Sophie of Mecklenburg-Güstrow
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Sophie of Mecklenburg-Güstrow (4 September 1557, Wismar – 14 October 1631, Nykoping) was a German noblewoman and Queen of Denmark and Norway.
She was the daughter of Duke Ulrich III of Mecklenburg-Güstrow and Princess Elizabeth of Denmark (a daughter of Frederick I and Sophie of Pomerania). Through her father, a grandson of Elizabeth of Oldenburg, she descended from king Hans of Denmark.
On 20 July 1572, in Copenhagen, she married Frederick II of Denmark. They had seven children:
- Elisabeth (25 August 1573 – 19 June 1626), married in 1590 to Duke Henry Julius of Braunschweig.
- Anna (12 December 1574 – 2 March 1619), married on 23 November 1589 to King James I of England
- Christian IV of Denmark and Norway (12 April 1577 – 28 February 1648)
- Ulrik (30 December 1578 – 27 March 1624)
- Augusta (8 April 1580 – 5 February 1639), married on 30 August 1596 to Duke Johann Adolf of Holstein-Gottorp
- Hedwig (5 August 1581 – 26 November 1641), married on 12 September 1602 to Christian II, Elector of Saxony
- Johan of Schleswig-Holstein (9 July 1583 – 28 October 1602)
After her husband's death in 1588, she acted as regent for her son. Though he was declared of age in 1593, she only gave up her position the following year. She retired to Lolland-Faster, where she managed her affairs so well that her son had to borrow money from her on several occasions.
Preceded by Dorothea of Saxe-Lauenburg |
Queen Consort of Denmark 1572-1588 |
Succeeded by Anne Catherine of Brandenburg |
Queen Consort of Norway 1572-1588 |