Christina of Denmark

Christina of Denmark, Duchess of Milan as played by Sonya Cassidy.

born 1522 - died 1590 Character's backstory: Born in Nyborg, central Denmark, in 1522, Christina was the youngest surviving daughter of Christian II of Denmark and Isabella of Burgundy, who was sister of Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V. Therefore, Christina was grand-niece of Catherine of Aragon, Henry VIII’s first wife. Both Christina and her elder sister Dorothea, as the only surviving children of their father, would claim the Danish throne as their birthright, but failed to regain it from their second cousin Frederick II. However, Christina's descendant, Charles XV, through her daughter Renata of Lorraine would assend the Swedish throne in the 19th century. In 1533 she was married by proxy to Francesco II Sforza, Duke of Milan. He would die two years later in 1535. In 1538, Henry VIII commissioned the German painter, Hans Holbein, to paint Christina’s portrait as she was considered a suitable bride. Christina had been mentioned after the death of Henry’s third wife, Jane Seymour in 1537. In her portrait she was wearing mourning clothes. Christina, who was only 16 years old, made no secret of her opposition to marrying Henry who by this time had a reputation all around Europe for mistreating his wives. Christina would marry again in 1541. She married Francois Duc de Bar, who had been originally betrothed to Anne of Cleves, Henry’s eventual fourth wife. Francois would succeed his father as the Duc de Lorraine in 1544 but would die in 1545. Christina was left as regent until her son Charles came to his majority. She herself would die in 1590. Gentility: Born a princess of Denmark. Later she would become Duchess-Consort of Milan and then Duchess-Consort of Lorraine. She was a claimant to the thrones of Norway, Denmark and Sweden. Position: Duchess of Milan and later Duchess of Lorraine. After her 2nd husband died in 1545, she became Regent of Lorraine while her son was a minor. Personality type: Signature look: Endearing trait(s): Annoying trait(s):

“If I had two heads, one should be at the King of England’s disposal.” Click EasyEdit to update this page! (Don't see the EasyEdit button above? <a href="/#signin" target="_self">Sign in</a> or <a href="/accountnew" target="_self">Sign up</a>.)

CHARACTER CONNECTIONS Family members: Father : Christian II of Denmark Mother: Isabella of Austria Sister: Dorothea, Electress Palatine Uncle: Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor Grand-Aunt: Queen Katherine of Aragon 2nd Cousin : Frederick - became King of Denmark Marriage(s): 1st Husband : Francis II, Duke of Milan 2nd Husband: Francis, Duke of Lorraine (who had been betrothed to Anne of Cleves) Children: Son : Charles III, Duke of Lorraine Daughter: Renata of Lorraine who married William V, Duke of Bavaria Daughter: Dorothea who married Duke Braunschweig Friends: Enemies:

UNFORGETTABLE CHARACTER QUOTES

“If I had two heads, one should be at the King of England’s disposal.” – Christina supposedly said this to the English Ambassador when she was selected as a suitable bride for Henry VIII. *in the series she says : "frankly sir if I had two heads then one would be at his majesty's service but alas I have only one"

DEFINING EPISODES | MEMORABLE SCENES

PHOTOS

	Portrait of Christina of Denmark