Father-in-law of Europe

King Christian IX with his large family gathered at Fredensborg Palace, painting by Laurits Tuxen from 1883 to 1886

The father-in-law of Europe is a sobriquet which has been used to refer to two European monarchs of the late 19th and early 20th century: Christian IX of Denmark and Nicholas I of Montenegro, both on account of their children's marriages to foreign princes and princesses. The fact that each was a monarch of moderate or modest power (and thus a marriage would not threaten the delicate balance of power) allowed them to marry some of their many children to heirs of greater fortunes across the continent.

## Christian IX of Denmark

[edit]

Further information: Descendants of Christian IX of Denmark

The children of King Christian IX (1818–1906) and Queen Louise (1817–1898) of Denmark included:

* King Frederik VIII of Denmark (1843–1912)
* Queen Alexandra of the United Kingdom (1844–1925) queen consort of King Edward VII
* King George I of Greece (1845–1913)
* Empress Maria Feodorovna of Russia (1847–1928) empress consort of Emperor Alexander III
* Crown Princess Thyra of Hanover (1853–1933), who married Crown Prince Ernest Augustus
* Prince Valdemar of Denmark

Christian IX used to gather his children, children-in-law and grandchildren for the so-called Fredensborg days at Fredensborg Palace north of Copenhagen in the summer time.[1] Christian and Louise's grandchildren included King Christian X of Denmark, King George V of the United Kingdom, Emperor Nicholas II of Russia, King Constantine I of Greece and both King Haakon VII and his consort, Queen Maud of Norway.

## Nicholas I of Montenegro

[edit]

Nicholas I of Montenegro (1841–1921) was the father of:

* Zorka of Montenegro, who married King Peter I of Serbia
* Elena of Montenegro, who married King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy
* Anna of Montenegro, who married Prince Francis Joseph of Battenberg
* Two daughters who married brothers:
* Anastasia of Montenegro, who married Grand Duke Nicholas Nikolaevich of Russia after divorcing George, Duke of Leuchtenberg
* Milica of Montenegro, who married Grand Duke Peter Nikolaevich of Russia

## See also

[edit]

* Queen Victoria, who was known as the grandmother of Europe
* Descendants of Queen Victoria
* Louis IX, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt, the most recent common ancestor of all current European monarchs since 2022
* John William Friso, Prince of Orange, until 2022, the most recent common ancestor of all European monarchs since World War II, current and former
* Miguel I of Portugal, another European king whose children strategically married into various European royal families
* Descendants of Miguel I of Portugal

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Christian 9. med familie, 1886". De Danske Kongers Kronologiske Samling. Retrieved 2011-06-23.

This biography of a member of a European royal house is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

|

* v
* t
* e

This European history–related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

|

* v
* t
* e

This Danish history article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

|

* v
* t
* e

This article about politics in Denmark is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

|

* v
* t
* e

This article about politics in Montenegro is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

|

* v
* t
* e

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template