Anne Hardenberg

She served as a lady-in-waiting to the Dowager Queen Dorothea of Denmark from 1559 to 1572 and is known to have been the love interest of Frederick II, who famously wished to marry her.

[1] Of high nobility, Anne was the daughter of Corfitz Eriksen of Hardenberg and Mette Christiernsdatter Skram.

The nobility and the king's advisors believed it an imprudent match, as it might incite jealousy and accusations of favoritism among relatives and other court families.

He apparently wished for his first love to approve of the match before going through with the betrothal, as he organized a meeting between himself, his future mother-in-law, the Duchess Elizabeth, and Anne.

After the meeting, Anne wrote to her close friend, Birgitte Gøye, "God knows I am so happy and calm in my heart as I have not been in many years."

Anne of Hardenberg in 1577 with her husband, Oluf Krognos