Father-in-law of Europe
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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.
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), wife of King Edward VII
- King George I of Greece (1845–1913)
- Empress Maria Feodorovna of Russia (1847–1928), wife 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 Kings Christian X of Denmark, George V of the United Kingdom, Constantine I of Greece, Emperor Nicholas II of Russia, and both King Haakon VII and Queen Maud of Norway.
