Duke of Württemberg-Oels.
References
Bibliography
* Ute Essegern: ''Fürstinnen am kursächsischen Hof. Lebenskonzepte und Lebensläufe zwischen Familie, Hof und Politik in der ersten Hälfte des 17. Jahrhunderts'', in the series ''Schriften zur sächsischen Geschichte und Volkskunde'', vol. 19, Leipziger Universitätsverlag, Leipzig, 2007, , p. 383–385
Abstract online
* Uta Deppe: ''Die Festkultur am Dresdner Hofe Johann Georgs II. von Sachsen (1660–1679)'', in the series ''Bau + Kunst. Schleswig-Holsteinische Schriften zur Kunstgeschichte'', vol. 13, Ludwig, Kiel, 2006, , p. 14
Online.
External links
viewed on 25 August 2011
{{Authority control
House of Oldenburg in Schleswig-Holstein
1634 births
1701 deaths
German duchesses
17th-century German people
Duchesses of Saxe-Merseburg
⚭Christiana of Schleswigholsteinsonderburgglucksburg