Christiana of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg


Princess Christiana of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, often referred to as Christiane was the consort of Christian I, Duke of Saxe-Merseburg, who was the ruling Duke of Saxe-Merseburg from 1650 until his death.

Life

Christiana was the fourth daughter, and the ninth of 15 children, of Philip, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg and his wife, Sophie Hedwig of Saxe-Lauenburg. Christiana was born in Copenhagen, Denmark. She was raised by Magdalene Sibylle of Saxony, the widow of the Danish Crown Prince, at her widow seat Nyköpingshus.
On 19 November 1650, at the age of 16, Christiana married at Dresden Castle to Christian I, Duke of Saxe-Merseburg, the third son of Prince-Elector John George I of Saxony and his second wife, Duchess Magdalene Sibylle of Prussia. This was part of a double wedding: Christiana's elder sister Sophie Hedwig married Christian's younger brother Maurice. The double wedding was followed by four weeks of celebrations, including ballet and other performances, tournaments, parades and fireworks.
After her husband died in 1691, Christiana retreated to her widow seat, Delitzsch Castle, which she had received in 1688, replacing the earlier jointure Sangerhausen Castle. Delitzsch Castle had been renovated and remodeled to serve as her residence, however, the renovated had not been completed when she moved in on 31 May 1692. During her time at Delitsch, Christiana added a French formal garden to the castle.

Marriage and issue

Christian and Christiana had eleven children: