John the Younger | |
---|---|
Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg | |
Born |
Haderslev |
25 March 1545
Died | 9 October 1622 Glücksburg |
(aged 77)
Spouse |
Elisabeth of Brunswick-Grubenhagen Agnes Hedwig of Anhalt |
House | House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg |
Father | Christian III of Denmark |
Mother | Dorothea of Saxe-Lauenburg |
John the Younger (Danish: Hans den yngre; German: Johann der Jüngere; 25 March 1545 – 9 October 1622) was a Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg.
John was born in Haderslev as the fourth child (third son) of King Christian III of Denmark and his wife Dorothea of Saxe-Lauenburg. His elder brother king Frederick II of Denmark allotted him a portion of Schleswig, Sonderburg (today Danish Sønderborg) as his ducal seat. He acted actively in the Danish government, for example supporting his sister-in-law the queen when his nephew Christian IV of Denmark was underage. There were plans for him to marry the dowager queen in 1588 or 1589, repudiating his second, young wife. John died in Glücksburg.
John married twice. Firstly, he married in Kolding on August 19, 1568 Elisabeth of Brunswick-Grubenhagen (20 March 1550 Salzderhelden – 11 February 1586 Østerholm), daughter of Ernest III, Duke of Brunswick-Grubenhagen. They had the following children:
Secondly, he married on 14 February 1588 Princess Agnes Hedwig of Anhalt (12 March 1573 Dessau – 3 November 1616 Sønderborg) and they had the following children: