Christian Albert was a son of Frederick III, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp, and his wife Princess Marie Elisabeth of Saxony.

He became duke when his father died in the Castle Tönning, besieged by the King Christian V of Denmark.

[1] During Christian Albert's reign, the connection with Sweden, initiated by his father, was strengthened, which provided some protection.

[1] However, with the aid of the Holy Roman Emperor and the European allies, he managed to force the Danish king to sign the so-called Altonaer Vergleich in 1689, which allowed him to regain his former position.

Both he and his father, Frederick III, extended patronage to the painter Jürgen Ovens, who worked for more than thirty years with them.