Duke Frederik 1609-48 Frederik was born at Haderslev House, son of Christian IV (1577-1648) and Anna Cathrine of Brandenburg (1575-1612). He was the second son and was awarded the title of Duke. His older brother Christian was elected successor in 1608, so Frederik's future would have to be assured by other means. Frederik as pawn in the political game In the years following the conclusion of the Kalmar War in 1613, Christian IV turned his attention towards Northern Germany in search of influence, and with the aim of securing a foothold in the region. Frederik came to be used a pawn in this game. It was traditional for the Protestant royal houses to see their younger sons securely provided for in the secularised Northern German bishoprics, which had been under the control of the Catholic Church prior to the Reformation. Frederik was chosen as coadjutor (assistant) and successor to the archbishop of Bremen in 1621, in the neighbouring diocese of Verden in 1622, (where a year later he was appointed administrator), and then in Halberstadt 1624. Sorø Academy Frederik had received a sound education at the Academy for young men of noble birth at Sorø in the years 1624-26. He took an interest in a wide range of subjects, and became with time quite knowledgeable in such fields as theology, the natural sciences, Nordic antiquarianism and constitutional law. All this was to be reflected later in both his Library and his Kunstkammer. His collections of books and objets d'art were to lay the foundations for the Danish museums and library services. The Thirty Years War and residency abroad While Christian IV was busy participating in the Thirty Years War (1618-48), Frederik was in 1627 appointed president of the war council in the German town of Stade, and as deputy for his father accepted supreme office in the archdiocese of Bremen. In the following year, however, the archbishopric was occupied by forces of the Holy Roman Empire under general Tilly, and Frederik took up temporary residence in Friesland. Later he travelled on to France, staying there in 1629-30. In 1632 the Swedes captured the archbishopric of Bremen. But following the death of the administrator in 1634, and the waning influence of Sweden, Frederik's right to take over the archdiocese was confirmed. In 1635 he became administrator in Bremen with the title of archbishop, and in Verden with the title of prince-bishop. The situation became precarious when the Swedish general Torstensson attacked Denmark in 1643, so that Frederik left his dioceses in 1644 and was based in Glückstadt, now as a Danish general. After the war, however, Frederik was unable to regain his positions in the dioceses, which led to his moving in 1646 to Flensburg - now totally dependent on economic support from Christian IV. Frederik was married in 1643 at Glücksburg Castle to Sophie Amalie (1628-85) of Braunschweig-Lüneburg. To next page King Frederik III 1648-70 To previous page Frederik III (born 1609, king 1648-70)