The Royal Danish CollectionRosenborgCastle historyInterior and objectsH The TreasurySilver boxes

Silver boxes

Nine silver boxes of which eight contain the umbilical cords of Frederik III’s children, believed to provide protection against disease and death. The box in the middle contains Frederik III’s unbroken fetal membrane, or caul, believed to bring strength and to provide protection against diseases and death.

Relations

Christian V with His Half-Brother, c. 1671

Christian V in conversation with his elder half-brother Ulrik Frederik Gyldenløve, and with Count Anthon Aldenburg (1633-1680). Grisaille by Anton Steenwinkel. The Gyldenløve family, the king’s ‘natural’, which is to say illegitimate children, played an important role in the political machinations of 17th century Denmark. As children of the king, they had high status in the class-divided society. At the same time, however, they were excluded from line of succession, and thus had no dynastic ambitions, making them extremely loyal to the reigning king. Ulrik Frederik Gyldenløve was the issue of a relationship Frederik (III) had with Margrethe Pape, before he married Sophie Amalie in 1643.

Christian V as the prince elect

It was considered of great importance to be able to defend not only the people but more sayingly the various provinces and borders of the danish kingdom.

Frederik III's children

Frederik III's five eldest children.

Ulrikke Eleonore, 1681

Queen Ulrikke Eleonore of Sweden, King Christian V’s sister. Painted by D. Klöcker Ehrenstrahl, 1681.

Christian V, 1681

Christian V. Enamelled miniature made by Paul Prieur 1681.

1650-1675

The wars of Charles Gustavus (1657-1658 and 1658-1660) were the important events in foreign politics of the period. The loss of Scania, Halland and Blekinge at the Peace of Roskilde in 1658 was a nadir of power politics in Danish history.

Frederik III

Frederik III was the King of Denmark-Norway from 1648; he was married to Sophie Amalie of Brunswick-Lüneburg in 1643 and father to Christian V.