Editing Christian IV of Denmark

{{Short description|King of Denmark and Norway from 1588 to 1648}}
{{redirect|Christian IV|the Count Palatine of Zweibrücken|Christian IV, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name         = Christian IV
| image        = Christian IV Pieter Isaacsz 1612.jpg
| caption      = Portrait by [[Pieter Isaacsz]], {{c.}} 1612
| succession   = [[King of Denmark]] and [[List of Norwegian monarchs|Norway]]
| moretext     = ([[Style of the Danish sovereign|more...]])
| reign        = 4 April 1588&nbsp;– 28 February 1648
| coronation   = 29 August 1596<br/>[[Copenhagen Cathedral]]
| predecessor  = [[Frederick II of Denmark|Frederick II]]
| successor    = [[Frederick III of Denmark|Frederick III]]
| succession1   = [[Hamburg|Supervisor of Hamburg]]
| reign1        = 1621–1625
| regent1 =  [[:de:Sebastian von Bergen|Sebastian of Bergen]]
| reg-type1 = Mayor

| spouses      = {{Plainlist|
* {{marriage|[[Anne Catherine of Brandenburg]]|1597|1612|end=d}}
* {{marriage|[[Kirsten Munk]]|1615}}
}}
| issue        = {{plainlist|
*[[Christian, Prince-Elect of Denmark]]
*[[Frederick III, King of Denmark]]
*[[Ulrik of Denmark (1611–1633)|Ulrich]]
*Morganatic and illegitimate:<br>[[Sophie Elisabeth Pentz]]
*[[Leonora Christina Ulfeldt]]
*[[Valdemar Christian of Schleswig-Holstein]]
*[[Elisabeth Augusta Lindenov]]
*[[Christiane Sehested]]
*[[Hedevig Ulfeldt]]
*[[Dorothea Elisabeth Christiansdatter]]
*[[Christian Ulrik Gyldenløve]]
*[[Hans Ulrik Gyldenløve]]
*[[Ulrik Christian Gyldenløve (1630-1658)|Ulrik Christian Gyldenløve]]}}
| issue-link   = #Issue and private life
| issue-pipe   = among others...
| house        = [[House of Oldenburg|Oldenburg]]
| father       = [[Frederick II of Denmark]]
| mother       = [[Sofie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin]]
| birth_date   = 12 April 1577
| birth_place  = [[Frederiksborg Palace]]
| death_date   = {{Death date and age|1648|2|28|1577|4|12|df=y}}
| death_place  = [[Rosenborg Castle]]
| burial_place = [[Roskilde Cathedral]]
| religion     = [[Lutheran]]
| signature    = Christian IV signature.svg
}}
'''Christian IV''' (12 April 1577 – 28 February 1648) was [[King of Denmark]] and [[King of Norway|Norway]] and [[List of rulers of Schleswig-Holstein|Duke of Holstein and Schleswig]] from 1588 until his death in 1648. His reign of 59 years and 330 days is the longest in [[Scandinavia]]n history.<ref>{{Cite web |date=5 May 2023 |title=28 of the world's longest-reigning monarchs |url=https://www.countryliving.com/uk/news/a39102607/longest-reigning-monarchs}}</ref>

A member of the [[House of Oldenburg]], Christian began his personal rule of [[Denmark-Norway]] in 1596 at the age of 19. He is remembered as one of the most popular, ambitious, and proactive Danish-Norwegian kings, having initiated many reforms and projects. Christian IV obtained for his kingdoms a level of stability and wealth that was virtually unmatched elsewhere in Europe.<ref>Paul D. Lockhart, ''Denmark, 1513–1660: the Rise and Decline of a Renaissance Monarchy'' (2007).</ref> He engaged Denmark-Norway in numerous wars, most notably the [[Thirty Years' War]] (1618–1648), which devastated much of Germany, undermined the Danish economy, and cost Denmark-Norway some of its conquered territories.<ref>Paul D. Lockhart, ''Denmark in the Thirty Years’ War, 1618–1648: King Christian IV and the Decline of the Oldenburg State'' (1996)</ref>
He rebuilt and renamed the Norwegian capital [[Oslo]] as ''Christiania'' after himself, a name used until 1925.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Oslo History |url=https://www.oslo.com/v/history/}}</ref>

==Early years ==

=== Birth and family ===
[[File:Gamle Frederiksborg c 1585.jpg|thumb|left|Frederiksborg Castle, {{Circa|1585}}.]]

Christian was born at [[Frederiksborg Castle]] in Denmark on 12 April 1577 as the third child and eldest son of King [[Frederick II of Denmark|Frederick II]] of [[Denmark–Norway]] and [[Sofie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin]].<ref name="Britannica" /> He was descended, through his mother's side, from King [[John, King of Denmark|John of Denmark]], and was thus the first descendant of King John to assume the crown since the deposition of King [[Christian II of Denmark|Christian II]].

At the time, Denmark was still an [[elective monarchy]], so in spite of being the eldest son Christian was not automatically heir to the throne. But Norway was a [[hereditary monarchy]], and electing someone else would result in the end of the [[Denmark-Norway|union of the crowns]]. However, in 1580, at the age of 3, his father had him elected Prince and successor to the throne of Denmark.

=== Young king ===
[[File:Carl Bloch - Ved Niels Kaas dødsleje 1880.jpg|thumb|upright|''At the death bed of [[Niels Kaas]].'' The 17-year-old Christian IV receives from the dying chancellor the keys to the vault where the royal crown and sceptre are stored.<br/>History painting by [[Carl Bloch]], 1880.]]

At the death of his father on 4 April 1588, Christian was just 10 years old.<ref name="Britannica" /> He succeeded to the throne, but as he was still under-age a [[regency council]] was set up to serve as the trustees of the royal power while Christian was still growing up. It was led by [[chancellor]] [[Niels Kaas]] (1535–1594) and consisted of the ''[[Rigsraadet]]'' council members [[Peder Munk]] (1534–1623), Jørgen Ottesen Rosenkrantz (1523–1596) and [[Christoffer Valkendorff]] (1525–1601). His mother [[Sophie of Mecklenburg-Güstrow|Queen Dowager Sophie]], 30 years old, had wished to play a role in the government, but was denied by the council.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rosenkrantz, Jørgen, 1523–96 |url=https://runeberg.org/dbl/14/0253.html |access-date=15 August 2016 |publisher=Dansk biografisk Lexikon}}</ref> At the death of Niels Kaas in 1594, Jørgen Rosenkrantz took over leadership of the regency council.

[[File:Coronation of Christian IV in 1596.jpg|left|thumb|The coronation of King Christian IV on 29 August 1596<br/>[[History painting]] by [[Otto Bache]], 1887.]]

=== Coming of age and coronation ===
Christian continued his studies at [[Sorø Academy]] where he had a reputation as a headstrong and talented student.<ref name="gad">"Gads Historieleksikon", 3rd edition, 2006. Paul Ulff-Møller, "''Christian 4.''", pp. 99–100. {{ISBN|87-12-04259-5}}</ref>

In 1595, the [[Rigsraadet|Council of the Realm]] decided that Christian would soon be old enough to assume personal control of the reins of government. On 17 August 1596, at the age of 19, Christian signed his [[haandfæstning]] (lit. "Handbinding" viz. curtailment of the monarch's power, a Danish parallel to [[Magna Carta]]), which was an identical copy of his father's from 1559.<ref name="Britannica" />

Twelve days later, on 29 August 1596, Christian IV was [[coronation|crowned]] at the [[Church of Our Lady (Copenhagen)|Church of Our Lady]] in [[Copenhagen]] by the [[Bishop of Zealand]], Peder Jensen Vinstrup (1549–1614). He was crowned with a new [[Danish Crown Regalia]] which had been made for him by Dirich Fyring (1580–1603),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dirich Fyring |url=http://www.kongernessamling.dk/rosenborg/person/dirich-fyring/ |access-date=1 September 2016 |publisher=kongernessamling.dk}}</ref> assisted by the [[Nuremberg]] goldsmith, Corvinius Saur.<ref>[http://special-1.bl.uk/treasures/festivalbooks/BookDetails.aspx?strFest=0296 ''Kurzer Discurs was Feyrlicheit vnd Geprenge zu Copenhagen'' ..., Wegener, Schlewig (1596)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160407011557/http://special-1.bl.uk/treasures/festivalbooks/BookDetails.aspx?strFest=0296 |date=7 April 2016 }} Account of Christian's coronation in 1596: digitised by the [[British Library]]</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Vinstrup, Peder Jensen, 1549–1614, Biskop |url=https://runeberg.org/dbl/19/0141.html |access-date=15 August 2016 |publisher=Dansk biografisk Lexikon}}</ref>

=== Marriage ===
On 30 November 1597, he married [[Anne Catherine of Brandenburg]], a daughter of [[Joachim Friedrich]], [[Margrave of Brandenburg]] and [[Duchy of Prussia|Duke of Prussia]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Anna Cathrine, 1575–1612, Dronning |url=https://runeberg.org/dbl/1/0305.html |access-date=15 August 2016 |publisher=Dansk biografisk Lexikon}}</ref>

==Reign ==
[[File:Christian IV (Abraham Wuchters).jpg|thumb|Portrait by [[Abraham Wuchters]], 1638]]

===Military and economic reforms===
[[File:Kompagnietor Tafel1 Flensburg2007.jpg|left|thumb|Coat of arms of Christian IV and Queen Anne Catherine. From ''Kompagnietor'', [[Flensburg]].]]

Christian took an interest in many and varied matters, including a series of domestic reforms and improving Danish national armaments. New fortresses were constructed under the direction of [[Netherlands|Dutch]] engineers. The [[Royal Dano-Norwegian Navy]], which in 1596 had consisted of but twenty-two vessels, in 1610 rose to sixty, some of them built after Christian's own designs. The formation of a national army proved more difficult. Christian had to depend mainly upon hired [[mercenary]] troops as was common practice in the times—well before the establishment of standing armies—augmented by native [[conscription|peasant levies]] recruited for the most part from the peasantry on the crown domains.<ref name="Britannica" />

Up until the early 1620s, Denmark-Norway's economy profited from general boom conditions in Europe. This inspired Christian to initiate a policy of expanding Denmark-Norway's overseas trade as part of the [[mercantilist]] wave fashionable in Europe. He founded a number of merchant cities, and supported the building of factories. He also built a large number of buildings in [[Dutch Renaissance]] style.

===Visits to England===
His sister [[Anne of Denmark|Anne]] had married King [[James VI of Scotland]], who succeeded to the [[English throne]] in 1603. To foster friendly relations between the two kingdoms, Christian paid a state visit to England in 1606. The visit was generally judged to be a success, although the heavy drinking indulged in by English and Danes alike caused some unfavourable comments: both Christian and James had an ability to consume great amounts of alcohol, while remaining lucid, which most of their courtiers did not share. [[John Harington (writer)|Sir John Harington]] described an entertainment at [[Theobalds House|Theobalds]], a [[The Entertainment of the Kings of Great Britain and Denmark|masque of Solomon and the Queen of Sheba]], as a drunken fiasco, where most of the players simply fell over from the effects of too much wine.<ref>Martin Butler, ''The Stuart Court Masque and Political Culture'' (Cambridge, 2008), pp. 125–127.</ref> The royal party went to [[Upnor Castle]] and had dinner aboard the ''[[English ship Elizabeth Jonas (1559)|Elizabeth Jonas]]''. At Gravesend, when the royal party was on his ship the ''Admiral'', Christian IV provided a firework display built on a small ship or lighter, which brought tears to eyes of King James, although the effect was somewhat spoiled because the show was held in daylight.<ref>John Nichols, ''The Progresses, Processions, and Magnificent Festivities of King James the First'', vol. 2 (London, 1828), pp. 84, 89–90, 92–93.</ref> After an exchange of gifts Christian sailed home, escorted by [[Robert Mansell]] with the ''[[English ship Vanguard (1586)|Vanguard]]'' and the ''Moon''.<ref>John S. Brewer, ''Court of James the First'', vol. 2 (London, 1839), pp. 138–143: Thomas Birch, ''Court and Times of James the First'', vol. 1 (London, 1848), pp. 65–67.</ref>

Christian IV visited England again in August 1614, coming incognito to surprise his sister at [[Somerset House|Denmark House]],<ref>John S. Brewer, ''Court of James the First'', 2 (London, 1839), pp. 137–138.</ref> accompanied only by [[Andrew Sinclair (privy counsellor)|Andrew Sinclair]] and a page.<ref>''Original Letters Relating to the Ecclesiastical Affairs of Scotland'' vol. 2 (Edinburgh, 1851), p. 355.</ref> Christian IV was recognised by the queen's dancing master [[Thomas Cardell]] and a French servant.<ref>J. S. Brewer, ''Court of King James'', 2 (London: Richard Bentley, 1839), 137.</ref> He had sailed with only three ships and captured some pirates during the voyage. More ships with his Danish courtiers arrived on 5 August.<ref>Allen Hinds, ''Calendar State Papers, Venice: 1613–1615'', vol. 13 (London, 1907), pp. 167 no. 348, 170 no. 355.</ref> The diplomatic purpose of the visit was kept secret. The Venetian ambassador [[Antonio Foscarini]] heard that Anne of Denmark had written to him about a dispute with King James. Foscarini described Christian as, "above the average in height, dressed in the French fashion. His nature is warlike".<ref>Allen Hinds, ''Calendar State Papers, Venice: 1613–1615'', vol. 13 (London, 1907), p. 171 no. 356.</ref>

===Exploration and colonies===
{{See also|Action of 19 February 1619|Conquest of Koneswaram Temple}}
[[File:Danish_Expedition_in_Ceylon.png|thumb|267x267px|Danish routes of their expedition in Ceylon. [[Roland Crappé|Roland Crappé's]] navigations is shown in blue, while Ove Gjedde's is shown in red]]
Despite Christian's many efforts, the new economic projects did not return a profit. He looked abroad for new income. [[Christian IV's Expeditions to Greenland]] involved a series of voyages in the years 1605–1607 to Greenland and to Arctic waterways in order to locate the lost [[Eastern Settlement|Eastern Norse Settlement]] and to assert Danish sovereignty over Greenland. The expeditions were unsuccessful, partly due to leaders lacking experience with the difficult Arctic ice and weather conditions. The pilot on all three trips was English explorer [[James Hall (explorer)|James Hall]]. An expedition to North America was commissioned in 1619. The expedition was captained by [[Denmark–Norway|Dano-Norwegian]] navigator and explorer, [[Jens Munk]]. The ships, searching for the [[Northwest Passage]], arrived in [[Hudson Bay]] landing at the mouth of [[Churchill River (Hudson Bay)|Churchill River]], settling at what is now [[Churchill, Manitoba]]. However, it was a disastrous voyage, with cold, famine, and [[scurvy]] killing most of the crew.<ref name="gad" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=''Jens Munk – Scandinavia's First Great Polar Explorer'' (The Council of Europe Cultural Routes) |url=http://www.ub.uit.no/northernlights/eng/munk.htm |access-date=28 June 2014 |publisher=Ub.uit.no}}</ref>

In 1618, Christian appointed Admiral [[Ove Gjedde]] to lead an expedition and establish a Danish colony in [[Ceylon]]. The expedition set sail in 1618, taking two years to reach Ceylon and losing more than half their crew on the way. Upon arriving in May 1620, the establishment of a [[Conquest of Koneswaram Temple|colony in Ceylon failed]],<ref>Esther Fihl (2009). "Shipwrecked on the Coromandel: The First Indo–Danish Contact, 1620". ''Review of Development and Change '''''14''' (1&2): 19–40</ref> but instead the ''Nayak'' of Tanjore (now Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu) turned out to be interested in trading opportunities and a treaty was negotiated granting the Danes the village of [[Tranquebar]] (or Tarangamabadi) on India's south coast<ref>{{Cite book |last=Larsen |first=Kay |title=Volume 1 of Dansk-Ostindiske Koloniers historie: Trankebar |publisher=Jørgensen |year=1907 |pages=167–169}}</ref> and the right to construct a "stone house" ([[Fort Dansborg]]) and levy taxes.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bredsdorff |first=Asta |title=The Trials and Travels of Willem Leyel: An Account of the Danish East India Company in Tranquebar, 1639–48 |publisher=Museum Tusculanum Press |year=2009 |isbn=9788763530231 |page=13}}</ref> The treaty was signed on 20 November 1620, establishing [[Danish India|Denmark's first colony in India]]. Christian also assigned the privilege establishing the [[Danish East India Company]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gronseth |first=Kristian |year=2007 |title=A Little Piece of Denmark in India |url=https://www.duo.uio.no/bitstream/handle/10852/16719/Completexxversionx6.1xxmedxinnholdsfortegnelse.pdf?sequence=1 |access-date=7 July 2013 |publisher=Department of Social Anthropology, University of Oslo |format=PDF |ref=Gronseth}}</ref>

===Kalmar War===
{{Main|Kalmar War}}
In 1611, he first put his newly organised army to use. Despite the reluctance of ''Rigsrådet'', Christian initiated a war with Sweden for the supremacy of the [[Baltic Sea]].<ref name="gad" /> It was later known as the [[Kalmar War]] because its chief operation was the Danish capture of [[Kalmar]], the southernmost fortress of Sweden. Christian compelled King [[Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden]] to give way on all essential points at the resulting [[Treaty of Knäred]] of 20 January 1613.<ref name="Britannica" /> However, despite Denmark's greater strength, the gains of the war were not decisive.<ref name="gad" />

He now turned his attention to the [[Thirty Years' War]] in Germany. Here, his objectives were twofold: first, to obtain control of the great German rivers—the [[Elbe]] and the [[Weser]]—as a means of securing his dominion of the northern seas; and secondly, to acquire the secularised German [[Archdiocese of Bremen]] and [[Prince-Bishopric of Verden]] as [[appanage]]s for his younger sons. He skillfully took advantage of the alarm of the German [[Protestant]]s after the [[Battle of White Mountain]] in 1620, to secure co-adjutorship of the See of Bremen for his son [[Frederick III of Denmark|Frederick]] (September 1621). A similar arrangement was reached in November at [[Verden (Aller)|Verden]]. Hamburg was also induced to acknowledge the Danish overlordship of [[Holstein]] by the [[compact of Steinburg]] in July 1621.<ref name="Britannica" />

===Thirty Years' War===
{{Main|Thirty Years' War}}
[[File:ChristianIV of denmark receives homage.jpg|thumb|left|Christian IV receives homage from the countries of Europe as mediator in the [[Thirty Years' War]].<br/>[[Grisaille]] by [[Adrian van de Venne]], 1643.]]
Christian IV had obtained for his kingdom a level of stability and wealth that was virtually unmatched elsewhere in Europe.<ref>Paul D. Lockhart, ''Denmark, 1513–1660: the Rise and Decline of a Renaissance Monarchy'' (Oxford University Press, 2007).</ref> Denmark was funded by tolls on the [[Øresund]] and also by extensive war-reparations from Sweden.<ref>Wilson, Peter. "Europe's Tragedy". Penguin, 2009, pp.&nbsp;400–433</ref> Denmark's intervention in the Thirty Years' War was aided by France and by Charles I of England, who agreed to help subsidise the war partly because Christian was the uncle of both the Stuart king and his sister [[Elizabeth of Bohemia]] through their mother, [[Anne of Denmark]]. Some 13,700 Scottish soldiers were to be sent as allies to help Christian IV under the command of General [[Robert Maxwell, 1st Earl of Nithsdale]].<ref>Murdoch and Grosjean, pp. 43–46</ref> Moreover, some 6000 English troops under Sir [[Charles Morgan (military governor)|Charles Morgan]] also eventually arrived to bolster the defence of Denmark though it took longer for these to arrive than Christian hoped, not least due to the ongoing British campaigns against France and Spain. Thus Christian, as war-leader of the Lower Saxon Circle, entered the war with an army of only 20,000 mercenaries, some of his allies from Britain and a national army 15,000 strong, leading them as Duke of Holstein rather than as King of Denmark.

Despite the growing power of Roman Catholics in North Germany, and the threat to the Danish holdings in the [[Schleswig-Holstein]] duchies, Christian for a time stayed his hand. The urgent solicitations of other powers, and his fear that Gustavus Adolphus should supplant him as the champion of the Protestant cause, finally led him to enter the war on 9 May 1625.<ref name="Britannica" /> He also feared that Sweden could use a war to further expand their holdings in the Baltic Sea. Christian embarked on a military campaign which was later known in Denmark and Norway as "The Emperor War" ({{langx|da|Kejserkrigen}}, {{langx|no|Keiserkrigen}}).<ref>{{Cite book |last=Lockhart |first=Paul Douglas |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TkteH2TrSSsC&pg=PA166 |title=Denmark, 1513–1660: the Rise and Decline of a Renaissance Monarchy |publisher=[[Oxford University]] Press |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-19-927121-4 |page=166 |access-date=7 August 2009}}</ref>

He had at his disposal from 19,000 to 25,000 people, and at first gained some successes but on 27 August 1626 he was routed by [[Johan Tzerclaes, Count of Tilly]] in the [[Battle of Lutter]].<ref name="Britannica" /> Christian had not thoroughly planned the advance against the combined forces of the [[Holy Roman Emperor]] and the [[Catholic League (German)|Catholic League]], as promises of military support from the Netherlands and England did not materialise.<ref name="kejserkrigen">"Gads Historieleksikon", 3rd edition, 2006. Paul Ulff-Møller, "''Kejserkrigen''", p. 352. {{ISBN|87-12-04259-5}}</ref> In the summer of 1627 both Tilly and [[Albrecht von Wallenstein]] occupied the duchies and the whole peninsula of [[Jutland]].<ref name="Britannica" />

Christian now formed an alliance with Sweden on 1 January 1628, as he and Gustavus Adolphus shared the reluctance of German expansion in the Baltic region.<ref name="kejserkrigen" /> Gustavus Adolphus pledged to assist Denmark with a fleet in case of need, and shortly afterwards a Swedo-Danish army and fleet compelled Wallenstein to raise the [[Battle of Stralsund (1628)|siege of Stralsund]]. Thus with the help of Sweden, the superior sea-power enabled Denmark to tide over her worst difficulties, and in May 1629 Christian was able to conclude peace with the emperor in the [[Treaty of Lübeck]], without any diminution of territory.<ref name="Britannica" /> However, the treaty bound Christian not to interfere in the Thirty Years' War any further, removing any Danish obstacles when Gustavus Adolphus entered the war in 1630.<ref name="kejserkrigen" />

===Containment of Sweden===
[[File:Karel van Mander III (1606-70) - Christian IV, King of Denmark (1577-1648) - RCIN 402924 - Royal Collection.jpg|thumb|Portrait by [[Karel van Mander III]], 1640]]
Christian's foreign policy did not suffer from lack of confidence following the Danish defeat in The Thirty Years' War. To compensate for lacking export revenues, and also in order to stifle the Swedish advances in the Thirty Years' War, Christian enacted a number of increases in the [[Sound Dues]] throughout the 1630s.<ref name="gad" /> Christian gained both in popularity and influence at home, and he hoped to increase his external power still further with the assistance of his sons-in-law, [[Corfitz Ulfeldt (1606–1664)|Corfitz Ulfeldt]] and [[Hannibal Sehested (governor)|Hannibal Sehested]], who now came prominently forward.<ref name="Britannica" />

Between 1629 and 1643 the European situation presented infinite possibilities to politicians with a taste for adventure. However, Christian was incapable of a consistent diplomatic policy. He would neither conciliate Sweden, henceforth his most dangerous enemy, nor guard himself against her by a definite system of counter-alliances.<ref name="Britannica" /> Christian contacted the Roman Catholic part of the Thirty Years' War, and offered to broker a deal with Sweden. However, his mediating was highly skewed in favour of the Holy Roman Emperor, and was a transparent attempt at minimising the Swedish influence in the Baltics.<ref name="torstensson">"Gads Historieleksikon", 3rd edition, 2006. Paul Ulff-Møller, "''Torstensson-krigen''", pp. 658–659. {{ISBN|87-12-04259-5}}</ref> His Scandinavian policy was so irritating and vexatious that Swedish statesmen advocated for a war with Denmark, to keep Christian from interfering in the peace negotiations with the Holy Roman Emperor, and in May 1643, Christian faced another war against Sweden.<ref name="Britannica" /> The increased Sound Dues had alienated the Dutch, who turned to support Sweden.<ref name="gad" />

===Torstenson War===
{{Main|Torstenson War}}
[[File:Christian IV by Vilhelm Marstrand.png|thumb|left|Christian IV at the [[Battle of Colberger Heide]]]]

Sweden was able, thanks to their conquests in the Thirty Years' War, to attack Denmark from the south as well as the east; the Dutch alliance promised to secure them at sea. In May 1643 the Swedish [[Privy Council of Sweden|Privy Council]] decided upon war; on 12 December the Swedish [[List of Swedish Field Marshals|Field Marshal]] [[Lennart Torstensson]], advancing from [[Bohemia]], crossed the southern frontier of Denmark; and by the end of January 1644 the whole peninsula of [[Jutland]] was in Swedish hands. This unexpected attack, conducted from first to last with consummate ability and lightning-like rapidity, had a paralysing effect upon Denmark.<ref name="Britannica" />

In his sixty-sixth year he once more displayed something of the energy of his triumphant youth. Night and day he laboured to levy armies and equip fleets. Fortunately for him, the Swedish government delayed hostilities in [[Scania]] until February 1644, and the Danes were able to make adequate defensive preparations and save the important fortress of [[Malmö]].<ref name="Britannica" /> The Danish fleet prevented Torstensson crossing from Jutland to [[Funen]], and defeated the Dutch auxiliary fleet which came to Torstensson's assistance at the [[action of 16 May 1644]].<ref name="torstensson" /> Another attempt to transport Torstensson and his army to the Danish islands by a large Swedish fleet was frustrated by Christian IV in person on 1 July 1644. On that day the two fleets encountered at the [[Battle of Colberger Heide]]. As Christian stood on the quarterdeck of the ''Trinity'', a cannon close by was exploded by a Swedish cannonball, and splinters of wood and metal wounded the king in thirteen places, blinding one eye and flinging him to the deck. But he was instantly on his feet again, cried with a loud voice that it was well with him, and set every one an example of duty by remaining on deck until the fight was over. Darkness at last separated the contending fleets; and the battle was drawn.<ref name="Britannica" />

The Danish fleet subsequently blockaded the Swedish ships in the [[Bay of Kiel]]. But the Swedish fleet escaped, and the annihilation of the Danish fleet by the combined navies of Sweden and the Netherlands, after an obstinate [[Battle of Fehmarn (1644)|fight between Fehmarn and Lolland]] at the end of September, exhausted the military resources of Denmark and compelled Christian to accept the mediation of France and the Netherlands; and peace was finally signed with the [[Second Treaty of Brömsebro (1645)|Treaty of Brömsebro]] on 8 February 1645.<ref name="Britannica" /> Here Denmark had to cede [[Gotland]], [[Saaremaa|Ösel]] and (for thirty years) [[Halland]], while Norway lost the two provinces [[Jämtland]] and [[Härjedalen]], giving Sweden the supremacy of the Baltic Sea.<ref name="torstensson" />

===Norwegian issue===
[[File:Dankaerts-Historis-9253.tif|thumb|Engraving of Christian IV]]
Christian IV spent more time in the kingdom of Norway than any other Oldenburg monarch and no Oldenburg king made such a lasting impression on the Norwegian people. He visited the country a number of times and founded four cities. He also established and took control over one silver mine ([[Kongsberg (town)|Kongsberg]]), one copper mine ([[Røros (town)|Røros]] in [[Trøndelag]]), and tried to make an iron plant with limited success in [[Eiker]]. In 1647 he gave the crown privileges of the [[Røros Copper Works]] to his banker and his privy councillor ([[Geheimrat]]) [[Joachim Irgens von Westervick]], including rights to forests and water resources within a circle of diameter 90 kilometers. Christian also restored and restructured the castle [[Akershus Fortress|Akershus]], where he invited the people of Norway to the official and age-old installment of the king in 1590, and again in 1610.

When the king was busy overseeing the reparations and re-building of the fortress at Oslo, he lived in the country all summer, and at the same time tried to establish a centre for producing iron at [[Eiker]] in [[Buskerud]]. History tells he actually ruled the entire kingdom from this area in the summer of 1603.

In 1623, Christian again visited Norway for an entire summer, this time to oversee the foundation of [[Kongsberg (town)|Kongsberg]]. He was also present in the area in 1624, when Oslo burned in August of that year. The king was able to reach the area in a few weeks, being in Eiker. Over the years, fire had destroyed major parts of the city many times, as many of the city's buildings were built entirely of wood. After the fire in 1624 which lasted for three days, Christian IV decided that the old city should not be rebuilt again. He decided that the new town be rebuilt in the area below [[Akershus Fortress]], a castle which later was converted into a palace and royal residence. His men built a network of roads in Akershagen and demanded that all citizens should move their shops and workplaces to the newly built city of Christiania.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History of Oslo |url=http://www.visitoslo.com/en/articles/history/ |access-date=15 August 2016 |publisher=visitoslo}}</ref>

===Securing the Northern Lands under the Danish-Norwegian Crown===
During the fourteenth century the Swedish kings tried to push the areas of their control towards the north, and contemporary maps depicted the now Norwegian coastal areas of [[Troms]] and [[Finnmark]] as a part of Sweden. The possibly boldest move of any Danish-Norwegian regent was to make a voyage to the Northern Lands to secure these lands under the [[Danish-Norwegian]] crown.

===Last years and death===
[[File:Roskilde Dom05.jpg|thumb|Chapel of Christian IV at Roskilde Cathedral]]

After the Torstenson War, ''Rigsrådet'' took on an increasing role, under the leadership of [[Corfitz Ulfeldt]] and [[Hannibal Sehested (governor)|Hannibal Sehested]].<ref name="gad" /> The last years of Christian's life were embittered by sordid differences with his sons-in-law, especially with Corfitz Ulfeldt.

His personal obsession with witchcraft led to the public execution of some of his subjects during the [[Witch trials in the early modern period|Burning Times]]. He was responsible for several witch burnings, including 21 people in Iceland, and most notably the conviction and execution of [[Maren Spliid (Splids)|Maren Spliid]], who was victim of a [[witch hunt]] at Ribe and was burned at the Gallows Hill near [[Ribe]] on 9 November 1641.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Maren Spliid – The Witch |url=http://www.danhostel-ribe.dk/en/maren-spliid-witch |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180108175715/http://www.danhostel-ribe.dk/en/maren-spliid-witch |archive-date=8 January 2018 |access-date=15 August 2016 |publisher=danhostel-ribe.dk}}</ref>

On 21 February 1648, at his earnest request, he was carried in a litter from [[Frederiksborg Palace|Frederiksborg]] to his beloved [[Copenhagen]], where he died a week later.<ref name="Britannica" /> He was buried in [[Roskilde Cathedral]]. The chapel of Christian IV had been completed 6 years before the King died.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Roskilde Cathedral – Royal Burial Plot |url=http://www.copenhagenet.dk/CPH-Roskilde.htm |access-date=15 August 2016 |publisher=copenhagenet.dk}}</ref>

==Cultural king==
Christian was reckoned a typical renaissance king, and excelled in hiring musicians and artists from all over Europe. Many English musicians were employed by him at several times, among them [[William Brade]], [[John Bull (composer)|John Bull]] and [[John Dowland]]. Dowland accompanied the king on his tours, and as he was employed in 1603, rumour has it he was in Norway as well. Christian was an agile dancer, and his court was reckoned the second most "musical" court in Europe, only ranking behind that of [[Elizabeth I of England]]. Christian maintained good contact with his sister Anne, who was married to King James. Christian asked Anne to request for him the services of Thomas Cutting, a lutenist employed by [[Arbella Stewart]].<ref>Sara Jayne Steen, ''Letters of Arbella Stewart'' (Oxford, 1994), pp. 224–227.</ref> His other sister, [[Elizabeth of Denmark, Duchess of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel|Elizabeth]], was married to the [[Henry Julius, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg|Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg]], and artists and musicians travelled freely between the courts.

==City foundations==
Christian IV is renowned for his many city (town) foundations, and is most likely the [[Nordic countries|Nordic]] [[head of state]] that can be accredited for the highest number of new cities in his [[realm]]. These towns/cities are:
* [[Kristianopel|Christianopel]], now Kristianopel in Sweden. Founded in 1599 in the then Danish territory of [[Blekinge]] as a garrison town near the then Danish-Swedish border.
* [[Kristianstad|Christianstad]], now Kristianstad in Sweden. Founded in 1614 in the then Danish territory of [[Skåne]].
* [[Glückstadt]], now in Germany, founded in 1617 as a rival to [[Hamburg]] in the then Danish territory of [[Holstein]].
* [[Christianshavn]], now part of Copenhagen, Denmark, founded as a fortification/garrison town in 1619. It also houses [[Freetown Christiania]], a planned commune.
* [[Kongsberg (town)|''Konningsberg'']] (King's Mountain), now Kongsberg in Norway, founded as an industrial town in 1624 after the discovery of silver [[ore]]s.
* [[Oslo|Christiania]], now Oslo in Norway. After a devastating fire in 1624 the king ordered the old city of Oslo to be moved closer to the fortification of [[Akershus Fortress|Akershus slot]] and also renamed it Christiania. The city name was altered to Kristiania in 1877 and then back to Oslo in 1924. The original town of Christian is now known as ''Kvadraturen'' = ''The Quarters''.
* [[Kristiansand (town)|Christian(s)sand]], now Kristiansand in Norway, founded in 1641 to promote trade at the {{Interlanguage link|Agdesiden len|no}} in Southern Norway.
* [[Røros (town)|Røros]], now in Norway, founded as an industrial town after the discovery of copper ores.

A short-lived town was:
* [[Christianspris]], now in [[Schleswig]], Germany, founded as a garrison town near [[Kiel]] in the then Danish territory of Holstein.

Furthermore, Christian is known for erecting many important buildings in his realm, including the observatory [[Rundetårn]], the [[stock exchange]] [[Børsen]], the Copenhagen fortress [[Kastellet, Copenhagen|Kastellet]], [[Rosenborg Castle]], workers' district [[Nyboder]]'','' the Copenhagen naval [[Holmen Church]] (Holmens Kirke), [[Proviantgården]], a brewery, the [[Tøjhus Museum]] [[arsenal]], and two Trinity Churches in Copenhagen and modern Kristianstad, now known as respectively [[Trinitatis Church]] and [[Trinity Church, Kristianstad|Holy Trinity Church]]. Christian converted [[Frederiksborg Castle]] to a [[Renaissance]] palace and completely rebuilt [[Kronborg Castle]] to a fortress. He also founded the [[Danish East India Company]] (''Asiatisk Kompagni'') inspired by the similar [[Dutch East India Company|Dutch company]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Asiatisk Kompagni |url=http://denstoredanske.dk/Geografi_og_historie/%C3%98konomisk_historie/Asiatisk_Kompagni |access-date=15 August 2016 |publisher=Dansk biografisk Lexikon}}</ref>

==Legacy==
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Christian is the longest-reigning monarch in Scandinavian history in terms of holding the title.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 December 2020 |title=Christian IV and the use of history |url=https://nordics.info/show/artikel/christian-iv-and-the-use-of-history |access-date=17 August 2023 |publisher=Aarhus University}}</ref> However, the [[Danish royal family|Danish Royal House]] recognized [[Margrethe II]] as having the official record in July 2023.<ref name="reign">{{Cite news |last=Chiu |first=David |date=18 July 2023 |title=Queen Margrethe Just Made History as Denmark's Longest-Reigning Monarch – See the New Record |url=https://people.com/queen-margrethe-makes-history-longest-reigning-monarch-denmark-7562644 |access-date=15 January 2024 |publisher=People}}</ref><ref name="record">{{Cite news |last=Rasmussen |first=Louise |last2=Birkebaek |first2=Johannes |date=11 January 2024 |title=Queen Margrethe, Denmark's uniting figure, set to step down from throne |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/queen-margrethe-denmarks-uniting-figure-set-step-down-throne-2024-01-11/ |access-date=15 January 2024 |publisher=Reuters}}</ref> The Danish Royal House noted that Christian IV was not of the legal age to become King upon his father's death, which resulted in a "guardian government" being installed until he was officially installed as King in 1596.<ref name="reign" /> When Christian was crowned king, [[Denmark-Norway]] held a supremacy over the Baltic Sea, which he lost to Sweden. Nevertheless, Christian was one of the few kings from the [[House of Oldenburg]] that achieved a lasting legacy of popularity with both the Danish and Norwegian people. As such, he featured in the Danish national play ''[[Elverhøj]]''. Furthermore, his great building activities also furthered his popularity.<ref name="gad" />

Christian IV spoke Danish, German, [[Latin]], French and Italian. Naturally cheerful and hospitable, he delighted in lively society; but he was also passionate, irritable and sensual. He had courage, a vivid sense of duty, an indefatigable love of work, and all the inquisitive zeal and inventive energy of a born reformer. His own pleasure, whether it took the form of love or ambition, was always his first consideration. His capacity for drink was proverbial: when he visited England in 1606, even the notoriously hard-drinking English Court were astonished by his alcohol consumption. In the heyday of his youth his high spirits and passion for adventure enabled him to surmount every obstacle with elan. But in the decline of life he reaped the bitter fruits of his lack of self-control, and sank into the grave a weary and brokenhearted old man.<ref name="Britannica" />

The [[Christian IV Glacier]] in [[Greenland]] is named after him.

===In fiction===
*Christian IV is depicted as a brilliant but hard-drinking monarch in the [[Eric Flint]] and [[David Weber]] alternate-history novels ''[[1634: The Baltic War]]'' and ''[[1637: No Peace Beyond the Line]]''.
*Christian IV is featured several times in the book series ''[[The Legend of the Ice People]]''.
*Christian IV also features prominently in the novel ''[[Music and Silence]]'' by [[Rose Tremain]], which is primarily set in and around the Danish court in the years 1629 and 1630.
*Christian IV is depicted as a foul-natured person, but a good king who did a lot to make his realm flourish, by the Danish alternative music band [[Mew (band)|Mew]] in their song, [[King Christian (Song)|"King Christian"]].
*Christian IV (Danish title: [[Christian IV – Den sidste rejse]] (2018) is a biographical movie, focusing on His Majesty King Christian IV's stormy relationship to [[Kirsten Munk]], and the crucial last hours on his journey from [[Frederiksborg Castle]] to [[Rosenborg Castle]] on his deathbed. The turning point is Christian IV's and Kirsten Munk's turbulent marriage with accusations of infidelity and attempted murder.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Christian IV |url=https://www.dfi.dk/en/viden-om-film/filmdatabasen/film/christian-iv-den-sidste-rejse |access-date=28 May 2022 |website=umafilm.dk}}</ref>

==Issue and private life==
[[File:Christian IV and Anne Cathrine.jpg|thumb|King Christian IV and Queen [[Anne Catherine of Brandenburg|Anne Catherine]] with the [[Christian, Prince Elect of Denmark|Prince-Elect]]. It was originally two separate portraits. The King was painted by [[Pieter Isaacsz]], c.&nbsp;1612]]

His first queen was [[Anne Catherine of Brandenburg|Anne Catherine]]. They were married from 1597 to 1612. She died after bearing Christian seven children. In 1615, three years after her death, the king privately married [[Kirsten Munk]], by whom he had twelve more children.<ref name="Britannica">{{EB1911 |inline=y |last=Bain |first=Robert Nisbet |author-link=Robert Nisbet Bain |wstitle=Christian IV. |volume=6 |pages=276–277 }}</ref>

In 1632, an English envoy to king Christian IV, then aged 55, primly remarked, "Such is the life of that king: to drink all day and to lie with a whore every night".<ref>Geoffrey Parker, ''Global Crisis: War, Climate Change, and Catastrophe in the Seventeenth Century</ref>

In the course of 1628, Christian discovered that his wife, Kirsten Munk, was having a relationship with one of his German officers, so he had Kirsten placed under house arrest. She endeavoured to cover up her own disgrace by conniving at an intrigue between [[Vibeke Kruse]], one of her discharged maids, and the king. In January 1630, the rupture became final, and Kirsten retired to her estates in [[Jutland]]. Meanwhile, Christian openly acknowledged Vibeke as his mistress, and they had several children.<ref name="Britannica" />

With his first wife, [[Anne Catherine of Brandenburg]], he fathered the following children:
*Stillborn son (1598).<ref>[http://gen.cookancestry.com/getperson.php?personID=I40821&tree=1 ''Son Oldenburg 1598–1598'' in Gen.cookancestry.com] [retrieved 16 June 2014].</ref>
*Frederik (15 August 1599 – 9 September 1599), died in infancy.
*[[Christian, Prince Elect of Denmark|Christian]] (10 April 1603 – 2 June 1647).
*Sophie (4 January 1605 – 7 September 1605), died in infancy.
*Elisabeth (16 March 1606 – 24 October 1608), died in early childhood.
*[[Frederick III of Denmark|Frederick III]] (18 March 1609 – 9 February 1670).
*[[Ulrik of Denmark (1611–1633)|Ulrik]] (2 February 1611 – 12 August 1633); murdered, administrator of the [[Bishopric of Schwerin|Prince-Bishopric of Schwerin]] as Ulrich III (1624–1633).

[[File:Kirsten Munk, målning av Jacob van Dort från 1623.jpg|thumb|[[Kirsten Munk]] and her children as portrayed by [[Jacob van Doordt]], 1623.]]
With his second wife, [[Kirsten Munk]], he had 12 children, though the youngest, Dorothea Elisabeth, was rumoured to be the daughter of Kirsten's lover, Otto Ludwig:
*Stillborn child (b. & d. 1615).
*Unnamed infant (b. & d. 1617).
*Countess Anna Cathrine of Schleswig-Holstein (10 August 1618 – 20 August 1633); married Frands Rantzau but died in adolescence.
*[[Sophie Elisabeth Pentz|Countess Sophie Elisabeth of Schleswig-Holstein]] (20 September 1619 – 29 April 1657); married Christian on Pentz.
*[[Leonora Christina Ulfeldt|Countess Leonora Christina of Schleswig-Holstein]] (8 July 1621 – 16 March 1698); married [[Corfitz Ulfeldt (1606–1664)|Corfitz Ulfeldt]].
*Count [[Valdemar Christian of Schleswig-Holstein]] (26 June 1622 – 26 February 1656).
*[[Elisabeth Augusta Lindenov|Countess Elisabeth Auguste of Schleswig-Holstein]] (28 December 1623 – 9 August 1677); married Hans Lindenov.
*Count Friedrich Christian of Schleswig-Holstein (26 April 1625 – 17 July 1627), died in early childhood.
*[[Christiane Sehested|Countess Christiane of Schleswig-Holstein]] (15 July 1626 – 6 May 1670); married [[Hannibal Sehested (governor)|Hannibal Sehested]].
*[[Hedevig Ulfeldt|Countess Hedwig of Schleswig-Holstein]] (15 July 1626 – 5 October 1678); married Ebbe Ulfeldt.
*Countess Maria Katharina of Schleswig-Holstein (29 May 1628 – 1 September 1628), died in infancy.
*[[Dorothea Elisabeth Christiansdatter|Countess Dorothea Elisabeth of Schleswig-Holstein]] (1 September 1629 – 18 March 1687).

With [[Kirsten Madsdatter]]:
*[[Christian Ulrik Gyldenløve]] (1611–1640).

With [[Karen Andersdatter]]:
*Dorothea Elisabeth Gyldenløve (1613–1615), died in early childhood.
*[[Hans Ulrik Gyldenløve]] (1615–1645).

With [[Vibeke Kruse]]:
*[[Ulrik Christian Gyldenløve (1630-1658)|Ulrik Christian Gyldenløve]] (1630–1658).
*Elisabeth Sophia Gyldenløve (1633–1654); married Major-General Klaus Ahlefeld.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Christian IV av CL Jacobsen 2.jpg| Statue of King Christian IV in Oslo 
File:Kr-iv-ks ubt.jpeg|Statue of Christian IV in Kristiansand 
File:Nyboder 2005-03.jpg| Statue of Christian IV in Copenhagen 
File:Frederiksborg slot - Interior 20090818 03.jpg | Bust of Christian IV at Frederiksborg Castle
File:Kong Christian Den Fjerde i Roskilde Domkirke.jpg|Sculpture by Christian IV in Roskilde Cathedral by [[Bertel Thorvaldsen]]
File:Chr IV rådhuset Kristianstad.jpg| Statue of Christian IV at the city hall in Kristianstad by [[Bertel Thorvaldsen]]
File:Kungamöte-2.JPG|Sculpture of Christian IV meeting the king of Sweden, [[Gustav II Adolf]] in [[Halmstad]] 
</gallery>

==Ancestry==
{{unreferenced section|date=February 2016 }}
{{ahnentafel
|collapsed=yes |align=center
|boxstyle_1=background-color: #fcc;
|boxstyle_2=background-color: #fb9;
|boxstyle_3=background-color: #ffc;
|boxstyle_4=background-color: #bfc;
|1= 1. '''Christian IV of Denmark'''
|2= 2. [[Frederick II of Denmark]]
|3= 3. [[Sophie of Mecklenburg-Güstrow]]
|4= 4. [[Christian III of Denmark]]
|5= 5. [[Dorothea of Saxe-Lauenburg]]
|6= 6. [[Ulrich, Duke of Mecklenburg]]
|7= 7. [[Elizabeth of Denmark, Duchess of Mecklenburg|Elizabeth of Denmark]]
|8= 8. [[Frederick I of Denmark]] (=#14)
|9= 9. [[Anna of Brandenburg]]
|10= 10. [[Magnus I, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg]]
|11= 11. Catherine of Brunswick
|12= 12. [[Albrecht VII, Duke of Mecklenburg]]
|13= 13. [[Anna of Brandenburg, Duchess of Mecklenburg|Anna of Brandenburg]]
|14= 14. [[Frederick I of Denmark]] (=#8)
|15= 15. [[Sophie of Pomerania]]
}}

==Titles and style==
In the 1621 Treaty of The Hague and Treaty of Bremen between [[Denmark-Norway]] and the Dutch Republic, Christian was styled "Lord Christian the Fourth, King of [[list of Danish kings|all Denmark]] and [[list of Norwegian kings|Norway]], the [[list of kings of the Goths|Goths]] and the [[list of kings of the Wends|Wends]], duke of [[list of dukes of Schleswig|Schleswig]], [[list of dukes of Holstein|Holstein]], [[list of dukes of Stormarn|Stormarn]], and [[list of dukes of Ditmarsh|Ditmarsh]], count of [[list of counts of Oldenburg|Oldenburg]] and [[list of counts of Delmenhorst|Delmenhorst]], etc."<ref>"[https://books.google.com/books?id=mDPF4ILESaUC&pg=PA277 Treaty of the Hague]". {{in lang|nl}} In Davenport, Frances G. ''European Treaties Bearing on the History of the United States and Its Dependencies''. The Lawbook Exchange, Ltd., 2004.</ref><ref>"[https://books.google.com/books?id=mDPF4ILESaUC&pg=PA281 Treaty of Bremen]". {{in lang|nl}} In Davenport, Frances G. ''European Treaties Bearing on the History of the United States and Its Dependencies''. The Lawbook Exchange, Ltd., 2004.</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* Lockhart, Paul D. ''Denmark in the Thirty Years’ War, 1618–1648: King Christian IV and the Decline of the Oldenburg State'' (Susquehanna University Press, 1996) 
* Lockhart, Paul D. ''Denmark, 1513–1660: the Rise and Decline of a Renaissance Monarchy'' (Oxford University Press, 2007).
* {{Cite book |last=Scocozza |first=Benito |title=Politikens bog om danske monarker |publisher=Politikens Forlag |year=1997 |isbn=87-567-5772-7 |location=Copenhagen |pages=125–136 |language=da |trans-title=Politiken's book about Danish monarchs |chapter=Christian 4}}
* Scocozza, Benito, ''Christian IV'', 2006 {{ISBN|978-87-567-7633-2}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Christian IV of Denmark}}
* [http://kongehuset.dk/english/the-monarchy-in-denmark/The-Royal-Lineage The Royal Lineage] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150314224944/http://kongehuset.dk/english/the-monarchy-in-denmark/The-Royal-Lineage |date=14 March 2015 }} at the website of the [[Danish Monarchy]]
* [http://www.kongernessamling.dk/en/rosenborg/person/christian-iv/ Christian IV] at the website of the Royal Danish Collection
* {{Cite AmCyc|wstitle=Christian (Danish kings)|display=Christian, the name of nine kings of Denmark. II. Christian IV. |short=x}}
* [https://www.exclassics.com/nugae/nugae0022.htm Harington's account of the drunken masque.]

{{S-start}}
{{S-hou|[[House of Oldenburg]]|12 April|1577|28 February|1648}}
{{S-reg}}
{{S-bef|before=[[Frederick II of Denmark|Frederick II]]}}
{{S-ttl|title=[[List of Danish monarchs|King of Denmark]] and [[List of Norwegian monarchs|Norway]]|years=1588–1648}}
{{S-aft|after=[[Frederick III of Denmark|Frederick III]]}}
{{s-bef|rows=1|before=[[Frederick II of Denmark|Frederick II]]<br>and [[Philip, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp|Philip]]}}
{{s-ttl|rows=1|title=[[List of rulers of Schleswig-Holstein#House of Oldenburg (1580–1640)|Duke of Holstein and Schleswig]]|regent1=[[Philip, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp|Philip]]|years1=1588–1590|regent2=[[John Adolf, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp|John Adolf]]|years2=1590–1616|regent3=[[Frederick III, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp|Frederick III]]|years3=1616–1648|years=1588–1648}}
{{s-aft|rows=1|after=[[Frederick III of Denmark|Frederick III (Denmark)]] and <br>[[Frederick III, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp|Frederick III (Gottorp)]]}}
{{S-bef|before=[[Otto V of Schaumburg|Otto V]]}}
{{S-ttl|title=[[Counts of Schauenburg and Holstein#Schaumburg partition of 1640|Count of Holstein-Pinneberg]]|years=1640}}
{{s-non|reason=Holstein-Pinneberg<br>merged into the<br>[[Duchy of Holstein]]}}
{{S-end}}

{{Monarchs of Denmark}}
{{Monarchs of Norway}}
{{Monarchs of Iceland}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Christian IV of Denmark| ]]
[[Category:1577 births]]
[[Category:1648 deaths]]
[[Category:16th-century monarchs of Denmark]]
[[Category:17th-century monarchs of Denmark]]
[[Category:16th-century Norwegian monarchs]]
[[Category:17th-century Norwegian monarchs]]
[[Category:People from Hillerød Municipality]]
[[Category:Dukes of Schleswig]]
[[Category:Dukes of Holstein]]
[[Category:People from Denmark–Norway]]
[[Category:Danish people of the Thirty Years' War]]
[[Category:Burials at Roskilde Cathedral]]
[[Category:Extra Knights Companion of the Garter]]
[[Category:People of the Kalmar War]]
[[Category:Children of Frederick II of Denmark]]
[[Category:Sons of kings]]
[[Category:Protestant monarchs]]