Sophie of Mecklenburg-Güstrow

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Queen Sofie. Portrait by Hans Knieper
Queen Sofie. Portrait by Hans Knieper

Sophie of Mecklenburg-Güstrow (4 September 1557, Wismar14 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:

  1. Elisabeth (25 August 157319 June 1626), married in 1590 to Duke Henry Julius of Braunschweig.
  2. Anna (12 December 15742 March 1619), married on 23 November 1589 to King James I of England
  3. Christian IV of Denmark and Norway (12 April 157728 February 1648)
  4. Ulrik (30 December 157827 March 1624)
  5. Augusta (8 April 15805 February 1639), married on 30 August 1596 to Duke Johann Adolf of Holstein-Gottorp
  6. Hedwig (5 August 158126 November 1641), married on 12 September 1602 to Christian II, Elector of Saxony
  7. Johan of Schleswig-Holstein (9 July 158328 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