Christian Albert, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp

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Christian Albrecht.
Christian Albrecht.

Duke Christian Albrecht of Holstein-Gottorp (3 February 1641, Gottorp6 January 1695, Gottorp) was a duke of Holstein-Gottorp and bishop of Lübeck.

He was a son of Duke Friedrich III of Holstein-Gottorp and his wife Princess Marie Elisabeth of Saxony. Christian Albrecht became a Duke when his father died in the Castle Tönning, besieged by the Danish king. Christian Albrecht was forced to fled and his further life was characterised by the fight with Denmark. Even the marriage with the daughter of Danish king Frederick III, concluded in the hope for peace, nothing could change. During Christian Albrecht's reign close connection with Sweden were strengthened, which allowed protection, beginned by his father. However, this also led to the fact that dukedom was pulled into all conflicts of Sweden including the Great Northern War and wars with Denmark.

From 1675 to 1689 Christian Albrecht lived in the emigration in Hamburg. However, with the aid of the Holy Roman Emperor and the European allies, he could achieve that the Danish king had to sign the so-called Altonaer Vergleich, which allowed to him again to ascend the throne.

On 5 October 1665 he founded the University of Kiel. The painter Jürgen Ovens worked more than 30 years for him and his father Frederick III of Holstein-Gottorp. In 1678 the duke took part in the founding of the Hamburg Opera.

[edit] Ancestors

Christian Albert's ancestors in three generations
Christian Albert, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp Father:
Frederick III, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp
Paternal Grandfather:
John Adolf, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp
Paternal Great-grandfather:
Adolf, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp
Paternal Great-grandmother:
Christine of Hesse
Paternal Grandmother:
Augusta of Denmark
Paternal Great-grandfather:
Frederick II of Denmark
Paternal Great-grandmother:
Sofie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Mother:
Marie Elisabeth of Saxony
Maternal Grandfather:
John George I, Elector of Saxony
Maternal Great-grandfather:
Christian I, Elector of Saxony
Maternal Great-grandmother:
Sophie of Brandenburg
Maternal Grandmother:
Magdalene Sibylle of Prussia
Maternal Great-grandfather:
Maternal Great-grandmother:


[edit] Family and children

He was married on 24 October 1667 with Princess Frederika Amalia of Denmark, daughter of King Frederick III of Denmark and Sophie Amalie of Brunswick-Lüneburg. They had the following children:

  1. Sophie Amalie (19 January 167027 February 1710), married on 7 July 1695 to Prince August Wilhelm of Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel.
  2. Duke Frederick IV of Holstein-Gottorp (18 October 167119 July 1702).
  3. Duke Christian August of Holstein-Gottorp (11 January 167324 April 1726).
  4. Marie Elisabeth (21 March 167817 July 1755), Abbess of Quedlinburg.

[edit] See also

Preceded by
Frederick III
Duke of Holstein-Gottorp
1659-1695
Succeeded by
Frederick IV
Preceded by
John X
Bishop of Lübeck
1655-1666
Succeeded by
August Frederick