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08.04.

1818: King Christian IX – The Father-in-Law of Europe

1818: King Christian IX – The Father-in-Law of Europe
Photo Credit To https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1818_Christian-05.jpg

King Christian’s descendants came to an amazingly high number of European thrones. His grandchildren included four kings, one emperor, one queen consort, one empress consort, and seven princess or princesses.



Christian of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, a man whose descendants acceded to an incredibly large number of European thrones, was born on this day in 1818. His grandchildren included four kings (of the UK, Denmark, Greece, and Norway) and one emperor (Nicholas II of Russia).

Christian of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg wasn’t particularly highly-ranked in European terms. He originated from a younger branch of the Danish Schleswig-Holstein dynasty and was born in Gottorp Castle near Schleswig, today in northern Germany. He spent much of his childhood in Glücksburg Castle, after which his dynasty got its name. The castle is located in Germany near the current German-Danish border and only 1300 meters from the Baltic Sea, offering a view of the Danish coast.

Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg became King of Denmak in 1863, becoming known as Christian IX. He was aged 45 at the time, and one of his sons became a king before him (George I of Greece). Two of Christian’s daughters were married into very distinguished families – one became empress consort of Russia, another the queen consort of Britain. Because of this he gained the nickname “Father-in-law of Europe”.

Christian IX died aged 87. His descendants are currently sitting on almost all thrones in Europe. Charles, Prince of Wales, is his direct descendant.




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