Editing Christian VII

{{Short description|King of Denmark and Norway from 1766 to 1808}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{Infobox royalty
|name           = Christian VII
|image          = Christian VII 1772 by Roslin.jpg
|caption        = Portrait by [[Alexander Roslin]], {{circa}}&nbsp;1772 
|succession     = [[List of Danish monarchs|King of Denmark]] and [[List of Norwegian monarchs|Norway]]
|moretext       = ([[Style of the Danish sovereign|more...]])
|reign          = 14 January 1766&nbsp;– 13 March 1808
|coronation     = 1 May 1767<br />[[Christiansborg Palace Chapel]]
|predecessor    = [[Frederick V of Denmark|Frederick V]]
|successor      = [[Frederick VI of Denmark|Frederick VI]]
| regent = {{Collapsible list|title=''See list''|
*[[Frederick, Hereditary Prince of Denmark|Hereditary Prince Frederick]] (1772–1784)
*[[Frederick VI of Denmark|Crown Prince Frederick]] (1784–1808)}}
|reg-type=Regents
|reg-type1      = {{nowrap|[[List of prime ministers of Denmark|Chief Ministers]]}}
|regent1        = {{Collapsible list|title=''See list''|1=[[Count Johann Hartwig Ernst von Bernstorff]]<br/>[[Johann Friedrich Struensee]]<br/>[[Ove Høegh-Guldberg]]<br/>[[Andreas Peter Bernstorff]]<br/>[[Christian Günther von Bernstorff]]}}
|spouse         = {{marriage|[[Caroline Matilda of Great Britain]]|1766|1772|end=div}}
|issue          = [[Frederick VI of Denmark|Frederick VI]]<br />[[Princess Louise Augusta of Denmark|Louise Auguste, Duchess of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg]] (officially)
|house          = [[House of Oldenburg|Oldenburg]]
|father         = [[Frederick V of Denmark]]
|mother         = [[Louise of Great Britain]]
|birth_date     = {{Birth date|1749|1|29|df=y}}
|birth_place    = [[Christiansborg Palace]], Copenhagen, Denmark
|death_date     = {{Death date and age|1808|3|13|1749|1|29|df=y}}
|death_place    = [[Rendsburg]], [[Duchy of Holstein]]
|burial_place   = [[Roskilde Cathedral]]
|religion       = [[Lutheran]]
|signature      = Signature of Christian VII of Denmark.svg
}}

'''Christian VII''' (29 January 1749 – 13 March 1808) was King of [[Denmark–Norway|Denmark and Norway]] and Duke of [[Duchy of Schleswig|Schleswig]] and [[Duchy of Holstein|Holstein]] from 1766 until his death in 1808. He was affected by mental illness and was only nominally king for most of his reign. His royal advisers changed depending on the outcome of power struggles. From 1770 to 1772, his court physician [[Johann Friedrich Struensee]] was the ''de facto'' ruler of the country and introduced progressive reforms signed into law by the king. Struensee was deposed by a coup in 1772, after which the country was ruled by Christian's stepmother, Queen Dowager [[Juliane Marie of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel]], his half-brother Hereditary Prince [[Frederick, Hereditary Prince of Denmark|Frederick]], and the Danish politician [[Ove Høegh-Guldberg]]. From 1784 until Christian VII's death in 1808, Christian's son, later [[Frederick VI of Denmark|Frederick VI]], acted as unofficial [[prince regent]].<ref>{{cite web|url=   http://www.kongernessamling.dk/en/rosenborg/person/frederik-the-heir-presumptive/|title=  Frederik the Heir Presumptive|publisher =   kongernessamling|access-date= 15 August 2016}}</ref>

==Early life ==
===Birth and family===
[[File:Thefirstchristiansborg copenhagen.jpg|thumb|left|Christian's birthplace, [[Christiansborg Palace]] in [[Copenhagen]], {{circa|1750}}]]
[[File:Christoph Willibald Gluck - La contesa dei numi - titlepage of the libretto - Kopenhagen 1749.png|left|thumb|287x287px|Title page of the [[libretto]] for ''[[La Contesa dei Numi]]'', Copenhagen, 1749]]
Christian was born in the early hours of the morning on 29 January 1749 at [[Christiansborg Palace (1st)|Christiansborg Palace]], the royal residence in [[Copenhagen]].<ref name="kirkeboeger">{{ cite web | url=http://www.historie-online.dk/special/daab/kirkeboeger.htm | access-date=18 February 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924030558/http://www.historie-online.dk/special/daab/kirkeboeger.htm | archive-date=24 September 2015 | title=Kongelige i kirkebøgerne | trans-title=Royals in the church records | publisher=Dansk Historisk Fællesråd | website=historie-online.dk | language=da }}</ref> He was the fourth child and second son of the reigning monarch of [[Denmark–Norway]], [[Frederick V of Denmark|King Frederick V]], and his first wife [[Louise of Great Britain]]. The newborn prince was baptized later the same day in the afternoon by the royal [[confessor]] Johannes Bartholomæus Bluhme, and was named after his late grandfather, [[Christian VI of Denmark|King Christian VI]].<ref name="kongeligedaab">{{cite book|first1=Lone|last1=Hindø|first2=Else|last2=Boelskifte|chapter=Gaderne gav genlyd af Frydeskrig|trans-chapter=The streets echoed with shouts of joy|title=Kongelig Dåb. Fjorten generationer ved Rosenborg-døbefonten|trans-title=Royal Baptisms. Fourteen generations at the Rosenborg baptismal font|publisher=Forlaget Hovedland|year=2007|isbn=978-87-7070-014-6|language=da|pages=41–47}}</ref> His [[godparent]]s were King Frederick V (his father), [[Sophie Magdalene of Brandenburg-Kulmbach|Queen Dowager Sophie Magdalene]] (his paternal grandmother), [[Princess Louise of Denmark (1726-1756)|Princess Louise]] (his aunt) and [[Princess Charlotte Amalie of Denmark|Princess Charlotte Amalie]] (his grand-aunt).<ref name="kongeligedaab"/>

A former heir to the throne, also named Christian, had died in infancy in 1747, and the newborn was thus [[crown prince]] from birth; therefore, hopes were high for the future of the new heir apparent. [[Christoph Willibald Gluck]], then conductor of the royal opera troupe, composed the opera ''[[La Contesa dei Numi]]'' (The contention of the gods), in which the [[Twelve Olympians|Olympian gods]] gather at the banks of the [[Great Belt]] and discuss who in particular should protect the new prince.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.kb.dk/da/nb/tema/webudstillinger/Musikalsk_byvandring/Charlottenborg.html| title=Charlottenborg – et stop på din musikalske byvandring gennem København| publisher=The [[Royal Danish Library]]| language=da| access-date=2013-02-16| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110915113716/http://www.kb.dk/da/nb/tema/webudstillinger/Musikalsk_byvandring/Charlottenborg.html| archive-date=15 September 2011}}</ref>

At birth, Christian had two elder sisters, [[Sophia Magdalena of Denmark|Princess Sophia Magdalena]] and [[Princess Wilhelmina Caroline of Denmark|Princess Wilhelmina Caroline]], and the family was joined by another daughter, [[Princess Louise of Denmark (1750–1831)|Princess Louise]] in 1750. In 1751, almost three years after Christian's birth, his mother Queen Louise died during her sixth pregnancy, aged just 27 years.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gravsted.dk/person.php?navn=dronninglouise5fr|title=Louise af Storbritannien|website=gravsted.dk|access-date=21 January 2022|language=da}}</ref> The following year, his father married Duchess [[Juliana Maria of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel]], who gave birth to Christian's half-brother, [[Frederick, Hereditary Prince of Denmark|Prince Frederick]] in 1753.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Holm|first=Edvard|title=Juliane Marie|url=https://runeberg.org/dbl/8/0614.html|year=1894 |journal=[[Dansk Biografisk Leksikon|Dansk biografisk Lexikon, tillige omfattende Norge for tidsrummet 1537-1814]] |volume=8 |edition=1st |location=Copenhagen |publisher=Gyldendals Forlag |pages=612 |language=da }}</ref>

===Childhood and education===
[[File:Christian7as crownprince.jpg|thumb|left|180px|Christian as a boy]]
After the early death of his mother, the prince was largely denied parental affection. His stepmother Queen Juliane Marie showed no interest in him, preferring her biological son Hereditary Prince Frederick. Prone to [[libertinism|debauchery]] and increasingly affected by [[alcoholism]], Christian's father became increasingly indifferent to the shy, sensitive child, who was also prone to epileptic seizures. Nonetheless, early historians state that Christian had a winning personality and considerable talent, but that he was poorly educated and systematically terrorized, and even flogged, by a brutal tutor, Count [[Christian Ditlev Reventlow (1710–1775)|Christian Ditlev Frederik Reventlow]]. He seems to have been intelligent and had periods of clarity, but had severe emotional problems, possibly [[schizophrenia]], as argued by Doctor Viggo Christiansen in ''Christian VII's mental illness'' (1906).{{sfn|Christiansen|1906}} He masturbated frequently, which worried his court physicians and tutor, who thought the practice reduced the prince's fertility and affected his capacity for learning.<ref name=":0" />

== Early reign ==
===Accession===
[[File:Christianviidenmark.jpg|thumb|Coronation portrait of Christian VII by [[Jens Juel (painter)|Jens Juel]]]]
After a long period of infirmity, Frederick V died on 14 January 1766, just 42 years old. At the death of his father, Christian immediately ascended the thrones of Denmark and Norway as their sixth [[Absolute monarchy|absolute monarch]], a few weeks before his 17th birthday. Later the same day, Christian was proclaimed king from the balcony of [[Christiansborg Palace]]. Christian's reign was marked by severe mental illness,<ref>Jan Sjåvik. ''The A to Z of Norway''  p.49</ref> which affected government decisions, and for most of his reign, Christian was only nominally king.<ref name=":0">{{cite book |last= |first= |title=Scandinavia in the Age of Revolution: Nordic Political Cultures, 1740–1820 |publisher=Ashgate |year=2011 |isbn=978-0754698661 |editor-last=Ihalainen |editor-first=Pasi |location=Farnham |pages=73–74 |editor-last2=Bregnsbo |editor-first2=Michael |editor-last3=Sennefelt |editor-first3=Karin |editor-last4=Winton |editor-first4=Patrik}}</ref> His royal advisers changed depending on who won power struggles around the throne. Bored by the politics of being king, a few years after his accesion to the throne, Christian was given a 9 year old slave boy called Moranti, whom he could play games with. The two would eventually become friends, and the king would spend much of his time with the young boy.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Christian 7.: Den gale konge |url=https://museumns.dk/historier/hoersholm/historiske-personer-fra-hoersholm/christian-7-den-gale-konge/ |access-date=2025-05-18 |website=Museum Nordsjælland |language=da-DK}}</ref>

===Marriage===
[[File:Christian VII and Caroline Mathilde - first dance.jpg|thumb|left|Christian VII and Caroline Matilda dance at the wedding held at [[Christiansborg Palace]], the image has inscriptions in French]]
Later the same year, the young king married his first cousin, the 15-year-old [[Caroline Matilda of Great Britain|Princess Caroline Matilda of Great Britain]], in a dynastic marriage. They had been betrothed already in 1765. Her brother, King [[George III]] of Great Britain, was anxious about the marriage but not aware that the bridegroom was mentally ill. They were married in a [[proxy wedding]] ceremony on 1 October 1766 in the [[Chapel Royal (St. James's Palace)|Chapel Royal]] of [[St James's Palace]] in London, with the Princess's brother, [[Prince Edward, Duke of York and Albany]], acting as the representative of the groom. After her arrival in Copenhagen, another wedding ceremony took place on 8 November 1766 in the [[Christiansborg Palace Chapel|royal chapel]] at [[Christiansborg Palace]]. Marriage celebrations and balls lasted for another month. On 1 May 1767, Christian VII and Caroline Matilda were [[coronation of the Danish monarch|crowned King and Queen of Denmark and Norway]] in the royal chapel of Christiansborg Palace.<ref>{{cite book |last=Monrad Møller |first=Anders |title=Enevældens kroninger. Syv salvinger – ceremoniellet, teksterne og musikken |trans-title=The coronations of the absolute monarchy. Seven anointings – the ceremonial, the lyrics and the music |year=2012 |location=Copenhagen |publisher=Forlaget Falcon |isbn=978-87-88802-29-0 |pages=128–49 |language=da }}</ref>

[[File:Frederik 6s fødsel.jpg|thumb|The King visiting the newborn Crown Prince [[Frederick VI of Denmark|Frederick]] and the Queen [[Caroline Matilda of Great Britain|Caroline Matilda]] after the birth.]]
The marriage was unhappy, and after his marriage, the king abandoned himself to the worst excesses, especially sexual promiscuity. In 1767, he entered into a relationship with the courtesan [[Støvlet-Cathrine]]. He ultimately sank into a condition of mental stupor. Symptoms during this time included [[paranoia]], [[self-mutilation]], and [[hallucination]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://snl.no/Caroline_Mathilde | title=Caroline Mathilde | publisher =Norsk biografisk leksikon|first=  Magne|last=  Njåstad|access-date= 15 August 2016}}</ref> The king showed little interest in the queen and only reluctantly visited her in her chambers. His trusted Swiss tutor, [[Élie Salomon François Reverdil]] had to step in, among other things with love letters written in the king's name, in an attempt to make the marriage lead to a pregnancy and thus an heir to the throne.{{sfn|Engberg|2009|p=37}} On 28 January 1768, Queen Caroline Mathilde gave birth at Christiansborg Palace to the royal couple's son and heir to throne, the future [[Frederick VI of Denmark|King Frederick VI]].

===Struensee===
{{See also|Royal Life Guards' Mutiny}}[[File:Struensee_Juel.jpg|thumb|upright|Portrait of [[Johann Friedrich Struensee]] by [[Jens Juel (painter)|Jens Juel]].]]
The progressive and radical thinker [[Johann Friedrich Struensee]], Christian's personal physician, became his advisor and rose steadily in power in the late 1760s to ''de facto'' regent of the country, where he introduced widespread progressive reforms. Struensee was a protégé of an [[Age of Enlightenment|Enlightenment]] circle of aristocrats that had been rejected by the court in Copenhagen. He was a skilled doctor, and having somewhat restored the king's health while visiting the [[Schleswig-Holstein]] area, he gained the king's affection. He was retained as travelling physician (''Livmedikus hos Kong Christian VII'') on 5 April 1768, and accompanied the entourage on the king's foreign tour to [[Paris]] and [[London]] via [[Hannover]] from 6 May 1768 to 12 January 1769. He was given the title of State Councilor (''[[etatsråd]]'') on 12 May 1768, barely a week after leaving Altona. The neglected and lonely Caroline Matilda entered into an affair with Struensee.<ref>{{cite web|url=   https://snl.no/Johann_Friedrich_Struensee|title=  Johann Friedrich Struensee|publisher =Norsk biografisk leksikon|first=  Magne|last=  Njåstad|access-date= 15 August 2016}}</ref>

From 1770 to 1772, Struensee was ''de facto'' regent of the country, and introduced progressive reforms signed into law by Christian VII. Struensee was deposed by a coup in 1772 after which the country was ruled by Christian's stepmother, [[Juliane Marie of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel]], his half-brother [[Frederick, Hereditary Prince of Denmark|Frederick]], and the Danish politician [[Ove Høegh-Guldberg]].<ref>{{cite web|url=   https://nbl.snl.no/Christian_7|title=  Christian 7|publisher =    Norsk biografisk leksikon|first=  Terje|last=  Bratberg|access-date= 15 August 2016}}</ref>

===Divorce===
The king divorced Caroline Matilda in 1772 after they had produced two children: the future [[Frederick VI of Denmark|King Frederick VI]] and [[Princess Louise Auguste of Denmark|Princess Louise Auguste]] (the latter is believed to be the daughter of Struensee). Struensee, who had enacted many modernising and emancipating reforms, was arrested and executed the same year. Christian signed Struensee's arrest and execution warrant under pressure from his stepmother, Queen [[Juliana Maria of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel|Juliana Maria]], who had led the movement to have the marriage ended. Caroline Matilda retained her title but not her children.{{Citation needed|date=January 2023}} She eventually left Denmark and passed her remaining days in exile at [[Celle Castle]] in her brother's German territory, the [[Electorate of Hanover]]. She died there of [[scarlet fever]] on 10 May 1775 at the age of 23.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://snl.no/Celle|title= Celle|publisher = Norsk biografisk leksikon|first= Arvid|last= Bornstein|access-date= 15 August 2016}}</ref>

==Later life==
[[File:Christian VII (Dajon).JPG|thumb|Profile relief by [[Nicolai Dajon]] (1748–1823)]]
Christian was only nominally king from 1772 onward. Between 1772 and 1784, Denmark-Norway was ruled by his stepmother, the Queen Dowager [[Juliana Maria of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel|Juliane Marie]], [[Hereditary Prince Frederick of Denmark and Norway|his half-brother Frederick]], and the Danish politician [[Ove Høegh-Guldberg]]. From 1784, his son [[Frederick VI of Denmark|Frederick]] ruled permanently as prince regent. This regency was marked by liberal, judicial, and agricultural reforms, but also by disasters of the [[Theatre War]], [[French Revolutionary Wars]], the beginning of the [[Napoleonic Wars]], and the rise of the [[Kingdom of Norway (1814)#Prior to 1814 – The independence movement|Norwegian separatist movement]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://oslohistorie.no/2018/02/07/jens-moestue-en-patriotisk-opprorer-2/#_ftn1|title=Jens Moestue – en patriotisk opprører?}}</ref>

===Death and succession===
[[File:ChristianVII coffin Roskilde Cathedral.jpg|180px|thumb|Christian VII's [[sarcophagus]] in ''Frederick V's Chapel'' at [[Roskilde Cathedral]]]]
Christian died at age 59 of a [[stroke]] on 13 March 1808 in [[Rendsburg]], Schleswig. Although there were rumours that the stroke was caused by fright at the sight of Spanish auxiliary troops which he took to be hostile, Ulrik Langen, in his biography of the king, did not indicate that there was any external cause. He was buried in [[Roskilde Cathedral]] and was succeeded by his son Frederick VI.<ref>Ulrik Langen, 2008, s. 485ff</ref>

==Legacy==

=== Contribution to science ===
In 1769, King Christian VII invited the Hungarian astronomer [[Maximilian Hell|Miksa Hell]] (Maximilian Hell) to [[Vardø (town)|Vardø]]. Hell observed the [[transit of Venus]], and his calculations gave the most precise calculation of the Earth–Sun distance to that date (approx. 151 million kilometres). Hell's companion [[János Sajnovics]] explored the affinity among the languages of the [[Sami people|Sami]], [[Finns|Finnish]], and [[Hungarian people]]s (all members of the [[Finno-Ugric languages|Finno-Ugric language family]]).<ref>Kragh, Helge (2008). ''The Moon that Wasn't: The Saga of Venus' Spurious Satellite.'' Springer. p. 199. {{ISBN|3-7643-8908-7}}, {{ISBN|978-3-7643-8908-6}}.</ref><ref>Jacek Juliusz Jadacki, Witold Strawiński, Jerzy Pelc. ''In the World of Signs: Essays in Honour of Professor Jerzy Pelc'', Rodopi: 1998, p. 459. {{ISBN|90-420-0389-8}}, {{ISBN|978-90-420-0389-7}}.</ref><ref>Mikko Korhonen. ''Finno-Ugrian Language Studies in Finland, 1828–1918'', ''Societas Scientiarum Fennica'', 1986. p. 226. {{ISBN|951-653-135-0}}, {{ISBN|978-951-653-135-2}}.</ref>

==Cultural depictions==
[[File:Zahrtmann Christian VIIs hof.JPG|thumb|[[Kristian Zahrtmann]]: ''Scene from the court of Christian VII''. [[History painting]] from 1873 at the [[Hirschsprung Collection]].]]
[[File:Interiør fra Christian VII's Hof (Kr. Zahrtmann).JPG|thumb|[[Kristian Zahrtmann]]: ''Interior from the court of Christian VII''. [[History painting]] from 1881 at the [[Hirschsprung Collection]].]]
Christian VII, the story of his marriage, and his wife's affair with Struensee have featured in many artistic works:

===Literature===

* [[1935 in literature|1935]] : ''Die Gefangene von Celle'' – a 1935 novel by Else von Hollander-Lossow
* [[1935 in literature|1935]] : ''The Favourite of the Queen'' ({{langx|de|Struensee: Doktor, Diktator, Favorit und armer Sünder}}; later ''Der Favorit der Königin'') – a 1935 novel by [[Robert Neumann (writer)|Robert Neumann]]
* [[1948 in literature|1948]] : ''The Queen's Physician'' – a 1948 [[novel]] by Edgar Maass
* [[1953 in literature|1953]] : ''Converse at Night in Copenhagen'' ({{langx|da|Samtale om natten i København}}) – a 1953 novel by [[Karen Blixen]]
* [[1955 in literature|1955]] : ''Caroline Matilda, princess of Great Britain and queen of Denmark'' – a 1955 novel by [[Geoffrey Vaughan Blackstone]]
* [[1969 in literature|1969]] : ''The Lost Queen'' – a 1969 [[novel]] by [[Norah Lofts]]
* [[1985 in literature|1985]] : ''Letter from Celle'' – a 1985 dramatic poem by [[Edward Lowbury]]
* [[1999 in literature|1999]] : ''[[The Visit of the Royal Physician]]'' ({{langx|sv|Livläkarens besök}}) – a 1999 [[novel]] by [[Per Olov Enquist]]
* [[2000 in literature|2000]] : ''Prinsesse af Blodet – en roman om Caroline Mathilde'' – a 2000 novel by [[Bodil Steensen-Leth]]
* [[2015 in literature|2015]] : ''[[There's a mad king in Denmark]]'' ({{langx|it|C'è un re pazzo in Danimarca}}) – a 2015 [[biographical novel]] by [[Dario Fo]]
* [[2021 in literature|2021]] : ''Sigurverkið'' – a 2021 [[novel]] by [[Arnaldur Indriðason]]

===Stage===
* 1827 : ''Struensee'' – an 1827 drama by [[Michael Beer (poet)|Michael Beer]] with stage music by his brother [[Giacomo Meyerbeer]] (Stuttgart and Tübingen: Cotta 1829, premiered in Munich in 1828). The play was originally forbidden under the rule of the Prussian King [[Frederick William III]], and finally allowed by his more liberal successor [[Frederick William IV]] and premiered in Berlin in 1856.<ref>Meyerbeer & [[Robert Letellier|Letellier]] (1999–2004) I, 15 (Foreword by [[Heinz Becker (musicologist)|Heinz Becker]]) (1980) 250; Becker (1989), 108–9</ref>
* 1991 : ''[[Caroline Mathilde (ballet)|Caroline Mathilde]]'' – a 1991 two-act ballet staged by the [[Royal Danish Ballet]] and [[choreographer|choreographed]] by [[Flemming Flindt]] to music by Sir [[Peter Maxwell Davies]].
* 2008 : ''[[The Visit of the Royal Physician]]'' ({{langx|da|Livlægens besøg}}) – a 2008 [[opera]] staged by the [[Royal Danish Opera]] and composed by [[Bo Holten]] to a [[libretto]] based on Enquist's 1999 novel.

===Film===
* [[1923 in film|1923]] : ''[[The Love of a Queen (1923 film)|The Love of a Queen]]'' ({{langx|de|Die Liebe einer Königin}}) – a 1923 [[German film|German]] [[historical drama|historical]] [[Drama (film and television)|drama]] [[silent film]] directed by Ludwig Wolff, in which Christian VII is played by [[Walter Janssen]].{{Citation needed|date=June 2024}}
* [[1935 in film|1935]] : ''[[The Dictator (1935 film)|The Dictator]]'' – a 1935 [[British film|British]] [[feature film|film]] directed by [[Victor Saville]], in which Christian VII was played by [[Emlyn Williams]]. The film depicts his relationship with Caroline Mathilde, who is played by [[Madeleine Carroll]].{{Citation needed|date=June 2024}}
* [[1957 in film|1957]] : ''[[King in Shadow]]'' ({{langx|de|Herrscher ohne Krone}}) – a 1957 [[German film|West German]] [[feature film]] based on Neumann's 1935 novel, and directed by [[Harald Braun]], in which Christian VII was played by [[Horst Buchholz]].{{Citation needed|date=June 2024}}
*''{{Interlanguage link|Caroline – den sidste rejse|da}}'' – a 2010 Danish film
* [[2012 in film|2012]] : ''[[A Royal Affair]]'' ({{langx|da|En kongelig affære}}) – an [[85th Academy Awards|Academy Award]]-nominated [[Danish film|Danish]] [[historical drama|historical]] [[Drama (film and television)|drama]] [[Feature film|film]] directed by [[Nikolaj Arcel]], in which King Christian is played by [[Mikkel Boe Følsgaard]].{{Citation needed|date=June 2024}}

==Ancestry==
{{ahnentafel
|collapsed=yes |align=center |ref=<ref>{{cite book|title=Genealogie ascendante jusqu'au quatrieme degre inclusivement de tous les Rois et Princes de maisons souveraines de l'Europe actuellement vivans| trans-title=Genealogy up to the fourth degree inclusive of all the Kings and Princes of sovereign houses of Europe currently living |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AINPAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA6|year=1768|publisher=Frederic Guillaume Birnstiel|location=Bourdeaux|language=fr|page=6}}</ref>
|boxstyle_1=background-color: #fcc;
|boxstyle_2=background-color: #fb9;
|boxstyle_3=background-color: #ffc;
|boxstyle_4=background-color: #bfc;
|1= 1. '''Christian VII of Denmark'''
|2= 2. [[Frederick V of Denmark]]
|3= 3. [[Louise of Great Britain]]
|4= 4. [[Christian VI of Denmark]]
|5= 5. [[Sophie Magdalene of Brandenburg-Kulmbach]]
|6= 6. [[George II of Great Britain]]
|7= 7. [[Caroline of Ansbach]]
|8= 8. [[Frederick IV of Denmark]]
|9= 9. [[Louise of Mecklenburg-Güstrow]]
|10= 10. [[Christian Heinrich, Margrave of Brandenburg-Kulmbach]]
|11= 11. [[Sophie Christiane of Wolfstein]]
|12= 12. [[George I of Great Britain]]
|13= 13. [[Sophia Dorothea of Celle]]
|14= 14. [[John Frederick, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach]]
|15= 15. [[Princess Eleonore Erdmuthe of Saxe-Eisenach|Eleonore Erdmuthe of Saxe-Eisenach]]
}}

==References==
===Citations===
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
* Reddaway, W. F. "King Christian VII," ''English Historical Review'' (1916) 31#121 pp.&nbsp;59–84 [https://www.jstor.org/stable/550699 IN jstor]
*Sjåvik, Jan (2010) ''The A to Z of Norway''	 (Scarecrow Press)  {{ISBN|978-0810872134}}

====In Danish====
* {{ Cite book | last=Amdisen | first=Asser | title=Til nytte og fornøjelse : Johann Friedrich Struensee (1737-1772) | trans-title=For benefit and pleasure : Johann Friedrich Struensee (1737-1772) | publisher=Akademisk Forlag | location=Copenhagen | year=2002 | isbn=87-5-003730-7 | language=da }}
* {{ Cite book | last=Barz | first=Paul | title=Doktor Struensee : Rebell von oben | trans-title=Doctor Struensee: Rebel from above | publisher=Kabel Ernst Verlag | location=Munich | year=1985 | isbn=3-8225-0001-1 | language=de }}
* {{ Cite book | last=Christiansen | first=Viggo | title=Christian den VII's sindssygdom | trans-title=Christian VII's mental illness | publisher=Gyldendalske boghandel Nordisk forlag | location=København | year=1906 | language=da }}
*Dehn-Nielsen, Henning. ''Christian 7. Den gale konge.'' Sesam, Copenhagen, 2000
*''Den Store Danske encyclopedia.'' ''Danmarks Nationalleksikon/Gyldendal'', Copenhagen, 1996
* {{cite book |last=Engberg |first=Jens |title=Den standhaftige tinsoldat – en biografi om Frederik 6. |trans-title=The Steadfast Tin Soldier – a biography of Frederick VI |location=Copenhagen |publisher=Politikens Forlag |year=2009 |isbn=978-87-567-9325-4 |language=da}}
*Enquist, Per Olov. ''Livläkarens besök.'' Norstedts Förlag, Stockholm, 1999
*Fjelstrup, August. ''Skilsmisseprocessen imellem Kong Kristian den syvende og Dronning Karoline Matilde.' Strubes Forlag, 1968.
*Hansen, Norman Hall. ''Caroline Mathilde.'' Ejnar Munksgaards Forlag, Copenhagen 1947
* {{Cite encyclopedia |first=Edvard |last=Holm |title=Christian VII |url=https://runeberg.org/dbl/3/0513.html |year=1889 |encyclopedia=[[Dansk Biografisk Leksikon|Dansk biografisk Lexikon, tillige omfattende Norge for tidsrummet 1537-1814]] |editor1-last=Bricka |editor1-first=Carl Frederik |editor-link=Carl Frederik Bricka |volume=III |edition=1st |location=Copenhagen |publisher=[[Gyldendal|Gyldendalske Boghandels Forlag]] |pages=511–515 |language=da }}
*Holm, Sven. ''Struensee var her.'' Danmarks Radio, Copenhagen, 1981
* {{cite encyclopedia|first=Hans|last=Jensen|title=Christian VII.|url=https://www.rosekamp.dk/DBL_All/DBL_5_text.pdf|editor1-first=Povl|editor1-last=Engelstoft|editor2-first=Svend|editor2-last=Dahl|encyclopedia=[[Dansk Biografisk Leksikon]]|edition=2.|pages=133–136|volume=5|location=Copenhagen|publisher=J.H. Schultz Forlag|year=1934|language=da}}
*Laing R. D. og Esterson A.:]z; ''Familieliv.'' Rhodos, Copenhagen 1974
* {{ Cite book | last=Langen | first=Ulrik | title=Den afmægtige : en biografi om Christian 7. | trans-title=The Powerless: A Biography of Christian VII | publisher=[[Jyllands-Posten]]s Forlag | location=Copenhagen | year=2008 | isbn=978-87-7692-093-7 | language=da }}
*Lauring, Palle. ''Historiske Portrætter.'' Aschehoug Dansk Forlag, Copenhagen 1960
*Reverdil, Elie Salomon François. ''Struensee og det danske hof 1760-1772.'' A. F. Høst & Søn Forlag, Copenhagen 1917
*''Salmonsens Konversations Leksikon'', Schultz, Copenhagen, 1926
*Steenstrup, Joh. et al. (Ed). ''Danmarks Riges historie.'' Det Nordiske Forlag, Copenhagen

==== Primary sources ====
* {{cite book|editor-last=Alenius|editor-first=Marianne|title=Mit ubetydelige Levnets Løb. Efter Charlotte Dorothea Biehls breve.|publisher=Museum Tusculanums Forlag|location=Copenhagen|year=1986|language=da}}
* {{cite book|editor-last=Cedergreen|editor-first=Svend|title=Brev fra Dorothea. Af Charlotta Dorothea Biehls historiske breve|publisher=[[Politikens Forlag]]|location=Copenhagen|year=1975|language=da}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Christian VII 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-vii/ Christian VII] at the website of the [[Royal Danish Collection]] at [[Rosenborg Castle]]
* {{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Christian VII. |short=x}}
* {{Cite AmCyc|wstitle=Christian (Danish kings)|display=Christian, the name of nine kings of Denmark. III. Christian VII.}}
* {{NPG name|name=Christian VII, King of Denmark and Norway}}

{{S-start}}
{{S-hou|[[House of Oldenburg]]|29 January|1749|13 March|1808|name=Christian VII}}
{{S-reg}}
{{S-bef|rows=2|before=[[Frederick V of Denmark|Frederick V]]}}
{{S-ttl|rows=1|title=[[Count of Oldenburg]]|years=1766–1773}}
{{S-aft|rows=1|after=[[Paul I of Russia|Paul]]}}
{{S-ttl|title=[[List of Danish monarchs|King of Denmark]] and [[List of Norwegian monarchs|Norway]]<br />[[List of rulers of Schleswig-Holstein|Duke of Schleswig]]|years=1766–1808}}
{{S-aft|rows=2|after=[[Frederick VI of Denmark|Frederick VI]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|rows=1|before=[[Frederick V of Denmark|Frederick V]]<br />and [[Paul I of Russia|Paul]]}}
{{s-ttl|rows=1|title=[[List of rulers of Schleswig-Holstein|Duke of Holstein]]|regent1=[[Paul I of Russia|Paul]]|years1=1766–1773|years=1766–1808}}
{{S-end}}
{{Danish princes}}
{{Monarchs of Denmark}}
{{Monarchs of Norway}}
{{Monarchs of Iceland}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Christian 07 of Denmark}}
[[Category:Christian VII of Denmark| ]]
[[Category:1749 births]]
[[Category:1808 deaths]]
[[Category:18th-century monarchs of Denmark]]
[[Category:19th-century monarchs of Denmark]]
[[Category:18th-century Norwegian monarchs]]
[[Category:19th-century Norwegian monarchs]]
[[Category:Burials at Roskilde Cathedral]]
[[Category:People from Denmark–Norway]]
[[Category:Dukes of Holstein]]
[[Category:Dukes of Schleswig]]
[[Category:Children of Frederick V of Denmark]]
[[Category:Crown princes of Denmark]]
[[Category:Crown princes of Norway]]
[[Category:Sons of kings]]
[[Category:Royalty and nobility with disabilities]]
[[Category:Protestant monarchs]]