Editing Frederick II of Denmark (section)

==Youth and marriage==

=== Anne Hardenberg ===
As a young man, Frederick II had desired to marry the noblewoman, [[Anne of Hardenberg|Anne Hardenberg]], who had served as a lady-in-waiting to his mother, the [[Dorothea of Saxe-Lauenburg|Dowager Queen Dorothea of Denmark]], however as she was not of princely birth, this was impossible.<ref>[http://www.guide2womenleaders.com/Governors.htm ''Anne Corfitzdatter Hardenberg of Helsingborg'' (Worldwide Guide to Women in Leadership)]</ref> There is no evidence that either of them had any interest in entering a morganatic marriage and Anne Hardenberg was married six months after Frederick, after which there is no known contact between them.

=== Possible matrimonies ===
{{multiple image
| align = right
| image1 = Portret van Renata van Lotharingen, hertogin van Beieren, Johann Sadeler (I), 1588 - 1595.jpg
| width1 = 200
| alt1 = 
| caption1 = 
| image2 = François Clouet - Mary, Queen of Scots (1542-87) - Google Art Project.jpg
| width2 = 200
| alt2 = 
| caption2 = 
| footer = [[Renata of Lorraine]] (left) [[Mary, Queen of Scots]] (middle) and [[Elizabeth I]] (right)
| direction = 
| total_width = 600
| image3 = Darnley stage 3.jpg
| width3 = 200
| image_gap = 20
}}

Negotiations to find a suitable royal bride were manifold during the 1560s, but mostly it came to nothing, often because Frederick strongly insisted on meeting the prospective bride before committing to her.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Grinder-Hansen|first=Poul|title=Frederik 2 – Danmarks Renæssancekonge|date=29 May 2013|publisher=Gyldendal|isbn=978-87-02-13569-5|page=55}}</ref> The proposed matrimonies included:

* [[Renata of Lorraine]]: Throughout the 1550s, Frederick's father [[Christian III of Denmark|Christian III]] strongly advocated a marriage alliance with the [[House of Lorraine]], hoping that a match between his son Prince Frederik and claimant to the Danish throne [[Christina of Denmark]]'s daughter [[Renata of Lorraine|Renata]], would settle the claimant disputes, and possibly even add [[Lorraine]] to the Oldenburg patrimony.<ref>Lockhart, Paul D., page 118</ref> The match never took place—Frederik was indifferent to it,<ref name=":28">Lockhart, Paul D., page 119</ref> many of the king's advisers opposed it, and Christina was none too cooperative – but it remained Christian III's fervent hope to the end of his days.<ref name=":28" />
*[[Juliane of Nassau-Dillenburg (1546–1588)|Juliana of Nassau]]: Throughout the 1560s, a marriage between Frederick and [[William the Silent|William of Orange's]] sister, [[Juliane of Nassau-Dillenburg (1546–1588)|Juliana]], was heavily considered. Frederick and the [[Council of State (Denmark)|Danish Council of State]] wanted to strengthen relations with other [[Protestantism|Protestant]] powers, and the relationship between Frederick and William was very positive, and they kept close confidential correspondence right up until Frederick's death.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Jensen|first=Frede P.|date=1993|title=Frederik 2. og truslen fra de katolske magter|trans-title=Frederik II and the threat from the Catholic powers|url=https://tidsskrift.dk/historisktidsskrift/article/download/53543/71538?inline=1|journal=Historisk Tidsskrift|volume=16|page=239}}</ref> The marriage failed due to [[High and low politics|high political]] complications, as Frederick did not want to appear as an obvious supporter of one of [[Spain|Spain's]] enemies.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Grinder-Hansen|first=Poul|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Cfnx7iTjtV8C&dq=Juliana&pg=PT173|title=Frederik 2.: Danmarks renæssancekonge|date=2013-05-29|publisher=Gyldendal A/S|isbn=978-87-02-13569-5|language=da}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Günther {{!}} lex.dk|url=https://biografiskleksikon.lex.dk/G%C3%BCnther|access-date=2021-07-24|website=Dansk Biografisk Leksikon|language=da}}</ref>
* [[Mary, Queen of Scots|Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots]].<ref name=":29">{{Cite book|last=Fabricius, A.|title=Illustreret Danmarkshistorie for Folket.|date=1914|pages=182–183|oclc=873940782}}</ref>
* He had also wooed Queen [[Elizabeth I of England]], but to no avail, and was later made a [[Knight of the Garter]].<ref name=":29" />
* A daughter of [[Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor|Emperor Ferdinand I]].<ref name=":29" />
* A daughter of [[Albert V, Duke of Bavaria]].<ref name=":29" />
* [[Margaret of Pomerania-Wolgast|Margaret of Pomerania]]: Frederick's aunt [[Elizabeth of Denmark, Duchess of Mecklenburg|Elizabeth of Denmark]], introduced Frederick to the 17-years-old [[Margaret of Pomerania-Wolgast|Margaret of Pomerania]], but Frederick was instead interested in Elizabeth's daughter [[Sophie of Mecklenburg-Güstrow|Sophie]].<ref name=":29" />

=== Marriage to Sophie of Mecklenburg-Güstrow ===
[[File:Sophiemecklenburgdenmark.jpg|left|thumb|214x214px|Wife of Frederick II, [[Sophie of Mecklenburg-Güstrow]]]]
On 20 July 1572, he was married to [[Sophia of Mecklenburg-Güstrow|Sophie of Mecklenburg-Güstrow]], a descendant of King [[John, King of Denmark|John of Denmark]], and also his own first half-cousin, through their grandfather, [[Frederick I of Denmark|Frederick I, King of Denmark and Norway]].

Sophie was the daughter of [[Ulrich, Duke of Mecklenburg|Ulrich III, Duke of Mecklenburg-Güstrow]] and [[Elizabeth of Denmark, Duchess of Mecklenburg|Elizabeth of Denmark]]. Their marriage was harmonious and happy. Sophie is consistently mentioned in Frederick's handwritten diary as "mynt Soffye", meaning "my Sophie" and she followed him through the country as the court was very mobile. Queen Sophie was a loving mother, nursing her children personally during their illnesses. When Frederick was sick with malaria in 1575, she personally nursed him and wrote many worried letters to her father about his progress.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Frederica|first=J.A.|date=1892|title=Nogle Breve fra Frederik IIs Dronning Sofie til hendes Fader, hertug Ulrich af Meklenborg|url=https://tidsskrift.dk/personalhistorisk_tidsskrift/issue/archive|journal=Personalhistorisk Tidsskrift|volume=Tredie Række|pages=1–8}}</ref><ref name=":02">{{Cite book|last=Grinder-Hansen|first=Poul|title=Frederik II – Danmarks Renæssancekonge|publisher=Gyldendal|year=2013|isbn=978-87-02-13569-5|pages=See Chapter 12, Kærlighed, chapter 24, Private notater}}</ref>

After Frederick's death Sophie was granted a 'Dowager-pension' ({{Langx|da|Livgeding}}), consisting of [[Nykøbing Castle]] and the islands of [[Lolland]] and [[Falster]]. The Dowager Queen Sophie managed her estates in [[Lolland]]-Falster so well that her son could borrow money from her on several occasions for his wars.<ref name="Dansk Kvindebiografisk Leksikon">[http://www.kvinfo.dk/side/597/bio/1348/origin/170/ Dansk Kvindebiografisk Leksikon]</ref>