King Christian IX; Grandfather of Europe
 

text from http://kongehuset.dk/artikel.php?dogtag=kh_en_hi_hm

The Danish Monarchy can be traced back with certainty to Gorm the Old (d. 958). The monarchy was originally elective, but in practice the election normally fell on the eldest son of the reigning Monarch. In return, the King had to sign a Coronation Charter, which regulated the balance of power between himself and his people. When absolutism was introduced in 1660-1661, the elective monarchy was replaced by hereditary monarchy.

The succession, which was based on the principle of male primogeniture, was laid down in the Royal Decree of 1665. The democratic constitution of 5 June 1849 changed the monarchy’s status from absolute to constitutional. The Act of Succession of 27 March 1953 introduced the possibility of female succession, which enabled the current reigning Queen to accede the throne.

The direct lineage of the ancient Danish dynasty became extinct with the death of Christoffer III in 1448. Duke Christian of Oldenborg was chosen as his successor and became King of Denmark the same year, taking the name Christian I. He belonged to one of the collateral branches of the original dynasty and became the founder of the Royal Family of Oldenborg which reigned until 1863, when the last sovereign of that line, Frederik VII, died without issue.

In accordance with the Act of Succession of 1853, the throne passed therefore to his relative, Prince Christian of Glücksborg, who in direct male lineage, descended from the Royal House. On the death of Frederik VII, he acceded the throne as Christian IX, and became the first monarch of the current House of Glücksborg on the Danish throne. Christian IX eventually became known as ‘the Father-in-law of Europe’, because his daughter Princess Alexandra married Edward VII of England, another daughter Princess Dagmar married Czar Alexander III of Russia and yet another, Thyra, married Duke Ernst August of Cumberland. In 1863 his son Vilhelm became King of the Hellenes (known now as Greece) and used the name, George I; and in 1905 Christian IX's grandson Carl became King of Norway as Haakon VII. The Danish Royal House was thus directly related to many of Europe’s reigning Royal Houses.

Christian IX’s son, Frederik VIII, was 63 years of age when he finally acceded the throne in 1906. At his death in 1912 he was succeeded by his eldest son, Christian X, who reigned Denmark throughout both World Wars. He is best remembered as the “Equestrian King”, known for his horseback ride across the old border into the province of North Schleswig, after its reunion with Denmark in 1920. King Christian X became very popular during the German occupation of Denmark in 1940-1945. Every day he mounted his big white horse and rode on horseback through the streets of Copenhagen.

Christian X died in 1947 and was succeeded by his eldest son, Frederik IX who had married the Swedish Princess Ingrid in 1935. They had three daughters, Princess Margrethe (born 1940), Princess Benedikte (born 1944) and Princess Anne-Marie (born 1946).

King Christian IX Grandfather of Europe
 

King of Denmark from 1863 to 1906

Motto: “With God for Honour and Justice”

Born: 8 April 1818

Son of: Duke Wilhelm of Schleswig-Holstein-Sønderborg-Glücksborg and Princess Louise Caroline of Hessen-Kassel

Married 26 May 1842 to Princess Louise of Hessen-Kassel (1817-1898)

Children: Princes: Frederik (VIII), Wilhelm (George I), and Valdemar. Princesses: Alexandra, Dagmar and Thyra

text from http://kongehuset.dk/artikel.php?dogtag=kh_en_hi_ci

here is a great link for his Biography

his oldost son became Frederik VIII, King of Denmark (1843-1912) who married Princess Lovisa of Sweden link

His daughter Alexandra married the prince pf wales, queen victorias son and became Queen of England link

his son prince william Was elected as king of Greece , he took the name King George I of Greece link

His daughter Dagmar married the tsarevitch Nicholas they later became Emperor Alexander III amd Empress Marie Feodorovna link

princess Thyra married Prince Ernest Augustus of Hanover, Duke of Cumberland link

prince Waldemar got married to a French princess, the daughter of the Duc de Chartres and niece of the Comte de Paris, pretender to the French throne. She was Princess Marie of Orleans, who in consequence was a great-granddaughter of the last French King, Louis Phillip. link

I saw a documentary about the children of the king Christian IX of Denmark
Have any of you seen it

There was a documentary on his descendants titled "A Royal Family". The Website address is http://www.aroyalfamily.com/

You can listen to clips, view the family tree, look at pictures etc.

Sean. ~

Yes thats the one, I really enjoyed watching it

"A Royal Family: The Father-in-Law of Europe" six part series will air on PBS in the USA starting this week!

It will be on Channel 13 from 8-9 pm EST on Thursday 10/13, airing for the next five weeks at that same time slot.
www.thirteen.org

He seems like such an interesting man

Thanks Josefine. This is an interesting period in Danish history.

Are there any photographs of his daughters Alexandra and Dagmar when they were still Danish princesses?

I find the history of their early family life in Der Gule Palae very interesting but you hear so little about it.

Try on Wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_IX_of_Denmark

Thanks to all authors of this site.

Yeah Magnik! That's where I got the pictures from!
I'm usually so good at crediting sources, but I forgot on this one.:o

Jesus Ibarra's website
 

You can very interesting information about King Christian in this page:
http://www.geocities.com/jesusib/

Re:
 

If you have the slight interest in Royalty then this is definately a good series to watch. Highlights? The Grand Duchess Josephine-Charlotte on her 'Uncle Goggi', Queen Anne-Marie on how she met King Constantine and Queen Anne of Romania on her mother's hat shop antics! Queen Margrethe gives a brilliant interview on Hans Christian Andersen, Prince Frederik and Prince Joachim are great to listen to and King Constantine is a wealth of knowledge!

:( We don't get the series here.:(

Re:
 

You can get it through Majesty Magazine I think - it's about 20 of our British Pounds on DVD - I watch it over and over. I hope you can get it because it's a great way to spend 6 hours!

Another link. Courtesy to Brigitte Gastel:)


http://worldroots.com/brigitte/royal/royal1a.htm

Thanks BeatrixFan! I'll try to get it.

And Magnik, that's a great site. You can get info about alot of royal families!

Layla:)

An excellent set of pictures that I have never seen before. Christian certainly rivaled Victoria in having progeny scattered among the courts of Europe. Thanks!:)

Christian IX's children here at The Royal Forums:
Frederik VIII of Denmark
Alexandra
Dagmar and Alexander.
Prince Valdemar and family.
Thyra
Vilhelm doesn't have his own thread - but information can be found in the thread about Kings of the Hellenes

The Danish television series about Christian IX's Descendants: A Royal Family