Christina of Denmark – Beloved by all (Part five)




christina of denmark
(public domain)

Read part four here.

The year 1558 was undoubtedly the end of an era with the deaths of Christina’s uncle, Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, and her aunts, Eleanor and Mary. In that sense, 1559 was a new beginning with the wedding of her son, Charles, to Princess Claude. On 22 January 1559, they were married at the Notre Dame. However, Christina declined to attend due to her deep mourning and her promise to be present at a peace conference.

In May 1559, Christina was able to return to Brussels with her daughters. She perhaps expected to be appointed as governor of the Habsburg Netherlands, but Margaret of Parma, the illegitimate daughter of Emperor Charles, was chosen instead. One observer wrote, “There is great discontent here at the Duchess of Parma’s appointment. The common folk use very insolent language and say that if a woman is to reign over them, they would far rather have the Duchess of Lorraine, whom they know and love and hold to be one of themselves. Everyone, indeed, would have greatly preferred this Princess, who is of royal lineage on both sides and has long dwelt in these provinces, besides being far more gracious and affable to the nobles.”1 Christina was disappointed in King Philip’s decision and felt she deserved more, especially after all she had done at the peace conference.

Christina decided to return to Lorraine. During this time, marriage negotiations were underway between her eldest daughter. Renata, and the Prince of Orange, William. However, this match was sabotaged by King Philip and did not take place. She returned to Lorraine just as King Henry II was fatally wounded during a joust. The new King was his son, Francis II, who was married to Mary, Queen of Scots. Christina’s son Charles had grown up with them and knew them well. Christina settled into her old rooms at Nancy’s ducal palace, and as her son returned to the French court, she was left in charge as regent. On 5 December 1560, King Francis II suddenly died, leaving his ten-year-old brother, Charles IX, as the next King. Christina hosted the widowed Mary, Queen of Scots, at Nancy before celebrating the new King’s coronation.

In 1561, Christina’s father died in prison in Denmark, and her sister Dorothea assumed the title of Queen of Denmark, although it was an empty title. Christina reportedly visited her sister to convince her to pass her claim to her nephew, Christina’s son. Danish exiled flocked to Lorraine, which revived Christina’s dreams of recovering her father’s kingdoms. In any case, Lorraine remained her top priority. Charles often consulted her on state matters, and he treated her with respect.

On 8 November 1563, Christina became a grandmother for the first time. Her daughter-in-law, Claude, gave birth to a son named Henry. Both King Charles IX of France and King Philip II of Spain agreed to be godfathers. He was finally baptised on 2 May 1564 as Christina held him at the font. The following year, Christina was suffering from a “grave internal malady.”2 She relapsed again in November, and her life was considered to be in danger. Luckily, she recovered her health. In the following years, Christina tried to press her claims on Denmark, but in the end, it was no use.

Christina’s delight during these difficult years was her son’s growing family. Her eldest granddaughter carried her name and was also most like her. On 22 February 1568, her eldest daughter Renata married the future William V, Duke of Bavaria, while her youngest daughter Dorothea married Eric II, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, in 1575. However, her health was troubling her, and upon the advice of her doctor, she decided to seek a warmer climate, and she moved to her dower city – Tortona – in June 1579. One chronicler wrote, “The Duchess Christina of Milan celebrated for her beauty and gracious manners, for her affability and generosity, has lately come to spend her widowhood in the city of Tortona, and lives there in great splendour, beloved by all.”3

Her life at Tortona was peaceful, although she never did escape the news from the outside world. She learned of the assassination of the Prince of Orange in 1584, the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots, in 1587 and the assassination of the Duke of Guise in 1588.

In the summer of 1590, she and her daughter Dorothea travelled to the Rocca of Sparaviera, but she fell ill while there. She tried to return home and travelled by water but only made it to Alessandria. She died there on 10 December 1590 in the house of her friend, Maddalena Guasco. However, one source states she died on 10 August.4 She was 69 years old.

  1. Christina of Denmark, Duchess of Milan and Lorraine, 1522-1590 by Julia Cartwright p.238
  2. Christina of Denmark, Duchess of Milan and Lorraine, 1522-1590 by Julia Cartwright p.249
  3. Christina of Denmark, Duchess of Milan and Lorraine, 1522-1590 by Julia Cartwright p.262
  4. Christina of Denmark, Duchess of Milan and Lorraine, 1522-1590 by Julia Cartwright p.267






About Moniek Bloks 2906 Articles
My name is Moniek and I am from the Netherlands. I began this website in 2013 because I wanted to share these women's amazing stories.

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