Monday 26 September 2016

Christian X, King of Denmark


Christian X, King of Denmark 1912 - 1947
(photo Wiki Commons)

Christian X, King of Denmark, was born on this day in 1870. Famous for his solo ride through the streets of Copenhagen every day during the Nazi occupation - he rode without a guard as a symbol of defiance - he ruled Denmark from 1912 until his death in 1947.





He was born Christian Carl Frederik Albert Alexander Wilhelm on September 26th 1870 at the Charlottenlund Palace near Copenhagen, the first child of Crown Prince Frederik (later Frederik VIII) and his wife, Louise of Sweden. He became King of Denmark on May 14th 1912 when his father died just six years after taking the throne. Christian's younger brother, Carl, became King Haakon VII of Norway in 1905 while his niece, Astrid, would go on to become Queen of the Belgians. King Christian X was also the only King of Iceland, ruling there between 1918 and 1944. He married Alexandrine of Mecklenberg-Schwerin in 1898 and the couple had two sons, Frederik and Knud. Christian X, King of Denmark died on April 20th 1947 and is buried at Roskilde Cathedral.

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