AS SEEN ON TV: CHRISTIAN IX

CHRISTIAN IX

AS SEEN IN:
'Edward The King'

AS PLAYED BY:
Anthony Douse

TV DIMENSION:
Earth Prime-Time

From Wikipedia:
Christian IX (8 April 1818 – 29 January 1906) was King of Denmark from 16 November 1863 to 29 January 1906. He became known as "the father-in-law of Europe", as his six children married into other royal houses; most current European monarchs are descended from him.

Four of his children sat on the thrones (either as monarchs or as a consort) of Denmark, the United Kingdom, Russia and Greece. A fifth, daughter Thyra, would have become Queen of Hanover, had her husband's throne not been abolished before his reign began. The great dynastical success of the six children was to a great extent not the favor of Christian IX himself, but due to the dynastical ambitions of his wife Louise of Hesse-Kassel . Some have compared her dynastical capabilities with those of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom.

Christian's grandsons included Nicholas II of Russia, Constantine I of Greece, George V of the United Kingdom, Christian X of Denmark and Haakon VII of Norway. He was, in the last years of his life, named Europe's "father-in-law". Today, most of Europe's reigning and ex-reigning royal families are direct descendants of Christian IX.

There is a story that, while on an outing with his children and their families, they happened across a lost man whom they helped to find his way. Upon reaching the road, the man inquired as to the identities of Christian and his family. Christian replied truthfully, stating the names and titles of all present. Not believing Christian but instead taking it in humour, he proclaimed himself to be Jesus Christ before thanking them and departing.

Christian died peacefully of old age at 87 at the Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen and was buried in Roskilde Cathedral.

That story is depicted in 'Edward The King', only it's Czar Alexander, Albert Edward the Prince of Wales, and King George I of the Hellenes (Christian IX's son) who encounter a passing farmer and hitch a lift on his wagon. Upon introducing themselves, the farmer lets them in on a little secret - he's Napoleon Bonaparte!

BCnU!