Frederick V | |
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Frederick V portrayed in armour by court painter, the Swedish Carl Gustav Pilo
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King of Denmark and Norway (more...) | |
Reign | 6 August 1746 – 14 January 1766 |
Coronation | 4 September 1747 Frederiksborg Palace Chapel |
Predecessor | Christian VI |
Successor | Christian VII |
Born |
Copenhagen Castle |
31 March 1723
Died | 14 January 1766 Christiansborg Palace, Copenhagen |
(aged 42)
Burial | Roskilde Cathedral |
Consort |
Louise of Great Britain Juliana Maria of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel |
Issue | Christian, Crown Prince of Denmark Sophia Magdalena, Queen of Sweden Wilhelmina Caroline, Electress of Hesse Christian VII of Denmark Louise, Princess Charles of Hesse-Kassel Frederick, Hereditary Prince of Denmark |
House | Oldenburg |
Father | Christian VI of Denmark |
Mother | Sophia Magdalene of Brandenburg-Kulmbach |
Religion | Lutheranism |
Frederick V (Danish and Norwegian: Frederik; 31 March 1723 – 14 January 1766) was king of Denmark-Norway and Duke of Schleswig-Holstein from 1746 until his death. He was the son of Christian VI of Denmark and Sophia Magdalene of Brandenburg-Kulmbach.
Frederick was born on 31 March 1723 at Copenhagen Castle. He was the grandson of King Frederick IV of Denmark and the son of Crown Prince Christian and Sophia Magdalene of Brandenburg-Kulmbach. On 12 October 1730, King Frederick IV died and Frederick's father ascended the throne as King Christian VI. Frederick himself became Crown Prince.
Christian VI and Sophia Magdalene were deeply devoted to Pietism, and Frederick was given a strictly religious upbringing. Although not unfamiliar with religious sentiments, Frederick grew into a hedonist who enjoyed the pleasures of life such as wine and women. His mother ironically referred to him as "Der Dänische Prinz" (literally The Danish Prince in German) because he occasionally spoke Danish.
Frederick's propensity for debauchery accelerated his marriage negotiations. He was married at Altona, Holstein, on 11 December 1743 to Princess Louise of Great Britain, daughter of King George II and Caroline of Ansbach. They were the parents of six children, but one was stillborn. Meanwhile, Frederick continued to enjoy random liaisons with others. Louise pretended not to notice. During the years 1746-51, the king had a favorite named Madam Hansen who bore him five children.