Period

Queen Sophie of Mecklenburg lived from 1557 - 1631

Marriage

She married Frederik II of Denmark and Norway and was queen from 1572 to 1588.

Interests

She managed her own estates efficiently, took an interest in economics and was known as one of the richest women in Europe.

Your family

She grew up in an important North German princely family and had a total of 7 children with King Frederik II - including Christian 4.

Queen Sophie of Mecklenburg was born in 1557 in the northern German Duchy of Mecklenburg, the daughter of a noble family of princes. At the age of 14, she married the Danish King Frederik II, who was 23 years her senior. Today, such a marriage would raise eyebrows, but in the 16th century it was not unusual - especially when it came to royal alliances. Despite the large age difference, the marriage between Sophie and Frederick was known as both harmonious and loving.

The couple had seven children together, and one of them was none other than Christian IV, who later became one of Denmark's most colorful and longest-reigning kings. Sophie proved early on to be much more than just a queen and mother. She was intelligent, authoritative and financially astute, and she quickly gained a reputation as a woman in control.

According to stories, King Frederick actually considered naming the new castle he had built in Elsinore after his young queen - Sophienborg . It ended up being called Kronborg, but there's no doubt that Sophie left her mark on the place. The castle, which had previously been a medieval fortress, was transformed into one of Europe's most impressive Renaissance castles - both a magnificent home and a strategic power base.

Sophie of Mecklenburg was more than just a queen by the side of Frederik II - she was a skilled and visionary businesswoman with a keen sense of economy. Even during her time at Kronborg, she played an active role in the running and management of the castle's resources. After the king's death in 1588, she emerged as one of the most influential women of the time. She took control of her own estates and managed to turn them into some of the most profitable in Denmark.

Sophie was far from the stereotypical Renaissance queen who stuck to embroidery and court life. She acted as a kind of early CFO - overseeing everything from farming and tax revenues to investments and castle maintenance. Her financial acumen not only contributed to her own wealth, but also helped ensure the stability of the kingdom - especially at a time when her son, Christian IV, had a looser hand with finances.

Known for her skillful management, she continued to wield political and economic influence long after her husband's death. In fact, she became one of the wealthiest women in Europe and maintained her power and influence right up until her death in 1631 - aged 74.

In short, Sophie was anything but a passive figure in history. With business acumen and political understanding, she had a firm grip on both power and resources - and left a legacy as one of the most remarkable women in Danish Renaissance history.