| Ulrik Frederik Gyldenløve | |
|---|---|
Ulrik Frederik Gyldenløve portraied by Wolfgang Heimbach |
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| Born | 20 July 1638 Bremen, Germany |
| Died | 17 April 1704 (aged 65) Hamburg, Germany |
| Resting place | Church of Our Lady, Copenhagen |
| Nationality | German-Danish |
| Known for | Gyldenløve War Gyldenløbe's Mansion Reforms |
| Spouse | Marie Grubbe |
| Awards | Order of the Elephant |
Ulrik Frederik Gyldenløve, Count of Laurvig (20 July 1638 – 1704) was a statesman and the leading Norwegian general in the Scanian War, whose Norway-related portion is conventionally named "the Gyldenløve War", after him. He was the illegitimate son of King Frederick III of Denmark and Norway by Margarethe Pape.[1]
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Gyldenløve was born in Bremen, Germany, the illegitimate son of Prince Frederick, later King Frederick III of Denmark, who was at the time Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen and coadjutor of the Bishopric of Halberstadt. His mother was Margrethe Pape who was made Baronesse of Løvendal by King Christian IV in 15 September that same year.
When his father became King of Denmark in 1648, Ulrik Frederik assumed the name Gyldenløve which was used by illegitimate sons of Danish kings.
During the first half of the 1650s, he traveled in Europe, visiting both France, Italy and Spain. On 21 August 1655 he became a naturalised Danish noble.[2]
In 1664 Gyldenløve was appointed Statholder (viceroy) to Norway. He studied conditions in Norway very carefully, and became a strong advocate for many important reforms, such as a simplified tax system and the establishment of a Court of appeals in Norway separate from the one in Denmark. He is also remembered for his role in the construction and improvement of nine fortresses along the Swedish border.
Gyldenløve took part in the 17th-century Dano-Swedish wars where he was particularly successful at the Battle of Nyborg on 14 November 1659. In 1666, he became commander-in-chief of the Norwegian army which was victorious in the Scanian Wars (1675–1679).
In 1671, Gyldenløve founded the city of Laurvig (modern-day Larvik), and was named Count of Laurvig. In Larvik, he is remembered for the construction of its main church as well as Herregården (Manor House), which is still one of the largest wooden structures in Norway.[3]
Gyldenløve implemented Hannibal Sehested's reforms on taxation, defence and justice and protected the tenant farmers. He was also active in Danish politics from 1670 in association with Peder Griffenfeld.
The construction of Gyldenløves Palace in Copenhagen, later to be known as Charlottenborg Palace, began on 3 April 1672 when Frederick III laid the first stone for his illegitimate son.
Count Ulrik Frederik married thrice: once to the famous Marie Grubbe, from whom he divorced in 1670. His two first marriages ended in divorces. According to contemporary stories, he also had an amorous relationship with count Peder Griffenfeld, who went on to become a leading statesman in Denmark-Norway.
Through his daughter countess Charlotte Amalie af Laurvig, and her daughter Countess Frederikke Louise Danneskiold-Samsø, count Ulrik Frederik became the ancestor of the Dukes of Augustenborg and thus for example of Frederick VIII, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein.
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