Kristian Mantzius

Kristian Andreas Leopold Mantzius (4 November 1819 – 5 June 1879) was a Danish actor. Mantziusvej in Hellerup was named after Kristian Mantzius in 1903.[1] He possessed a decided talent for putting himself out with all those who were his superiors, and even work with them. He who once amused or touched the heart of Copenhagen citizens, can now draw endless bills on their affection and admiration.

Kristian Mantzius
Kristian Mantzius (1819-1879), Danish actor
Born
Christian Andreas Leopold Mantzius

(1819-11-04)4 November 1819
Viborg
Died5 June 1879(1879-06-05) (aged 59)
Copenhagen
Years active1842–1871

Early life and education

Kristian Mantzius was born in Viborg, son of Gen. Karl Johan Peter Mantzius (1791-1859) and Mette Marie, née Fogh (1792-1870).[2] Mantzius was brother to Johanne Juliane Marie Henriette Mantzius (1822-1869) and Johan Frederik Mantzius (1834-1890), a school teacher.[2]

Mantzius came to Copenhagen with his parents when he was around one year old. His parents were poor and had many children. He was therefore brought up in the home of Juliane Jhøllestrup, his father's maternal aunt, who was wealthy and had become a widow. She lived at Nytorv 117.[3]

Mantzius graduated from the Metropolitan College in 1837 and went to the University of Copenhagen, where he began studying theology, subject which he continued with until 1842.[4] On 27 September of that year, Mantzius debuted as 'Erasmus Montanus' at the Royal Danish Theatre.[5] After his third performance he accepted an offer to work for 400 Thalers a month.[5] But it was not until August 1848 that he was effectively hired as royal actor because of royal interference from Frederick VII of Denmark who had amused himself admirably in both the play and the actor.[6] However, in 1858 he resigned and began working the two following seasons at the Folksteatret instead, where he helped his friend Jens Christian Hostrup stage his student comedy Gjenboerne..[4] before returning to the Royal Theater.

Career
Kristian Mantzius, 1880

Mantzius never gave up and showed he was dissatisfied with the board of the Royal Theater all the time he was working there. He presumably retained his position only because of his great popularity with the audience. He was dismissed from his post as royal actor on 17 April 1871, without a pension, but returned to the Royal Theater as guest actor once the audience complained.[5] In the autumn of 1877 he became seriously ill, and after eighteen years of progressive infirmity he died of breast cancer on 5 June 1879.[5] He is buried in the Garnisons Cemetery, in Copenhagen.[4]

Carl Bloch: Kristian Mantzius in his study 1853

Personal life

Mantzius married Anna Margrethe Petrea Jorgensen (b. Copenhagen on 10 December 1841) on 20 January 1859, with whom he had Karl Mantzius (1860-1921), actor and theater director.[2] His niece was Juliane Blicher-Hansen (1849-1933), a school superintendent.[7]

Mantzius died on 9 June 1879 and is buried at Frederiksberg Old Cemetery. Mantziusvej in Hellerup was named after him in 1903

Selected roles
  • Erasmus Montanus in Erasmus Montanus (Holberg) (1842) debut
  • Arv in Jean de France (Holberg) (1842)
  • Giulio Romano in Correggio (Adam Oehlenschläger|Oehlenschläger) (1843)
  • Løjtnant v. Buddinge in Gjenboerne (Hostrup) (1843–44)
  • Konsul Varbjerg in En Spurv i Tranedans (Hostrup)
  • Jeronimus in Pernilles korte Frøkenstand (Holberg)
  • Jacob Skomager in Jeppe på Bjerget (Holberg)
  • Jesper Ridefoged in Erasmus Montanus (Holberg)
  • Skalholt in Besøget i København (Hertz)
  • Pastor Jensen in Deklarationen (Christian Richardt)
  • Grønholt in Mester og Lærling (Hostrup)
  • Daniel Hejre in De unges Forbund (Henrik Ibsen)
  • Anker in Soldaterløjer (Hostrup)

References
  1. Gentoftehistorie. "Mantziusvej (1903)". Gentoftehistorie.dk. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
  2. Geni. "Kristian Mantzius". Geni, Inc. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
  3. Karl Mantzius (23 March 2017). Min far og jeg: af gamle familiepapirer. ISBN 9788711653043. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
  4. Gravsted. "Kristian Andreas Leopold Mantzius" (in Danish). Gravsted.dk. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
  5. Den Store Danske. "Kristian Mantizius" (in Danish). Denstoredanske.dk. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
  6. Dansk Biografisk Leksikon. "Kristian Mantizius" (in Danish). Runeberg.org. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
  7. Hilden, Adda. "Juliane Blicher-Hansen (1849 - 1933)". Dansk Kvindebiografisk Leksikon. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
Attribution
  • This article is based on the translation of the corresponding article of the Danish Wikipedia. A list of contributors can be found there at the History section.

Literature
  • Karl Mantzius, Min Far og jeg (1919)
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