Sophia Magdalen of Brandenburg-Kulmbach

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Queen Sophia Magdalene, as painted by J.S. du Wahl
Queen Sophia Magdalene, as painted by J.S. du Wahl

Sophia Magdalene of Brandenburg-Kulmbach (November 28, 1700May 27, 1770) was queen-consort of Denmark and Norway as the wife of King Christian VI of Denmark and Norway.

She was born in Castle Schonberg, to Christian Heinrich of Brandenburg-Bayreuth-Kulmbach by his wife, Countess Sophie Christiane of Wolfstein. On August 7, 1721, she was married to Prince Christian and became queen of Denmark in 1730.

The royal couple's life together was harmonious but Sophia Magdalene was unpopular. She was accused of creating a certain closedness around the Court and the royal family. Her background in a religious environment, marked by Pietism, strongly influenced the introduction of the subdued life at the Court. Later, she was criticized also for never having discarded her Germanness, even though German culture and language had been dominant at the Court before her time.

Sophia Magdalene was behind the making of a new Danish queen's crown when she refused to wear the same one that the hated Queen Anna Sophie had worn. Queen Sophia Magdelene established the collection of crown jewels when she bequeathed a large part of her jewellery for that purpose. She had the Palace of Hirschholm built and lived after being widowed in 1746.

She died in Christiansborg Palace and was buried in Roskilde Cathedral.

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
Preceded by
Anne Sophie Reventlow
Queen Consort of Denmark
1730-1746
Succeeded by
Louise of Great Britain
Queen Consort of Norway
1730-1746