Frederick IX of Denmark

Frederick IX
King of Denmark
Reign 20 April 1947 – 14 January 1972
Predecessor Christian X
Successor Margrethe II
Spouse Ingrid of Sweden
Issue
Margrethe II of Denmark
Princess Benedikte
Queen Anne-Marie of Greece
House House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg
Father Christian X of Denmark
Mother Alexandrine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Born 11 March 1899(1899-03-11)
Sorgenfri Palace
Died 14 January 1972(1972-01-14) (aged 72)
Copenhagen
Burial Roskilde Cathedral
Danish Royalty
House of Oldenburg
(Glücksburg branch)
Royal Coat of Arms of Denmark (1948-1972).svg
Christian IX
Children
   Frederick VIII
   Alexandra, Queen of the United Kingdom
   George I of Greece (formerly William)
   Maria Feodorovna, Empress of Russia (formerly Dagmar)
   Thyra, Duchess of Cumberland and Teviotdale
   Prince Valdemar
Frederick VIII
Children
   Christian X
   Haakon VII of Norway (formerly Charles)
   Princess Louise
   Prince Harald
   Ingeborg, Duchess of Västergötland
   Princess Thyra
   Prince Gustav
   Princess Dagmar
Christian X
Children
   Frederick IX
   Hereditary Prince Knud
Grandchildren
    Princess Elisabeth
Frederick IX
Children
   Margrethe II
   Princess Benedikte
   Anne-Marie, Queen of Greece
Margrethe II
Children
(paternally Laborde of Monpezat)
   Crown Prince Frederik
   Prince Joachim
Grandchildren
   Prince Christian
   Princess Isabella
   Prince Nikolai
   Prince Felix
   Prince Henrik

Frederick IX (Christian Frederik Franz Michael Carl Valdemar Georg) (11 March 1899 – 14 January 1972) was King of Denmark from 20 April 1947 until his death. He was the son of King Christian X of Denmark and Queen Alexandrine, born Duchess of Mecklenburg.

Contents

Biography

Frederik was born in Sorgenfri in Lyngby-Taarbæk Municipality on Zealand and was educated at the Royal Danish Naval Academy (breaking Danish royal tradition by choosing a naval instead of an army career) and the University of Copenhagen. Before he became king, he had acquired the rank of Rear Admiral and he had had several senior commands on active service. In addition, with his great love of music, the king was an able piano player and conductor.

Issue

In 1922, Frederick was engaged to Princess Olga of Greece and Denmark, his second cousin and the daughter of Prince Nicholas of Greece and Denmark; however they never wed. Instead, he married Princess Ingrid of Sweden (1910–2000), daughter of Crown Prince Gustaf Adolf, later King Gustaf VI Adolf of Sweden, in Stockholm on 24 May 1935. They were related in several ways. In descent from Oscar I of Sweden and Leopold, Grand Duke of Baden, they were double third cousins. In descent from Paul I of Russia, Frederick was a fourth cousin of Ingrid's mother. They had three daughters:

Succession

When he had no sons, it was expected that his younger brother Knud would inherit the throne, in accordance with Denmark's succession law (Royal Ordinance of 1853). However, in 1953, an Act of Succession was passed, changing the method of succession to cognatic primogeniture, meaning that his eldest daughter, Margrethe, could succeed if he had no sons, which she did, as Queen Margrethe II. By order of 27 March 1953 the succession to the throne was limited to the issue of King Christian X.

Legacy

Frederick's reign saw great change. During these years, Danish society shook off the restrictions of an agricultural society and developed a welfare state. And, as a consequence of the booming economy of the 1960s, women entered the labour market. In other words, Denmark became a modern country, which meant new demands on the monarchy.

He was the 912th Knight of the Order of the Garter in 1951.

Shortly after the king had delivered his New Year's Address to the Nation at the 1971/72 turn of the year, he fell ill. On his passing 14 days later in Copenhagen on January 14th 1972, King Frederick IX was buried outside Roskilde Cathedral near Copenhagen. Previous rulers had been interred in the cathedral, but it was the King's wish to be buried outside.

Ancestors

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 16. Friedrich Wilhelm, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 8. Christian IX of Denmark
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 17. Princess Louise Caroline of Hesse-Cassel
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 4. Frederick VIII of Denmark
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 18. Landgrave William of Hesse-Kassel
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 9. Princess Louise of Hesse-Kassel
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 19. Princess Louise Charlotte of Denmark
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 2. Christian X of Denmark
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 20. Oscar I of Sweden
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 10. Charles XV of Sweden
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 21. Princess Josephine of Leuchtenberg
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 5. Princess Louise of Sweden
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 22. Prince Frederick of the Netherlands
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 11. Princess Louise of the Netherlands
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 23. Princess Louise of Prussia
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1. Frederick IX of Denmark
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 24. Paul Frederick, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 12. Frederick Francis II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 25. Princess Alexandrine of Prussia
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 6. Frederick Francis III, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 26. Prince Heinrich LXIII Reuss of Köstritz
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 13. Princess Augusta Reuss of Köstritz
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 27. Countess Eleonore zu Stolberg-Wernigerode
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 3. Duchess Alexandrine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 28. Nicholas I of Russia
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 14. Grand Duke Michael Nikolaevich of Russia
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 29. Princess Charlotte of Prussia
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 7. Grand Duchess Anastasia Mikhailovna of Russia
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 30. Leopold, Grand Duke of Baden
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 15. Princess Cecilie of Baden
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 31. Princess Sophie of Sweden
 
 
 
 
 
 

Trivia

External links

Frederick IX
House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg
Cadet branch of the House of Oldenburg
Born: March 11 1899 Died: January 14 1972
Regnal titles
Preceded by
Christian X		 King of Denmark
1947–1972		 Succeeded by
Margrethe II
Monarchs of Denmark
Early monarchs
c.916–1412
(Harthacnut) · Gorm the Old · Harald Bluetooth · Sweyn Forkbeard1 · Harald II · Cnut the Great1 · Harthacanute1 · Magnus the Good  · Sweyn II · Harald III · Canute the Saint · Olaf I · Eric Evergood · Niels · Eric the Memorable · Eric Lamb · Sweyn Grathe / Canute V / Valdemar the Great · Canute VI · Valdemar the Victorious · Valdemar the Young · Eric Plough-tax · Abel · Christopher I · Eric Klipping · Eric Menved · Christopher II · Valdemar III · Christopher II · Interregnum · Valdemar Atterdag · Olaf II · Margaret I2
Royal Coat of Arms of Denmark.svg
Palatinate-Neumarkt
1397–1448
Eric of Pomerania2 · Christopher of Bavaria2
Oldenburg
1448–1863
Christian I2 · John2 · Christian II2 · Frederick I · Christian III · Frederick II · Christian IV · Frederick III · Christian V · Frederick IV · Christian VI · Frederick V · Christian VII · Frederick VI · Christian VIII · Frederick VII
Schleswig-Holstein-
Sonderburg-Glücksburg
since 1863
Christian IX · Frederick VIII · Christian X3 · Frederick IX · Margrethe II
Italics indicates Danish monarchs who were also monarchs of Norway.
1 Also monarch of England.  2 Also monarch of Sweden.  3 Also monarch of Iceland.