Frederick II of Denmark

Frederik II

Frederick II (1 July 1534 – 4 April 1588), was the king of Denmark-Norway and duke of Schleswig from 1559 until his death. He was the son of King Christian III of Denmark and Norway and Dorothea of Saxe-Lauenburg. He is often seen as the typical Renaissance ruler of Denmark. As a person Frederick was described as hot-headed, proud, brave, and ambitious. He loved hunting, wine and feasts. At his death lots of people thought that he had drunk himself to death.

He built Kronborg castle in Elsinore again between 1574 and 1585. In 1567 he began Fredrikstad in Norway. This was a time of wealth and growth in Danish history.