Frederick VIII of Denmark

Categories: Danish monarchs | Knights of the Garter | House of Glücksburg | 1843 births | 1912 deaths

Frederik VIII (June 3, 1843 – May 14, 1912), was King of Denmark from 1906–1912. He was the eldest son of King Christian IX and his wife, Denmark's heiress, Louise of Hesse - and was born in Copenhagen. As Crown Prince of Denmark he formally took part in the war of 1864 against Austria and Prussia, and subsequently assisted his father in the duties of government. He became king of Denmark on Christian's death in January 1906. On July 28, 1869 Frederik married Lovisa of Sweden (October 31, 1851 - March 20, 1926), daughter of Carl XV, King of Sweden and Carl IV, King of Norway. They had four sons and four daughters:

1. Crown Prince Christian of Denmark (1870-1947), later King Christian X of Denmark. Married Princess Alexandrine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin in 1898 and had issue
2. Prince Carl of Denmark (1872-1957), later King Haakon VII of Norway. Married Princess Maud of Wales in 1896 and had issue
3. Princess Louise of Denmark (1875-1906). Married Prince Friedrich of Schaumburg-Lippe in 1896 and had issue
4. Prince Harald of Denmark (1876-1949). Married Princess Helena of Glücksburg in 1909 and had issue
5. Princess Ingeborg of Denmark (1878-1958) Married Prince Carl of Sweden and Norway in 1897 and had issue
6. Princess Thyra of Denmark (1880-1945) No issue
7. Prince Gustav of Denmark (1887-1944) No issue
8. Princess Dagmar of Denmark (1890-1961) Married Jørgen Carstenskiold and had issue

In many ways Frederik VIII was a liberal ruler who was much more favourable to the new parliamentarian system than his father had been. Because of his very late accession to the throne he only got few years to show his ability and he was weakened by an ill health. On his return journey from a trip to France, King Frederik made a short stop in Hamburg, Germany. The evening of his arrival, Frederik (incognito) took a walk in the Jungfernstiegel. While walking he became faint and collapsed on a park bench and died. He was discovered by a policeman who took him to a Hafnen hospital where he was pronounced dead. His cause of death was announced as a paralysis-attack. He was interred with other members of the Danish royal family in Roskilde Cathedral near Copenhagen.

The royal families of Denmark, Norway, Belgium and Luxembourg are descended from King Frederik VIII. Denmark comes naturally, Norway's family goes through the line of his son, Prince Carl, and the families of Belgium and Luxembourg are descended from his daughter, Princess Ingebjorg.

de:Friedrich VIII. (Dänemark) gl:Federico VIII de Dinamarca nl:Frederik VIII van Denemarken nn:Fredrik VIII av Danmark sv:Fredrik VIII av Danmark