Elizabeth of Denmark, Duchess of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel

Who was Elizabeth of Denmark, Duchess of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel?

Elisabeth of Denmark was duchess consort of Brunswick-Lüneburg as married to Duke Henry Julius of Brunswick-Lüneburg. She was regent of Brunswick-Lüneburg in 1616-1622.

She was the eldest daughter of King Frederick II of Denmark and his spouse Sophie of Mecklenburg-Güstrow. First raised with her maternal grand parents, she returned to Denmark in 1579.

Scottish ambassadors had at first concentrated their suit on Elisabeth as a prospective wife for King James VI of Scotland, but King Frederick betrothed Elisabeth to the Duke of Brunswick, promising the Scots instead that "for the second daughter Anna, if the King did like her, he should have her".

She was married in 1590 to Duke Henry Julius of Brunswick-Lüneburg and had ten children:

Frederick Ulrich

Sophia Hedwig, married Ernest Casimir, Prince of Nassau-Dietz

Elisabeth, married Augustus, Duke of Saxony, and John Philip, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg

Hedwig, married Ulrich, Duke of Pomerania

Dorothea, married Christian William, Margrave of Brandenburg, son of Joachim III Frederick, Elector of Brandenburg