Gyldenløve (English: Golden Lion) is the name of two important noble families in Danish and Norwegian history. The first Gyldenløve family belonged to the Norwegian high nobility. One century later, Gyldenløve became the name given to recognised illegitimate children of the Dano-Norwegian king.
Contents |
Gyldenløve was in the Late Medieval Age one of the most important families in Norway's social and political life. The family's most prominent member was Nils Henriksson (died 1523), Lord High Steward of Norway, who was married with the famed lady Ingegjerd Ottesdotter Rømer, heiress of Austrått. The couple had only surviving daughters. All other agnatic lines of the old family are presumed extinct already before them. The last male was Nils Henriksson's illegitimate child Henrik Nilsson Gyldenløve.
Like other noble families, Gyldenløve did originally not have a family name. However, based on the family's coat of arms, which shows a lion believed to represent their verified royal descent (House of Sverre), some of the last generations' members used the name Gyldenløve. The same is customary among modern historicians and genealogists today, in order to identify the family and members of it.
The name Gyldenløve was given to the illegitimate sons of the following Dano-Norwegian kings:
Christian IV had many illegitimate children by various mistresses. Three of his illegitimate sons were officially recognised and received the name Gyldenløve:
Frederick III of Denmark fathered Ulrik Frederick (1638–1704) by Margrethe Pape; he was also acknowledged and received the name Gyldenløve. He earned big respect from Norwegians when serving as Statholder there.
Christian V of Denmark fathered five children with Sophie Amalie Moth: