Christian Barnekow (1556–1612)

Barnekow was a son of Pomeranian nobleman Hans Mortensen Barnekow til Birkholm (d. 1559) and Mette Johansdatter Oxe (d. 1582), sister of Danish finance minister and Steward of the Realm, Peder Oxe (1520–1575). [2]

Barnekow held several estates, including Løvenborg (Løvenborg slott) which had been acquired by his father from the Crown in 1547 at which time he was also ennobled. Christian Barnekow inherited the estate after the death of his elder brother Johan Barnekow Birkolm in 1603. Barnekow acquired Vittskövle Castle (Vittskövle Slot) in Scania following his marriage Margareta Brahe (1584-1617), daughter of Henrik Brahe who had completed the castle in 1577. He acquired Tølløsegård (Tølløse Slot) jointly with his brother Jens Barnekow, in 1592 from the estate of Mette Rosenkrantz (1533-1588), widow of Peder Oxe. [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]

Barnekow spent nearly 16 years of his early life travelling throughout Europe and the Middle East, including a three-year journey in the Holy Land and Egypt. He spent six years at the Universities of Jena and Ingolstadt and two years at the University of Padua. After his return he became a diplomat for the Danish king, with further travels in Scotland, England, Poland and Brandenburg. Probably in 1591 he gave his autograph to Dietrich Bevernest, writing a Spanish proverb, Qui no ci cança, nunca alcança, meaning "those who never grow weary will achieve".[9]

On 12 July 1594 he came to Scotland with Danish envoy Steen Bille (1565-1629) for the baptism of Prince Henry at Stirling Castle. When they arrived Queen Anne left Edinburgh for Falkland Palace because Holyrood Palace was not magnificent enough. King James VI had an audience with them on 15 July, and after a few days arranged for them to lodge in private houses in Lothian because he could not afford to host them.[10] Barnekow and his colleague Steen Bille brought necklaces for Queen Anne and Prince Henry, and King James gave them gold chains, which were heavier than those made for the ambassadors from the dukes of Mecklenberg and Brunswick.[11] [12]

In March 1595, the Scottish Jesuit Father James Myreton, brother of the Laird of Cambo, was detained at Leith and brought to King James VI.[13] He said he was sent from Pope Clement VIII and Cardinal Cajetan. He brought a jewel from the Cardinal that depicted the Crucifixion made of gold, crystal, and bone, which King James gave to Queen Anne.[14] The incident was of some significance and was reported to Barnekow, who commented that James VI did not have strong links with Rome.[15]

In September 1597, Barnekow and Arild Huitfeldt (1546–1609) were envoys to London and lodged in Fenchurch Street in the house of Alderman Houghton or the Customer Master Smith.[16] Their mission concerned the Sound tolls. They returned the insignia of the Order of Garter that had belonged to King Frederick II of Denmark. Queen Elizabeth made a joke at their expense on her birthday, 7 September. After their audiences in London they came to Scotland.[17]

Christian Barnekow died in 1612 during the Kalmar War against Sweden after which his widow, Margrethe Brahe, took over his estates together with their two still underage sons Hans Barnekow (b. 1601) and Ove Barnekow (b. 1608). Hans Poulsen Resen (1561-1638), Bishop of the Diocese of Zealand held the funeral session for Barnekow on 26 March 1612 in Elsinore. He noted in his writings that Barnekow brought back with him many rare things, which he had found in foreign countries; unfortunately they have all disappeared. [18]

• Olsen, Gitte Hou (2006) Danish castles and manors (Gudrun Publishing) ISBN 9788779761308