Ulrik Frederik Gyldenløve, Count of Laurvig (20 July 1638 – 17 April 1704) was
Governor-general of Norway (''Stattholdere i Norge'') from 1664–1699.
He was the leading general in Norway during the
Scanian War
The Scanian War ( da, Skånske Krig, , sv, Skånska kriget, german: Schonischer Krieg) was a part of the Northern Wars involving the union of Denmark–Norway, Brandenburg and Sweden. It was fought from 1675 to 1679 mainly on Scanian soil, ...
, whose Norwegian leg is conventionally named the
Gyldenløve War
The Scanian War ( da, Skånske Krig, , sv, Skånska kriget, german: Schonischer Krieg) was a part of the Northern Wars involving the union of Denmark–Norway, Brandenburg and Sweden. It was fought from 1675 to 1679 mainly on Scanian soil ...
after him.
Early life
Gyldenløve was born in
Bremen
Bremen (Low German also: ''Breem'' or ''Bräm''), officially the City Municipality of Bremen (german: Stadtgemeinde Bremen, ), is the capital of the Germany, German States of Germany, state Bremen (state), Free Hanseatic City of Bremen (''Freie H ...
,
Germany
Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG),, is a country in Central Europe. It is the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany lies between the Baltic and North Sea to the north and the Alps to the sou ...
, the illegitimate son of Prince Frederick, later King
Frederick III of Denmark, who was at the time
Prince-Archbishop of Bremen and coadjutor of the
Bishopric of Halberstadt
The Diocese of Halberstadt was a Roman Catholic diocese (german: Bistum Halberstadt) from 804 until 1648. . His mother was
Margrethe Pape Margrethe Pape (1620–1684) was a Danish baroness. She was the mistress of King Frederick III of Denmark and the mother of Ulrik Frederik Gyldenløve
Ulrik Frederik Gyldenløve, Count of Laurvig (20 July 1638 – 17 April 1704) was Governor-gener ...
, (1620–1684) who was made Baronesse of Løvendal by King
Christian IV
Christian IV (12 April 1577 – 28 February 1648) was King of Denmark and Norway and Duke of Holstein and Schleswig from 1588 until his death in 1648. His reign of 59 years, 330 days is the longest of Danish monarchs and Scandinavian mona ...
on September 15 that same year. When his father became King of
Denmark-Norway in 1648, Ulrik Frederik assumed the surname
Gyldenløve which was used by illegitimate sons of Danish kings.
During the first half of the 1650s, he traveled in Europe, visiting
France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan ar ...
,
Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...
and
Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg
, national_motto = '' Plus ultra'' ( Latin)(English: "Further Beyond")
, national_anthem = (English: "Royal March")
, ...
. He attended the
University of Siena
The University of Siena ( it, Università degli Studi di Siena, abbreviation: UNISI) in Siena, Tuscany, is one of the oldest and first publicly funded universities in Italy. Originally called ''Studium Senese'', the institution was founded in 1240 ...
in 1654 and in
Rome
, established_title = Founded
, established_date = 753 BC
, founder = King Romulus ( legendary)
, image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg
, map_caption ...
in 1655.
On 21 August 1655 he became a naturalised Danish noble.
Military career
In 1661, he was put in charge at
Vordingborg
Vordingborg () is an old ferry town in Vordingborg Municipality in Denmark with around 18,000 inhabitants. Because of three large estates surrounding the town, a coherent urban development has not been possible, which is the reason why three sat ...
and appointed commander
Kalø Castle in
Ã…rhus
Aarhus (, , ; officially spelled Ã…rhus 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 north ...
.
In 1657 he became colonel in Norway. Gyldenlove participated in the
Dano-Swedish War (1658–1660)
The Dano-Swedish War of 1658–1660 was a war between Denmark–Norway and Sweden, with the former backed by the Dutch Republic and Poland. It is known in Denmark as the Second Karl Gustav War ( da, Anden Karl Gustav-krig), in Norway as Bjelke ...
, where he distinguished himself in the
Battle of Nyborg on 14 November 1659.
Civil career and holdings in Norway
In 1664 Gyldenløve was appointed
viceroy
A viceroy () is an official who reigns over a polity in the name of and as the representative of the monarch of the territory. The term derives from the Latin prefix ''vice-'', meaning "in the place of" and the French word ''roy'', meaning "k ...
(''Statholder'') of Norway, replacing
Iver Krabbe
Iver Krabbe (March 22, 1602 – October 30, 1666) was a Danish nobleman, military officer, and governor-general in Norway.
Biography
Iver Krabbe was born at Övedskloster Manor in the province of Scania in eastern Denmark, the son of Tage Kra ...
(1602- 1666). He studied conditions in Norway very carefully, and became a strong advocate for many important reforms, such as a simplified tax system and the establishment of a Court of appeals in Norway separate from the one in Denmark. He is also remembered for his role in the construction and improvement of nine fortresses along the Swedish border.
Gyldenløve took part in the 17th-century
Dano-Swedish wars where he was particularly successful at the
Battle of Nyborg on 14 November 1659. In 1666, he became commander-in-chief of the Norwegian army which was victorious in the
Scanian War
The Scanian War ( da, Skånske Krig, , sv, Skånska kriget, german: Schonischer Krieg) was a part of the Northern Wars involving the union of Denmark–Norway, Brandenburg and Sweden. It was fought from 1675 to 1679 mainly on Scanian soil, ...
s (1675–1679).
Gyldenløve implemented the reforms initiated by the prior Governor-general
Hannibal Sehested (1609–1666) effecting taxation, defence and justice and protection for
tenant farmer
A tenant farmer is a person ( farmer or farmworker) who resides on land owned by a landlord. Tenant farming is an agricultural production system in which landowners contribute their land and often a measure of operating capital and managemen ...
s. He was also active in Danish politics from 1670 in association with
Peder Griffenfeld (1635–1699) who served as Chancellor of Denmark.
In 1671, Gyldenløve founded the city of Laurvig (modern-day
Larvik
Larvik () is a town and municipality in Vestfold in Vestfold og Telemark county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Larvik. The municipality of Larvik has about 46,364 inhabitants. The municipality has a 110&nbs ...
), and was named Count of Laurvig. In Larvik, he is remembered for the construction of Larvik Church (''Larvik kirke''), its main church as well as Laurvig Manor House (''Laurvig Herregården''), which is still one of the largest wooden structures in Norway. Larvik Church was inaugurated in 1677. Gyldenløve issued a gift to the church where the interest on the capital was to be used for maintenance. Laurvig Manor House was built beginning in 1674 and was completed for his third wedding with Antoinette Augusta von Aldenburg in 1677.
Gyldenløve Chamber
The site of Gyldenløve Chamber in Copenhagen, later to be known as
Charlottenborg Palace
Charlottenborg Palace ( da, Charlottenborg Slot) is a large town mansion located on the corner of Kongens Nytorv and Nyhavn in Copenhagen, Denmark. Originally built as a residence for Ulrik Frederik Gyldenløve, it has served as the base of th ...
(''Charlottenborg Slot''), was donated by King
Christian V of Denmark
Christian V (15 April 1646 25 August 1699) was king of Denmark and Norway from 1670 until his death in 1699.
Well-regarded by the common people, he was the first king anointed at Frederiksborg Castle chapel as absolute monarch since the decr ...
to his half brother Ulrik Frederik Gyldenløve on 22 March 1669 in connection with the establishment of Kongens Nytorv. Gyldenløve built his new mansion from 1672 to 1683 as the first building on the new square.
Family
Count Ulrik Frederik married three times: His first married 1659 Sophie Urne (1629-1714), daughter of Jørgen Urne and Margrete Marsvin, who he had to leave for his second Marriage with
Marie Grubbe (1643–1718) 1660, from whom he was divorced after nine years in 1670. His third wife was Countess Antoinette Augusta von Aldenburg (1660-1701), eldest daughter of Anton I, Count von Aldenburg und Knyphausen (by his first wife, Countess Auguste Johanna zu
Sayn-Wittgenstein-Hohenstein),
legitimated son of
Anton Gunther, who belonged to the
Delmenhorst cadet branch
In history and heraldry, a cadet branch consists of the male-line descendants of a monarch's or patriarch's younger sons ( cadets). In the ruling dynasties and noble families of much of Europe and Asia, the family's major assets—realm, ti ...
of the
House of Oldenburg
The House of Oldenburg is a German dynasty with links to Denmark since the 15th century. It has branches that rule or have ruled in Denmark, Iceland, Greece, Norway, Russia, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Schleswig, Holstein, and Oldenburg. The c ...
whose senior line became hereditary kings of Denmark. Ulrik Frederik's two first marriages ended in divorces, but he has descendants from the first and third.
He had many children, both legitimate and illegitimate, four of whom lived to adulthood, married and left descendants:
By Sophie Urne:
#Woldemar
Gyldenløve (1660–1740), later Baron of Lowendal, father of German officer and statesmen
Ulrich Frédéric Woldemar, Comte de Lowendal (1700–1755)
#Carl Løvendal (1660-1689), committed suicide on a ship near the island
Saint Thomas in the
Danish West Indies
The Danish West Indies ( da, Dansk Vestindien) or Danish Antilles or Danish Virgin Islands were a Danish colony in the Caribbean, consisting of the islands of Saint Thomas with ; Saint John ( da, St. Jan) with ; and Saint Croix with . The ...
)
By Countess Antoinette Augusta von Aldenburg:
#Countess Charlotte Amalie af Danneskiold-Samsøe (1682-1699), wed
Christian Gyldenløve (1674-1703), an illegitimate son of
Christian V of Denmark
Christian V (15 April 1646 25 August 1699) was king of Denmark and Norway from 1670 until his death in 1699.
Well-regarded by the common people, he was the first king anointed at Frederiksborg Castle chapel as absolute monarch since the decr ...
#Ulrikke Amalie Antoinette af Danneskiold-Samsøe (1686-1755), wed Count
Carl von Ahlefeldt (1670–1722)
#
Ferdinand Anton Danneskiold-Laurvig, Count af Danneskiold-Samsøe (1688-1754), wed Countess
Ulrikke Eleonore af Reventlow (1690-1754)
Through his daughter, Charlotte Amalie, and her daughter, Countess Frederikke Louise af Danneskiold-Samsø , Ulrik Frederik became the ancestor of the
Dukes of Augustenborg
The House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg () was a branch of the dukes of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg of the House of Oldenburg. The line descended from Alexander, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg. Like all of the secondar ...
and thus, among others, of
Frederick VIII, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein
''
, house = Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg
, father = Christian August II, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg
, mother = Countess Louise Sophie Danneskiold-Samsøe
, birth_date =
, birth_place = Augustenburg, ...
and the
German Empress Augusta.
See also
*
Gyldenløve
References
Other sources
*''A History of Norway'' by Karen Larson, (Princeton University Press) 1948
*''The History of the Norwegian People'' by
Knut Gjerset, (MacMillan) 1915
*''Ulrik Frederik Gyldenløve'' by
Otto von Munthe af Morgenstierne
Bredo Otto Anton von Munthe af Morgenstierne (6 March 1871, in Copenhagen – 20 May 1945, in Copenhagen) was a Danish historian of nobility and history of architecture. Albert Fabritius, "Otto von Munthe af Morgenstierne", in: Povl Engelstoft & ...
(København, E. Munksgaard) 1944
External links
Larvik Herregården websiteLarvik kirke website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gyldenlove, Ulrik Frederick
Danish diplomats
Larvik
Governors-general of Norway
Illegitimate children of Danish monarchs
Politicians from Copenhagen
Nobility from Copenhagen
17th-century Danish nobility
17th-century Norwegian military personnel
1704 deaths
1638 births
People of the Scanian War
Sons of kings