Jørgen Thygesen Brahe (''Jørgen Brahe til Tostrup i Skåne'') (1515 – 21 June 1565) was a member of the Danish

nobility Nobility is a social class found in many societies that have an aristocracy. It is normally appointed by and ranked immediately below royalty. Nobility has often been an estate of the realm with many exclusive functions and characteristics. T ...

Biography

He was the son of Danish Councillor Thyge Axelsen Brahe til Tostrup (d. 1523) and brother of privy council (''Rigsraad'') member Otte Brahe (1518–1571). He was married to Inger Johansdatter Oxe, sister of Peder Oxe (1520–1575), Steward of the Realm. His marriage was childless. He and his wife adopted his nephew, astronomer

Tycho Brahe Tycho Brahe ( ; ; born Tyge Ottesen Brahe, ; 14 December 154624 October 1601), generally called Tycho for short, was a Danish astronomer of the Renaissance, known for his comprehensive and unprecedentedly accurate astronomical observations. He ...

(1546–1601), when Tycho was two. He raised Tycho and provided him with an education. Jørgen inherited considerable wealth from his parents, which in terms of the social structure of the time made him eligible for a royal appointment as county

sheriff A sheriff is a government official, with varying duties, existing in some countries with historical ties to England where the office originated. There is an analogous, although independently developed, office in Iceland, the , which is common ...

. He was successively sheriff to Tranekjær (1542–49), Odensegaard (1549–52), Vordingborg Castle (1552–57), and finally (1555 until his death in 1565) to Queen Dorothea at Nykøbing Castle on Falster. By inheritance and purchase, he acquired substantial properties located principally in

Skåne Scania ( ), also known by its native name of Skåne (), is the southernmost of the historical provinces of Sweden, provinces () of Sweden. Located in the south tip of the geographical region of Götaland, the province is roughly conterminous w ...

Lolland Lolland (; formerly spelled ''Laaland'', literally "low land") is the List of islands of Denmark#List of 100 largest Danish islands, fourth largest island of Denmark, with an area of . Located in the Kattegat, Belts and Sund area, it is part of Re ...

and Fyn. His principal residence was at Tosterup Castle (''Tosterups slott'') in

Scania Scania ( ), also known by its native name of Skåne (), is the southernmost of the historical provinces of Sweden, provinces () of Sweden. Located in the south tip of the geographical region of Götaland, the province is roughly conterminous w ...

. During the

Northern Seven Years' War The Northern Seven Years' War (also known as the ''Nordic Seven Years' War'', the ''First Northern War,'' the ''Seven Years' War of the North'' or the ''Seven Years War in Scandinavia'') was fought between the Kingdom of Sweden (1523–1611), K ...

, he distinguished himself in naval warfare. He was captured at the Battle of Öland (''Slaget ved Øland'') in 1564 in association with sinking of ''Makalös'', the largest warship of the

Baltic Sea The Baltic Sea is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that is enclosed by the countries of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Sweden, and the North European Plain, North and Central European Plain regions. It is the ...

. He later distinguished himself at the Battle of Rügen in June 1565. He died that same year from a disease he had contracted while rescuing King

Frederick II of Denmark Frederick II (1 July 1534 – 4 April 1588) was King of Denmark-Norway, Denmark and Norway and Duke of Duchy of Schleswig, Schleswig and Duchy of Holstein, Holstein from 1559 until his death in 1588. A member of the House of Oldenburg, Fre ...

when his horse was thrown into the water at Højbro, the bridge leading over to Slotsholmen.Pierre Gassendi, ''Tycho Brahe, the man and his work'' (original in Latin by

Pierre Gassendi Pierre Gassendi (; also Pierre Gassend, Petrus Gassendi, Petrus Gassendus; 22 January 1592 – 24 October 1655) was a French philosopher, Catholic priest, astronomer, and mathematician. While he held a church position in south-east France, he a ...

, 1654, this book was translated into Swedish and commented by Wilhelm Norlind, 1951)

References

16th-century Danish nobility 16th-century Danish landowners Brahe family 16th-century Danish military personnel 1515 births 1565 deaths {{Europe-noble-stub