John, Prince of Schleswig-Holstein

Johan of Schleswig-Holstein (9 July 1583 28 October 1602) was the youngest son of Frederick II of Denmark and Norway and Sophia of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. He went to Russia in 1602 as the bridegroom of Boris Godunov's daughter Ksenia (Xenia), but fell ill and died before the marriage could take place. [1] John's death is unknown . It is possible that Boris Godunov's ministers may have poisoned him . The cancelled marriage between John and Ksenia was a attempt to ally Denmark with the Russian Empire . If that would have happened and if John had lived and had issue history might have gone in a different direction .

John
Duke of Holstein
Born(1583-07-09)9 July 1583
Died28 October 1602(1602-10-28) (aged 19)
HouseOldenburg
FatherFrederick II of Denmark
MotherSofie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin




Other notable facts

  • In Alexander Pushkin's chamber drama Boris Godunov and the Mussorgsky opera based on it, Johan is referred to in Boris's monologue "I have attained the highest power":

I thought to make my daughter happy
By wedlock. Like a tempest Death took off
Her bridegroom—and at once a stealthy rumour
Pronounced me guilty of my daughter's grief--
Me, me, the hapless father!

Ancestry

References

  1. Carl Frederik Bricka. "Hans, 1583-1602, yngste Søn af Kong Frederik II og Dronning Sophie". Dansk biografisk Lexikon. Retrieved June 1, 2018.

Other sources

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