Biography of Prince George of Denmark 1st Duke Cumberland 1653-1708

Paternal Family Tree: Oldenburg

Maternal Family Tree: Anne Eleonore Hesse Darmstadt Duchess Brunswick-Lüneburg 1601-1659

1670 Frederick III King Denmark Dies Christian V King Denmark Succeeds

1683 Marriage of Lady Anne and Prince George

1702 Death of King William III

1714 Death of Queen Anne

In 1643 [his father] Frederick III King Denmark (age 33) and [his mother] Sophie Amalie Hanover Queen Consort Denmark (age 14) were married. She the daughter of George Hanover Duke Brunswick-Lüneburg and Anne Eleonore Hesse Darmstadt Duchess Brunswick-Lüneburg (age 41). He the son of Christian IV King Denmark (age 65).

On 28 Feb 1648 [his grandfather] Christian IV King Denmark (age 70) died. His son [his father] Frederick III King Denmark (age 38) succeeded III King Denmark. [his mother] Sophie Amalie Hanover Queen Consort Denmark (age 19) by marriage Queen Consort Denmark.

On 02 Apr 1653 Prince George of Denmark 1st Duke Cumberland was born to Frederick III King Denmark (age 44) and Sophie Amalie Hanover Queen Consort Denmark (age 25) at Copenhagen Castle.

Evelyn's Diary. 29 Oct 1662. Was my Lord Mayor's show, with a number of sumptuous pageants, speeches, and verses. I was standing in a house in Cheapside [Map] against the place prepared for their Majesties. The Prince (age 9) and heir of Denmark was there, but not our King. There were also the maids of honor. I went to Court this evening, and had much discourse with Dr. Basiers, one of his Majesty's (age 32) chaplains, the great traveler, who showed me the syngraphs and original subscriptions of divers eastern patriarchs and Asian churches to our confession.

Frederick III King Denmark Dies Christian V King Denmark Succeeds

On 09 Feb 1670 [his father] Frederick III King Denmark (age 60) died. His son [his brother] Christian V King Denmark and Norway (age 23) succeeded V King Denmark and Norway. Charlotte Amalie Hesse-Kassel Queen Consort Denmark and Norway (age 19) by marriage Queen Consort Denmark and Norway.

Evelyn's Diary. 19 Jul 1683. George, Prince of Denmark (age 30), who had landed this day, came to marry the [his future wife] Lady Anne (age 18), daughter to the [his future father-in-law] Duke (age 49); so I returned home, having seen the young gallant at dinner at Whitehall [Map].

Evelyn's Diary. 25 Jul 1683. I again saw Prince George of Denmark (age 30): he had the Danish countenance, blonde, of few words, spoke French but ill, seemed somewhat heavy, but reported to be valiant, and indeed he had bravely rescued and brought off his [his brother] brother, the King of Denmark (age 37), in a battle against the Swedes, when both these Kings were engaged very smartly.

Marriage of Lady Anne and Prince George

On 28 Jul 1683 Prince George of Denmark 1st Duke Cumberland (age 30) and Queen Anne of England Scotland and Ireland (age 18) were married at Chapel Royal, St James's Palace. She the daughter of King James II of England Scotland and Ireland (age 49) and Anne Hyde Queen Consort England. He the son of Frederick III King Denmark and Sophie Amalie Hanover Queen Consort Denmark (age 55). They were second cousin once removed.

Evelyn's Diary. 28 Jul 1683. He was married to the [his wife] Lady Anne (age 18) at Whitehall. Her Court and household to be modeled as the [his father-in-law] Duke's, her father (age 49), had been, and they to continue in England. See Marriage of Lady Anne and Prince George.

On 01 Jan 1684 Prince George of Denmark 1st Duke Cumberland (age 30) was appointed 487th Knight of the Garter by King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland (age 53).

Evelyn's Diary. 17 Dec 1684. Early in the morning I went into St James' Park [Map] to see three Turkish or Asian horses, newly brought over, and now first shewed to his Ma* (age 54). There were foure, but one of them died at sea, being three weekes coming from Hamborow. They were taken from a Bashaw at the siege of Vienna, at the late famous raising that leaguer. I never beheld so delicate a creature as one of them was, of somewhat a bright bay, two white feet, a blaze; such a head, eyes, cares, neck, breast, belly, haunches, legs, pasterns, and feete, in all reguards beautifull and proportion'd to admiration; spirited, proud, nimble, making halt, turning with that swiftnesse, and in so small a compasse, as was admirable. With all this so gentle and tractable as call'd to mind what I remember Busbequius speakes of them, to the reproch of our groomes in Europe, who bring up their horses so churlishly as makes most of them retain their 111 habits. They trotted like does, as if they did not feele the ground. 500 guinnies was demanded for the first; 300 for the second; and 200 for the third, wch was browne. All of them were choicely shap'd, but the two last not altogether so perfect as the first. It was judg'd by the spectators, among whom was the King (age 54), Prince of Denmark (age 31), [his father-in-law] Duke of Yorke (age 51), and several of the Court, noble persons, skill'd In horses, especialy Mons. Faubert and his sonn, (provost masters of yc Academie, and esteem'd of the best in Europe,) that there were never seene any horses in these parts to be compar'd with them. Add to all this, the furniture, consisting of embroidery on the saddle, houseings, quiver, bow, arrows, scymeter, sword, mace, or battle-axe a la Turcisq; the Bashaw's velvet mantle furr'd with the most perfect Ermine I ever beheld; all which, yron-worke in common furniture, being here of silver, curiously wrought and double gilt, to an incredible icon. Such and so extraordinary was the embrodery, that I never saw any thing approching it. The reins and headstall were of crimson silk, cover'd with chaines of silver gilt. There was also a Turkish royal standard of an horse's taile, together with all sorts of other caparisons belonging to a general's horse, by which one may estimate how gallantly and magnificently those infidels appeare in the field, for nothing could be seene more glorious. The gentleman (a German) who rid the horse was in all this garb. They were shod with yron made round and closed at the heele, with a hole in the middle about as wide as a shilling. The hoofes most intire.

Evelyn's Diary. 18 Dec 1684. I went with Lord Cornwallis (age 28) to see the young gallants do their exercise, Mr. Faubert having newly rail'd in a manage, and fitted it for the academy. There were the Dukes of Norfolk (age 29) and Northumberland (age 18), Lord Newburgh, and a nephew of (Duras) Earle of Feversham (age 43). The exercises were, 1. running at the ring; 2. flinging a javelin at a Moor's head; 3. discharging a pistol at a mark; lastly, taking up a gauntlet with the point of a sword; all these perform'd in full speede. The D. of Northumberland (age 18) hardly miss'd of succeeding in every one, a dozen times, as I think. The D. of Norfolk (age 29) did exceeding bravely. Lords Newburgh and Duras seem'd nothing so dextrous. Here I saw the difference of what ye French call "belle homme a cheval", and "bon homme a cheval;" the Duke of Norfolk being the first, that is, rather a fine person on a horse, the Duke of Northumberland being both in perfection, namely, a graceful person and excellent rider. But the Duke of Norfolk told me he had not ben at this exercise these 12 yeares before. There were in the field ye Prince of Denmark (age 31), and the Lord Landsdown (age 23), sonn of ye Earle of Bath (age 56), who had ben made a Count of ye Empire last Summer for his service before Vienna.

In 20 Feb 1685 [his mother] Sophie Amalie Hanover Queen Consort Denmark (age 56) died.

On 22 Apr 1685 [his illegitimate brother-in-law] James Darnley (age 1) died.

Evelyn's Diary. 15 Aug 1687. I went to visit Lord Clarendon at Swallowfield, where was my Lord Cornbury (age 25) just arrived from Denmark, whither he had accompanied the Prince of Denmark (age 34) two months before, and now come back. The miserable tyranny under which that nation lives, he related to us; the King keeps them under an army of 40,000 men, all Germans, he not daring to trust his own subjects. Notwithstanding this, the Danes are exceedingly proud, the country very poor and miserable.

In 1689 Prince George of Denmark 1st Duke Cumberland (age 35) was created 1st Duke Cumberland by his father-in-law [his father-in-law] King James II of England Scotland and Ireland (age 55). [his wife] Queen Anne of England Scotland and Ireland (age 23) by marriage Duchess Cumberland.

On 24 Jul 1689 [his son] Prince William Duke Gloucester was born to Prince George of Denmark 1st Duke Cumberland (age 36) and [his wife] Queen Anne of England Scotland and Ireland (age 24).

On 30 Jul 1700 [his son] Prince William Duke Gloucester (age 11) died of smallpox.

1702 Death of King William III

On 07 Nov 1704 [his illegitimate sister-in-law] Arabella Fitzjames (age 30) died.

Around 1705. Michael Dahl (age 46). Portrait of Prince George of Denmark 1st Duke Cumberland (age 51). Walmer Castle [Map].

Before 28 Oct 1708 John Closterman (age 48). Portrait of Prince George of Denmark 1st Duke Cumberland (age 55).

On 28 Oct 1708 Prince George of Denmark 1st Duke Cumberland (age 55) died without surviving issue. Duke Cumberland extinct.

On 13 Nov 1708 Prince George of Denmark 1st Duke Cumberland (deceased) was buried at Westminster Abbey [Map].

Death of Queen Anne

Royal Ancestors of Prince George of Denmark 1st Duke Cumberland 1653-1708

Kings Wessex: Great x 19 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England

Kings England: Great x 14 Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Kings Scotland: Great x 17 Grand Son of Malcolm III King Scotland

Kings Franks: Great x 15 Grand Son of Louis VII King Franks

Kings France: Great x 12 Grand Son of Philip "Bold" III King France

Ancestors of Prince George of Denmark 1st Duke Cumberland 1653-1708

Great x 4 Grandfather: Christian I King Denmark

Great x 3 Grandfather: King Frederick I of Denmark

Great x 4 Grandmother: Dorothea of Brandenburg

Great x 2 Grandfather: Christian III King Denmark 10 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Anna of Brandenburg 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret of Thuringia 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 1 Grandfather: Frederick II King Denmark 11 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 2 Grandmother: Dorothea of Saxe Lauenburg Queen Consort Denmark and Norway

GrandFather: Christian IV King Denmark 12 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Magnus II Duke of Mecklenburg

Great x 3 Grandfather: Albrecht VII Duke Mecklenburg

Great x 2 Grandfather: Ulrich Mecklenburg-Schwerin 11 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Joachim "Nestor" Hohenzollern Elector Brandenburg 9 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Anna Hohenzollern Duchess Mecklenburg 10 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 1 Grandmother: Sophie Mecklenburg-Schwerin Queen Consort Denmark 12 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Father: Frederick III King Denmark 13 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Prince George of Denmark 1st Duke Cumberland 14 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Mother: Sophie Amalie Hanover Queen Consort Denmark 13 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: William II Landgrave of Hesse 9 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Landgrave Philip I of Hesse 10 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: Landgrave George I of Hesse Darmstadt 10 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: George Duke of Saxony 9 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Christine of Saxony 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Barbara Jagiellon 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 1 Grandfather: Landgrave Louis V of Hesse-Darmstadt 11 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

GrandMother: Anne Eleonore Hesse Darmstadt Duchess Brunswick-Lüneburg 12 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England