Figure 1.--Prince Frederick became known as Duke Frederick as he was not expected to become king. He was pained asa boy by Pieter Isaacsz. We are not sure when the portrait was painted. one source suggests 1615 which would make his about 6 years old. He is holding a musket and wears a red outfit with a white ruff collar. You cn see Frederiksborg Castle in the background which was an important royal residence. Frederick grew up not expecting to be king as he had an older brother.

Frederick III was King of Denmark and Norway from 1648 until his death in 1670. Prince Frederick was born at Haderslev in Slesvig, the son of Christian IV and Anne Catherine of Brandenburg (1609). Prince Frederick was not suposed to be king. He was only the second-oldest son of Christian IV and Anne Catherine of Brandenburg. He only became the heir apparent After the death of his older brother Prince Christian died judst before tgheir fthr died. Frederick nstituted absolute rule in Denmark-Norway (1660). This was confirmed by law as the first in Europe (1665). He also ordered the creation of the Throne Chair of Denmark. His father laumnched a series of failed and costly aggressive wars. As a result, most of the country had no desire for more foreign adventures. 【Nolan】 Frederick was excluded rom the talks leading to the Peace of Westphalia which ended the Thirty Years War. Bremen had been lost to Sweden which was also freed from paying Oresund Tolls. Denmark still had an election process to be king. To win this election, Princ Frederick was forced to make significant comcessions to the nobility. Despite the desire for peace, Frederick waged losing wars against Sweden. Frederick liked to be painted on horseback leading men in battle. Despite the martial depivtions, he was not very vgoodat wnning battles. Fredrick lost the Dano-Swedish War (1657–58). And in the continutiom. Dano-Swedish War of 1658–60), Frederick had some success. It looked like King Charles X Gustav of Sweden was about to suffer a catastrophic defeat. Frederick III had declared war on Sweden. Then in a surprise move, Charles X Gustav led troops acrossed the frozen Beltics to Zealand and approched Copoenhagen with 5,000 men. Frederick was unprepared and had to sign the Treaty of Roskilde. It was Frederick who finally disbanded the elective monarchy in favor of an absolute monarchy. This would not vhange until the Npoleomic era (1814 in Norway) and (1848 in Denmark). Frederick married Sophie Amalie of Brunswick-Lüneburg. Their son becam Christian V.

Sources

Nolan, Cathal J. Wars of the Age of Louis XIV (2008)..

Created: 3:56 AM 5/21/2026
Last updated: 3:56 AM 5/21/2026