![Marselis epitaph (trio)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a9/Marselis_epitaph_%28trio%29.jpg)
Constantin Marselis, or Constantijn Marselis (28 November 1647 - 16 June 1699), was a nobleman of the wealthy Dutch
Marselis Marselis is a Dutch surname, given to the wealthy Marselis family. Notable people with this surname include:
*Gabriel Marselis, Dutch tradesman and landowner
*Constantin Marselis, Dutch nobleman
* Selius Marselis, Dutch-Norwegian tradesman
* Gabrie ...
family.
Biography
![Constantinsborg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7a/Constantinsborg.jpg)
Constantin Marselis was born in Amsterdam as the younger son of
Gabriel Marselis (1609–1673) and
Isabeau van Straaten. He had an elder brother
Vilhelm Marselis (1643-1683) who was fief baron of Güldencrone.
In 1667, the King of Denmark
Frederik III sent for both Constantin and Vilhelm, to take over two of their father's Danish estates near
Aarhus; ''Stadsgård'' and ''Havreballegård''. At the same time, they were appointed as
Junker
Junker ( da, Junker, german: Junker, nl, Jonkheer, en, Yunker, no, Junker, sv, Junker ka, იუნკერი (Iunkeri)) is a noble honorific, derived from Middle High German ''Juncherre'', meaning "young nobleman"Duden; Meaning of Junke ...
s of the Danish court. In 1668 they were appointed as
Kammerjunker
''Valet de chambre'' (), or ''varlet de chambre'', was a court appointment introduced in the late Middle Ages, common from the 14th century onwards. Royal households had many persons appointed at any time. While some valets simply waited on t ...
s.
Shortly after the King's death in February 1670, Constantin Marselis married Sophie Elisabeth Charisius (1647-1706). He and his wife took residence on Stadsgård. After years of neglect from his father and damages from the constant wars with
Sweden in the
Second Northern War, Constantin renovated Stadsgård extensively. When the manor was finished in 1677, he renamed it to
Constantinsborg, a name it retains to the present.
In 1680, he became a
baron of the Havreballegård estate just south of
Aarhus and at the same time renamed the manor ''
Marselisborg''. Constantin died childless in 1699, and the barony of Marselisborg went to the Crown.
After his death, his widow Sophie initiated a
sepulchral for him, herself and her new husband Peter Rodsteen in the
Aarhus Cathedral
Aarhus Cathedral ( da, Århus Domkirke) is a cathedral in Aarhus, Denmark. It is the longest and tallest church in the country, at in length and in height.
The construction of Aarhus Cathedral began in the 12th century and it is the main edific ...
and a richly decorated
epitaph
An epitaph (; ) is a short text honoring a deceased person. Strictly speaking, it refers to text that is inscribed on a tombstone or plaque, but it may also be used in a figurative sense. Some epitaphs are specified by the person themselves be ...
can be seen here today.
Constantinsborg
Constantinsborg Manor house is situated just south of the new lake of
Årslev Engsø, a few kilometres west of Aarhus. It is still a manor for the Constantinsborg Estate and is currently owned by the
Holch Povlsen family. The estate is part of the
Global Gap certified food production company ''De 5 Gaarde'' (lit.: The 5 Farms), in collaboration with four other Danish Estates.
GLOBAL G.A.P.
/ref>
References
Other Sources
* Harris, Poul: ''Marselis-slægten, blade af dens historie'' Viby J, Centrum 1980.
* Lauridsen, John T.: ''Marselis konsortiet: En studie over forholdet mellem handelskapital og kongemagt i 1600-tallets Danmark'' Aarhus, Jysk Selskab for Historie 1987 (disputats).
* Jensen, Bernhardt og Peder Jensen: ''Marselisborgskovene'' Aarhus, Universitetsforlaget Aarhus 1974.
1647 births
1699 deaths
Nobility from Amsterdam
People from Aarhus
Barons of Denmark
17th-century Danish landowners
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