Today in History - December 12th. 1574 - Anne of Denmark

On December 12th. 1574, Anne of Denmark was born at Skanderborg Castle in
Denmark.

Anne of Denmark

Source picture: Wikipedia

Anne was born on 12 December 1574 at the castle of Skanderborg
on the Jutland Peninsula in the Kingdom of Denmark to Sophie of
Mecklenburg-Güstrow and King Frederick II of Denmark. 

In need of a male heir the King had been hoping for a son, and
Sophie gave birth to a son, Christian IV of Denmark, three
years later.

With her older sister, Elizabeth, Anne was sent to be raised
at Güstrow by her maternal grandparents, the Duke and
Duchess of Mecklenburg. Christian was also sent to be
brought up at Güstrow but two years later, in 1579, his
father the King wrote to his parents-in-law, to request the
return of his sons, Christian and Ulrich, (probably, at the
urging of the Rigsråd, the Danish Privy Council), and Anne
and Elizabeth returned with him.

Anne enjoyed a close, happy family upbringing in Denmark,
thanks largely to Queen Sophie, who nursed the children
through their illnesses herself.

Love and Marriage

Suitors from all over Europe sought the hands of Anne and
Elizabeth in marriage, including James VI of Scotland, who
favoured Denmark as a kingdom reformed in religion and
a profitable trading partner.

In 1589, Anne of Denmark married James VI of Scotland. 

James VI and I
 Source picture: Wikipedia

By all accounts, James was at first entranced by his bride, but his
infatuation evaporated quickly and the couple often found
themselves at loggerheads, though in the early years of their
marriage James seems always to have treated Anne with patience
and affection

In their first years of marriage, James VI and Anne of Denmark
personally dressed in costume and took part in masques at the
weddings of courtiers. These performances typically
involved music, dance, and disguise.

Between 1593 and 1595, James was romantically linked with
Anne Murray, later Lady Glamis. He addressed her in verse as
"my mistress and my love". Anne of Denmark herself was also
occasionally the subject of scandalous rumours.

From the first moment of the marriage, Anne was under
pressure to provide James and Scotland with an heir, but the passing
of 1591 and 1592 with no sign of a pregnancy provoked renewed
Presbyterian libels on the theme of James's fondness for male
company and whispers against Anne "for that she proves not
with child". When it was thought that she was pregnant,
James tried to prevent her going horseriding but she refused

There was great public relief when on 19 February 1594 Anne
gave birth to her first child, Henry Frederick.

Coronation

Anne was crowned on 17 May 1590 in the Abbey Church at Holyrood,
the first Protestant coronation in Scotland.

During the seven-hour ceremony, her gown was opened by the
Countess of Mar for presiding minister Robert Bruce to pour "a
bonny quantity of oil" on "parts of her breast and arm", so anointing
her as queen.

The king handed the crown to Chancellor Maitland, who placed it
on Anne's head She then affirmed an oath to defend the true religion
and worship of God and to "withstand and despise all papistical
superstitions, and whatsoever ceremonies and rites contrary
to the word of God".

Queen (Consort) of England

In 1603, Anne of Denmark became Queen, Consorto of England too.

Anne enjoyed living in London, while James preferred to escape the
capital, most often at his hunting lodge in Royston.

Anne moved into Greenwich Palace and then Somerset House,
which she renamed Denmark House. After 1607, she and James
rarely lived together, by which time she had borne seven children
and suffered at least three miscarriages. After narrowly surviving
the birth and death of her last baby, Sophia, in 1607, Anne's
decision to have no more children may have widened the gulf
between her and James.

Later years and death

Anne moved to Hampton Court and was attended by Mayerne
and Henry Atkins. In January 1619 Mayerne instructed Anne
to saw wood to improve her blood flow, but the exertion
served to make her worse. Mayerne attributed the queen's
ill-health to her cold and northerly upbringing, and wrote
in his notes that as a child she had been carried around by her
nurses until the age of nine, rather than allowed to walk.

James visited Anne only three times during her last illness,
though their son Charles often slept in the adjoining bedroom
at Hampton Court Palace and was at her bedside during her
last hours, when she had lost her sight.

 With her until the end was her personal maid, Anna Kaas,
who had arrived with her from Denmark in 1590.

Queen Anne died aged 44 on 2 March 1619, of dropsy.

Despite his neglect of Anne, James was emotionally
affected by her death. He did not visit her during her
dying days or attend her funeral, being himself sick. 

After a prolonged delay, she was buried in King Henry's Chapel,
Westminster Abbey, on 13 May 1619.