17 Facts About Christian VII

Christian VII was King of Denmark and Norway and Duke of Schleswig and Holstein from 1766 until his death in 1808.

Christian VII was affected by mental illness and was only nominally king for most of his reign.

Christian VII's godparents were King Frederick V, Queen Dowager Sophie Magdalene, Princess Louise and Princess Charlotte Amalie.

At birth, Christian VII had two elder sisters, Princess Sophia Magdalena and Princess Wilhelmina Caroline, and the family was joined by another daughter, Princess Louise in 1750.

Prone to debauchery and increasingly affected by alcoholism, Christian VII's father became increasingly indifferent to the shy, sensitive child, who was prone to epileptic seizures.

Nonetheless, early historians state that Christian VII had a winning personality and considerable talent, but that he was poorly educated and systematically terrorized, and even flogged, by a brutal tutor, Count Christian VII Ditlev Frederik Reventlow.

Christian VII seems to have been intelligent and had periods of clarity, but had severe emotional problems, possibly schizophrenia, as argued by Doctor Viggo Christiansen in Christian VII's mental illness.

Christian VII masturbated frequently, which worried his court physicians and tutor, who thought the practice reduced the prince's fertility and affected his capacity for learning.

At the death of his father, Christian VII immediately ascended the thrones of Denmark and Norway as their sixth absolute monarch, a few weeks before his 17th birthday.

Christian VII's reign was marked by mental illness, which affected government decisions, and for most of his reign, Christian VII was only nominally king.

Christian VII ultimately sank into a condition of mental stupor.

Christian VII's trusted Swiss tutor, Elie Salomon Francois Reverdil had to step in, among other things with love letters written in the king's name, in an attempt to make the marriage lead to a pregnancy and thus an heir to the throne.

Christian VII was a skilled doctor, and having somewhat restored the king's health while visiting the Schleswig-Holstein area, he gained the king's affection.

Christian VII signed Struensee's arrest and execution warrant under pressure from his stepmother, Queen Juliana Maria, who had led the movement to have the marriage ended.

Christian VII eventually left Denmark and passed her remaining days in exile at Celle Castle in her brother's German territory, the Electorate of Hanover.

Christian VII died at age 59 of a stroke on 13 March 1808 in Rendsburg, Schleswig.

Christian VII was buried in Roskilde Cathedral and was succeeded by his son Frederick VI.