Christian Albert, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp

Christian Albert, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp

Christian Albert of Holstein-Gottorp
Spouse(s) Princess Frederica Amalia of Denmark

Issue

Noble family House of Holstein-Gottorp
Father Frederick III, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp
Mother Marie Elisabeth of Saxony
Born (1641-02-03)3 February 1641
Gottorp
Died 6 January 1695(1695-01-06) (aged 53)
Gottorp

Christian Albert (13 February [O.S. 3 February] 1641, Gottorp 6 January 1695 [O.S. 27 December 1694], Gottorp) was a duke of Holstein-Gottorp and bishop of Lübeck.

He was a son of Frederick III, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp, and his wife Princess Marie Elisabeth of Saxony. Christian Albert became duke when his father died in the Castle Tönning, besieged by the King Christian V of Denmark. Christian Albert was forced to flee and the remainder of his life was characterized by his fight with Denmark. Even the marriage with the daughter of King Frederick III of Denmark, arranged in the hope for peace, changed nothing. During Christian Albert's reign, the connection with Sweden, having been initiated by his father, was strengthened, which provided some protection. However, this also led to the duchy being pulled into all of Sweden's conflicts, including the Great Northern War and several wars with Denmark.

From 1675 to 1689, Christian Albert lived in exile in Hamburg. However, with the aid of the Holy Roman Emperor and the European allies, he managed to force the Danish king to sign the so-called Altonaer Vergleich, which allowed to him regain his former position.

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 Oper am Gänsemarkt.

Family and children

The duke and his wife Frederica Amalia

Christian Albert married, on 24 October 1667, Princess Frederica 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 1670 27 February 1710), married on 7 July 1695 to Prince Augustus William, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel.
  2. Duke Frederick IV of Holstein-Gottorp (18 October 1671 – 19 July 1702).
  3. Duke Christian August of Holstein-Gottorp (11 January 1673 24 April 1726).
  4. Marie Elisabeth (21 March 1678 17 July 1755), Abbess of Quedlinburg.

Agnatic progeny of his elder son ended up on the throne of Russia, and agnatic progeny of the younger son - on the thrones of Sweden and Oldenburg.

See also

Ancestors

Christian Albert, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp
Cadet branch of the House of Oldenburg
Born: 3 February 1641 Died: 6 January 1695
Regnal titles
Religious titles
Preceded by
John X
Prince-Bishop of Lübeck
(Lutheran Administrator)

1655–1666
Succeeded by
Augustus Frederick
Regnal titles
Preceded by
Frederick III
 TITULAR 
Duke of Holstein-Gottorp
1659–1695
Succeeded by
Frederick IV
Preceded by
Frederick III (Denmark-Norway) and
Frederick III (Gottorp)
Duke of Holstein and Schleswig
16591695
with Frederick III (16591670)
Christian V (16701695)
Succeeded by
Christian V and
Frederick IV
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