Dorothea of Denmark – Deprived of her crown (Part one)

Dorothea of Denmark was born on 10 November 1520, the daughter of Isabella of Austria and King Christian II of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. Her mother was the second daughter of Joanna, Queen of Castile, and thus a sister of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor.

Dorothea was their fourth child, but twin boys had died shortly after their birth. Her elder brother, John, had been born in 1517 and a younger sister named Christina would follow in 1522. These were troubled times for their father as there had been a revolt in Sweden, upon which Christian decided to travel to the Low Countries and placed the regency in Isabella’s hands. He met with Isabella’s aunt and brother in Brussels, as well as Isabella’s step-grandmother, Germaine of Foix. His journey was without success, and the situation continued to spiral out of control.

Just weeks after Christina’s birth, Isabella wrote to her aunt Margaret of Austria, Governor of Habsburg Netherlands, asking for help with the rebels. She wrote, “We have sad news from my lord in Jutland. The nobles there have rebelled against him and seek to deprive him and our children of their crown and their lives. So we entreat you to come to our help, that we may chastise the rebels.”¹

On 20 January 1523, Christian was officially deposed as King of Denmark and Norway and replaced by his uncle, Frederick. Christian decided to flee with his family. Isabella, John, Dorothea and Christina went on board the Lion, even though Frederick begged her to remain in Denmark, assuring them of their safety. Christian still had the popular support, and many watched as the King and his family sailed away on 13 April. The children were left with Isabella’s aunt in Mechelen while Isabella and Christian continued on to Greenwich, which they reached on 19 June, and they were met by Cardinal Wolsey, who introduced them to King Henry and Queen Catherine, who was also Isabella’s aunt. However, Henry told Christian he had made a mistake by abandoning his subjects and advised him to return home. He later wrote to Emperor Charles, “For this perfidy of the King’s subjects is a most fatal example, if for the most trifling cause a Prince is to be called in question, and expelled and put from his crown.”²

Nothing more could be done in England, and so Isabella and Christian returned to the Low Countries in early July. Isabella returned to her children in Mechelen, while Christian went to Antwerp to raise ships with aid for Copenhagen. After a fight with Margaret, he suddenly left for Germany. Isabella joined him in Germany as he tried to find help, and Isabella even spoke at the Nuremberg Diet. Minister Hannart wrote to Emperor Charles, “Everyone here is full of compassion for the Queen, but no one places the least trust in the King. If it were not for her sake, not a single man would saddle a horse on his behalf.”³

During a congress in April 1524, a proposal was made that Prince John was to be recognised as Frederick’s successor, but Christian angrily rejected this offer. He soon realised the hopelessness of his cause. Isabella’s health had suffered during these last years, and Christian took her to Aachen to go to the waters. The family then settled at Lierre, halfway between Mechelen and Antwerp, at the end of 1524. While they received an allowance, Isabella was eventually forced to cut up her husband’s old robes to make clothes for the children. When her health required a second visit to Aachen, she declined due to the vast expense.

At the doctor’s suggestion for a change of air, she moved to Swyhnaerde near Ghent, where she soon became so weak that she could no longer leave her room. On 19 January 1526, Isabella received the last sacraments from the priest of Swynaerde, and she commended her children to Margaret’s care. She died a few hours later, still only 24 years old.

Christian took his children from Ghent following Isabella’s death and refused to give them up to Margaret until she had paid all of his debts, including the funeral expenses. Emperor Charles wanted the children returned to Margaret’s care “because of the King’s heretical leanings.”⁴ After many discussions, Margaret eventually rode to Lierre herself to convince Christian to leave the children with her. He had already packed up most of his belongings, and he intended to leave for Germany. She finally managed to convince himself after agreeing to pay some of the debts. Christian left for Germany intending to raise an army to try and reclaim his kingdoms.

Read part two here. 

1. Christina of Denmark, Duchess of Milan and Lorraine, 1522-1590 by Julia Cartwright p.19
2. Christina of Denmark, Duchess of Milan and Lorraine, 1522-1590 by Julia Cartwright p.22
3. Christina of Denmark, Duchess of Milan and Lorraine, 1522-1590 by Julia Cartwright p.23
4. Christina of Denmark, Duchess of Milan and Lorraine, 1522-1590 by Julia Cartwright p.27