- Dorothea of Saxe-Lauenburg
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Dorothea of Saxe-Lauenburg 
Queen consort of Denmark and Norway Tenure 1534–1559 Spouse Christian III of Denmark Issue Anne, Electress of Saxony
Frederick II
Magnus, King of Livonia
John II, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg
Dorothea, Duchess of Brunswick-LüneburgHouse House of Ascania Father Magnus I of Saxe-Lauenburg Mother Catherine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel Born 9 July 1511
Lauenburg Castle, GermanyDied 7 October 1571 (aged 60)
Sønderborg Castle, Sønderborg, DenmarkBurial Roskilde Cathedral Religion Roman Catholicism Dorothea of Saxe-Lauenburg (9 July 1511 – 7 October 1571), consort of Christian III from 1525 and Queen consort of Denmark and Norway. She was daughter of Duke Magnus I of Saxe-Lauenburg and Catherine, daughter of Henry IV, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg. Her sister Catherine was the first consort of Gustav I of Sweden.
Contents
Biography
She was married to Christian on 29 October 1525 at Lauenburg Castle, against her wishes. The couple did not have a good relationship with the king due to Christian's Lutheran views. They lived at their own courts in Haderslev and Törning. She became queen in 1533, though due to the Civil War (Count's Feud) that immediately followed her husband's accession to the throne, her coronation did not take place until 1537. In 1548, she accompanied her daughter Anna to her wedding in Saxony.
Queen Dorothea was interested in politics, and although it is unclear exactly how much influence she had, she is thought to have participated in appointing and dismissing officials. She was, however, prevented from taking a formal seat in the council. She never learned to speak Danish. Her control over her ladies-in-waiting was strict. In 1540, Birgitte Gøye was freed from her engagement with her assistance, which lead to a law banning arranged engagements of minors. She was widowed in 1559.
As a widow, she lived in Kolding, and she visited her children in Germany regularly once a year. She exerted a stern discipline over her children even after they had become adults, and her acts as a guardian to them were described as strict and intense. She often protected the younger children from their reigning brother, and favoured her younger son. She is thought to have been behind the fact that her oldest son married late in his reign. She opposed the match between the king and Anne of Hardenberg.
Queen dowager Dorothea fell in love with her brother-in-law and neighbor, Duke Hans of Schleswig-Holstein-Haderslev (1521–1580), during her marriage, and wished to marry him after her husband's death, in 1559. This was opposed by her son and by various theologists and ultimately prevented, but she worked hard to accomplish it. This began the breakdown of her relationship with her son, King Frederick, which had never been particularly close. Her relationship to her reigning son grew worse during the war of 1563–70, in which she disagreed, and when the King discovered, in 1567, that she had issued negotiations to arrange a marriage between her son Magnus, and a Swedish princess. This last made the king regard her almost a traitor, and he exiled her to Sønderborg Castle, where she spent the remainder of her life.
Children
Christian and Dorothea had the following children:
- Anne of Denmark (1532–1585). Consort to Augustus, Elector of Saxony
- Frederick II (1534–1588).
- Magnus, King of Livonia (1540–1583).
- Johann II, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Plön (1545–1622).
- Dorothea of Denmark (1546–1617). Consort to William, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and mother to George, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg.
Queen Dorothea is interred next to her husband in Roskilde Cathedral near Copenhagen.
Ancestry
Ancestors of Dorothea of Saxe-Lauenburg 16. Eric IV, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg 8. Bernard II, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg 17. Sophie of Brunswick-Lüneburg 4. John V, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg 18. Bogislaw VIII, Duke of Pomerania 9. Adelheid of Pomerania-Stolp 19. Sophia of Holstein 2. Magnus I, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg 20. Frederick I, Elector of Brandenburg 10. Frederick II, Elector of Brandenburg 21. Elisabeth of Bavaria 5. Dorothea of Brandenburg 22. Frederick I, Elector of Saxony 11. Catherine of Saxony 23. Catherine of Brunswick-Lüneburg 1. Dorothea of Saxe-Lauenburg 24. William the Victorious, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg 12. William IV, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg 25. Cecilia of Brandenburg 6. Henry IV, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg 26. Bodo VII, Count of Stolberg-Wernigerode 13. Elisabeth of Stolberg-Wernigerode 27. Anna of Schwarzburg 3. Catherine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel 28. Wartislaw IX, Duke of Pomerania 14. Eric II, Duke of Pomerania 29. Sophie of Saxe-Lauenburg 7. Catherine of Pomerania-Wolgast 30. Bogislaw IX, Duke of Pomerania 15. Sophia of Pomerania-Stolp 31. Maria of Masovia References
Dorothea of Saxe-LauenburgBorn: 9 July 1511 Died: 7 October 1571Royal titles Preceded by
Sophie of PomeraniaQueen consort of Denmark
Queen consort of Norway
1534–1559Succeeded by
Sophie of Mecklenburg-GüstrowPreceded by
Sophia of Pomerania
& Isabella of AustriaDuchess consort of Schleswig
Duchess consort of Holstein
1525–1559
Served alongside: Sophia of Pomerania & Christine of HesseSucceeded by
Sophie of Mecklenburg-Güstrow
& Christine of HesseDanish Royal Consorts Henri de Laborde de Monpezat (1972–present) · Ingrid of Sweden (1947–1972) · Alexandrine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1912–1947) · Louise of Sweden (1906–1912) · Louise of Hesse-Kassel (1863–1898) · Caroline Amalie of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg (1839–1848) · Marie Sophie of Hesse-Kassel† (1808–1839) · Caroline Matilda of Great Britain† (1766–1775) · Juliana Maria of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel† (1752–1766) · Louise of Great Britain† (1746–1751) · Sophia Magdalene of Brandenburg-Kulmbach† (1730–1746) · Anne Sophie Reventlow† (1721–1730) · Louise of Mecklenburg-Güstrow† (1699–1721) · Charlotte Amalie of Hesse-Kassel† (1670–1699) · Sophie Amalie of Brunswick-Lüneburg (1648–1670) · Anne Catherine of Brandenburg† (1597–1612) · Sophie of Mecklenburg-Güstrow† (1572–1588) · Dorothea of Saxe-Lauenburg† (1534–1559) · Sophie of Pomerania†‡ (1523–1533) · Isabella of Austria†‡ (1515–1523) · Christina of Saxony†‡ (1481–1513) · Dorothea of Brandenburg†‡ (1445–1448 & 1449–1481) · Philippa of England†‡ (1406–1430) · Helvig of Schleswig (1340–1374) · Euphemia of Pomerania (1326–1330) · Ingeborg Magnusdotter of Sweden (1296–1319) · Agnes of Brandenburg (1273–1286) · Margaret Sambiria (1252–1259) · Matilda of Holstein (1250–1252) · Jutta of Saxony (1239–1250) · Eleanor of Portugal (1229–1231) · Berengaria of Portugal (1214–1221) · Dagmar of Bohemia (1205–1213) · Gertrude of Bavaria (1182–1197) · Sophia of Minsk (1157–1182) · Helena of Sweden (1156–1157) · Adela of Meissen (1152–1157) · Lutgard of Salzwedel (1144–1146) · Malmfred of Kiev† (1134–1137) · Ulvhild Håkansdotter‡ (1130–1134) · Margaret Fredkulla† (1104–1130) · Boedil Thurgotsdatter (1095–1103) · Ingegerd of Norway‡ (1086–1095) · Adela of Flanders (1080–1086) · Margareta Hasbjörnsdatter (1076–1080) · Gunnhildr Sveinsdóttir‡ (1050–1052) · Gyda of Sweden (1048–1049) · Emma of Normandy† (1017–1035) · Sigrid the Haughty†‡ · Gunhild of Wenden† · Tove of the Obotrites† (970–986) · Gyrid of Sweden (952–970) · Thyra (900–935)† also Queen of Norway · ‡ also Queen of SwedenNorwegian Royal Consorts Sonja Haraldsen (1991–present)
Maud of Wales (1905–1938) · Sophia of Nassau^ (1872–1905) · Louise of the Netherlands^ (1859–1871) · Josephine of Leuchtenberg^ (1844–1859) · Désirée Clary^ (1818–1844) · Hedvig Elisabeth Charlotte of Holstein-Gottorp^ (1814–1818) · Marie Sophie of Hesse-Kassel* (1808–1839) · Caroline Matilda of Great Britain* (1766–1775) · Juliana Maria of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel* (1752–1766) · Louise of Great Britain* (1746–1751) · Sophia Magdalene of Brandenburg-Kulmbach* (1730–1746) · Anne Sophie Reventlow* (1721–1730) · Louise of Mecklenburg-Güstrow* (1699–1721) · Landgravine Charlotte Amalie of Hesse-Kassel* (1670–1699) · Sophie Amalie of Brunswick-Lüneburg (1648–1670) · Anne Catherine of Brandenburg* (1597–1612) · Sophie of Mecklenburg-Güstrow* (1572–1588) · Dorothea of Saxe-Lauenburg* (1534–1559) · Sophie of Pomerania*^ (1523–1533) · Isabella of Austria*^ (1515–1523) · Christina of Saxony*^ (1481–1513) · Dorothea of Brandenburg*^ (1450–1481) · Catherine of Bjurum^ (1449–1450) · Dorothea of Brandenburg*^ (1445–1448) · Philippa of England*^ (1406–1430) · Margaret I of Denmark^ (1363–1380) · Blanche of Namur^ (1335–1343) · Euphemia of Rügen (1299–1312) · Isabel Bruce (1293–1299) · Margaret of Scotland (1281–1283) · Ingeborg of Denmark (1263–1280) · Rikissa Birgersdotter (1251–1257) · Margrét Skúladóttir (1225–1263) · Christina of Norway (1209–1213) · Margaret of Sweden (1189–1202) · Estrid Bjørnsdotter (1170–1176) · Ragna Nikolasdatter (114?–1157) · Ingrid of Sweden (1134–1136) · Christine of Denmark (1132–1133) · Malmfred of Kiev* (1116–1130) · Blathmin Ní Briain (1103) · Ingebjørg Guttormsdatter (1103–1123) · Margaret Fredkulla* (1101–1103) · Ingerid of Denmark (1067–1093) · Elisiv of Kiev (1045–1066) · Emma of Normandy* (1028–1035) · Astrid of Sweden (1019–1035) · Sigrid the Haughty*^ (1000–1014) · Tyra of Denmark (998–1000) Gunhild of Wenden* · Tove of the Obotrites* (970–986) · Gunnhild, Mother of Kings (931–934) · Gyda of Hordaland (872–930)*also Queen of Denmark
^also Queen of SwedenCategories:- 1511 births
- 1571 deaths
- House of Ascania
- House of Oldenburg
- Danish royal consorts
- Norwegian royal consorts
- Denmark–Norway
- Converts to Lutheranism from Roman Catholicism
- Burials at Roskilde Cathedral
- Duchesses of Saxe-Lauenburg
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