Prince Christian of Hesse

Prince Christian was born at Gottorp Castle, Schleswig as the third son of Prince Charles of Hesse-Kassel, royal governor of the twin duchies of Schleswig and Holstein, and Princess Louise of Denmark, herself a daughter of King Frederick V of Denmark.

As a member of the extended Danish Royal Family, Christian was destined for a military career in Denmark from a young age.

[1] In 1805 he was put in charge of a cavalry brigade in Holstein,[1] and as such accompanied his cousin King Frederick VI of Denmark to Copenhagen.

In 1808 he assisted in suppressing the unrest of the Spanish auxiliary troops in Roskilde and was appointed Lieutenant General the following year.

[1] He was buried in the Church of Saint John in Odense, but in 1862 his remains were transferred to Schleswig Cathedral.