Steen Ottesen Brahe (1547–1620)
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Steen Ottesen Brahe (21 December 1547 – 11 April 1620) was a Danish privy counsellor and landowner.


Early life and education

Brahe was born on 21 December 1547 at Gladsaxehus in
Scania Scania, also known by its native name of Skåne (, ), is the southernmost of the historical provinces (''landskap'') of Sweden. Located in the south tip of the geographical region of Götaland, the province is roughly conterminous with Skån ...
, the son of Otte Thygesen Brahe of Knudstrup (1518–1571) and
Beate Clausdatter Bille Beate Clausdatter Bille (30 April 1526 – 18 October 1605) was a Danish noblewoman, a member of the royal court, Chief Lady-in-Waiting ( da, Hofmesterinde, corresponding to Mistress of the Robes in the UK) to Queen Sophie from 1584 to 1592, th ...
(1526–1605), He was the younger brother of
Tycho Brahe Tycho Brahe ( ; born Tyge Ottesen Brahe; generally called Tycho (14 December 154624 October 1601) was a Danish astronomer, known for his comprehensive astronomical observations, generally considered to be the most accurate of his time. He was ...
. He went to school in
Aarhus Aarhus (, , ; officially spelled Århus from 1948 until 1 January 2011) is the second-largest city in Denmark and the seat of Aarhus Municipality. It is located on the eastern shore of Jutland in the Kattegat sea and approximately northwe ...
and
Aalborg Aalborg (, , ) is Denmark's List of cities in Denmark by population, fourth largest town (behind Copenhagen, Aarhus, and Odense) with a population of 119,862 (1 July 2022) in the town proper and an Urban area, urban population of 143,598 (1 July ...
and was then trained in court life in Jensen Rosensparr'e household. He then visited count
Günther of Schwarzburg Günther, Guenther, Ginther, Gunther, and the variants Günter, Guenter, Guenther, Ginter, and Gunter, are Germanic names derived from ''Gunthere, Gunthari'', composed of '' *gunþiz'' "battle" ( Old Norse ''gunnr'') and ''heri, hari'' "army". Gu ...
and later followed him to Denmark and Hungary.


Marriage of Anne of Denmark and James VI of Scotland

In 1589 he was appointed Master of Household or Chamberlain to
Anne of Denmark Anne of Denmark (; 12 December 1574 – 2 March 1619) was the wife of King James VI and I; as such, she was Queen of Scotland from their marriage on 20 August 1589 and Queen of England and Ireland from the union of the Scottish and Eng ...
, who was betrothed to
James VI of Scotland James VI and I (James Charles Stuart; 19 June 1566 – 27 March 1625) was King of Scotland as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the Scottish and English crowns on 24 March 1603 until ...
. Brahe and the queen's servants set sail with the
Admiral Admiral is one of the highest ranks in some navies. In the Commonwealth nations and the United States, a "full" admiral is equivalent to a "full" general in the army or the air force, and is above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet ...
Peder Munk Peder Munk of Estvadgård (1534–1623), was a Danish navigator, politician, and ambassador, who was in charge of the fleet carrying Anne of Denmark to Scotland. The events of the voyage led to witch trials and executions in Denmark and Scotland ...
for Scotland. The wind drove them to stay on the coast of Norway. James VI joined them at
Oslo Oslo ( , , or ; sma, Oslove) is the capital and most populous city of Norway. It constitutes both a county and a municipality. The municipality of Oslo had a population of in 2022, while the city's greater urban area had a population of ...
. On 15 December 1589 James VI decided to reward Brahe and
Axel Gyldenstierne Axel Gyldenstierne (born c. 1542, died 13 July 1603 at Sandviken, Gotland) was a Danish-Norwegian official and Governor-general of Norway from 1588 until 1601. Northern Seven Years' War He is first mentioned in the records during the Northern Se ...
for their good service in attending Anne of Denmark and organising the reception and lodging of his retinue with a gift of silver plate. Brahe was given a basin, a laver, six cup with covers, and a salt. The cupboard of silver had been a gift from
Queen Elizabeth Queen Elizabeth, Queen Elisabeth or Elizabeth the Queen may refer to: Queens regnant * Elizabeth I (1533–1603; ), Queen of England and Ireland * Elizabeth II (1926–2022; ), Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms * Queen ...
. Brahe returned with
Steen Bille Steen Bille (1565–1629) was a Danish councillor and diplomat. He was the son of Jens Bille and Karen Rønnow, and is sometimes called "Steen Jensen Bille". His father compiled a manuscript of ballads, Jens Billes visebog. As a young man Bill ...
to Copenhagen. Brahe sailed with Anne and James to Scotland and attended her coronation on 17 May 1590. Steen Brahe came to London with Christian IV in June 1606, and King James gave him a gift of silver gilt plate.


Property

Brahe was a major landowner. He inherited half of Knudstrup after his father and bought the other half from his brother in 1594. He acquired Næsbyholm at Sorø and a house in Copenhagen ("Sigbrits Gård") through the marriage with his first wife. He constructed a new main building in 1585 but abandoned the house after she died in labour shortly after its completion. His second wife brought Barritskov and Bradskov into the marriage. He also carried out a comprehensive rebuilding of the main building at Barritskov. In 1581, he purchased
Bregentved Bregentved is a manor house located 3 km east of Haslev on the Danish island of Zealand. It has been owned by the Moltke family since the middle of the 18th century. History Early history The first known reference to Bregentved is from 1 ...
. He also inherited Tersløsegaard on Zealand (circa 1604), Hvedholm on Funen (1611) and Engelsholm in Jutland (1615).


Personal life

Brahe married three times. His first wife was Birgitte Rosenkrantz (1555–1588), a daughter of Otte Rosenkrantz and Ide Gjøe. They married on 18 September 1575 and she bore him seven children. His second wife was Kirstine Holck (1558–1599), a daughter of Hans Holck and Margrethe Rotfeldt and the widow of Hans Krafse til Egholm (died 1587). They were married on 6 September 1590 and she bore him two children. His children included Otte Steensen Brahe of Næsbyholm (died in 1651), Jørgen Steensen Brahe of Hvedholm (died 1661) and Tyge Brahe. His third wife was Sophie Rostrup Jørgensdatter. They had no children. Brahe died in 1620 at Kalundborg Castle and was buried at Kågerød Church in Scania.


References


External links


BRAHE, STEN (SSNE 638)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Steen Ottesen Brahe (1547-1620) 16th-century Danish landowners Ambassadors of Denmark to Scotland Brahe family 1547 births 1620 deaths