More on the history of Schackenborg:
Who would not want to live in a castle? This is Prince Joachim and Princess Marie's home. Schackenborg Castle is considered one of the main attractions in South Jutland. Its history goes far back in time. And for those interested in history, it is a report with lots of drama.
1,000 years of historyEvidence suggests that around the year 1050 there was a stronghold roughly the same place as Schackenborg Castle is today. From written sources we know for sure that in the 1200s there was a castle. It belonged to the bishops of Ribe and was built partly to protect the waterway via Vidåen into Tønder, partly as a bulwark against the Frisian influence from the south. The castle was named Møgeltønderhus. We also know that in the years were often attacked, nearly constantly under repair. In 1434 the castle was so damaged that Ribebispen more or less had to rebuild it from scratch.
The castle came under royal house wings of the Reformation in 1536. In 1545, did Christian 3 one of his own times men , Detlev Ahlefelt the lord of Møgeltønderhus. He was an enterprising gentleman who first sparked a major restoration of the castle, partly built dikes in particular Hojer and Bettles. It is thanks to him that containment of Jutland marsh began.
Schakenborg, at that time still called Møgeltønderhus, developed into an estate with a large farm, that required manpower and money. And it was the tenants who had to deliver both. They were both taxed and treated rough. They complained to the king. It had to do for many years, the nobility and the monarchy held together at that time in history. Only in 1599, when Christian the 4th took the throne, something happened. He bought the estate back to the Crown and eased the harsh way in which the tenants were treated.
Hans Schack and storming of Copenhagen
The next owner, Hans Schack, was out of a North German noble family. He was a professional mercenary and had as such participated in the 30 Years Wa . At that time the army units a store where you went in the service of the duke or king, who paid best. Hans Schack started as a page and had literally fought his way up to become head of his own small army. The Swedes had at the time withdrawn victorious in the 30-year war, and was at the time considered a military superpower.
The Danish army was at that time under no commander. Therefore, the king sent for Hans Schack. He joined the Danish army in 1658 and was, at the same Danish citizenship. He was a member of the War Council and was responsible for the defense of Copenhagen. Not only because he had experience as a commander, but because he was also an expert on fortifications. He had such helped to consolidate Hamburg, which at that time was a European city .
It was hard times for the kingdom. The Swedish king had in 1658 occupied Jutland and got his army across the tracks, so at some point they only got 20 km from the ramparts. At the peace in Roskilde on Februar 17, 1658 Denmark losses included Skåne, Halland and Blekinge to the Swedes. The Swedish King Karl X Gustav was not satisfied, and the following year he knocked again on the Copenhagen port. But this time was the Hans Schack who embraced him.
When the Swedes stormed Copenhagen in February 1659, they suffered heavy losses, were therefore forced to withdraw. Way back to Funen, which they had occupied. Denmark had several allies south of the border, and Hans Schack chose to sail his troops to Kiel, where he together with German troops and a Dutch fleet started the liberation of Funen. It was a long and hard struggle, but after having retreated to Nyborg, who at the time was Fyn only fortification selected Swedes eventually surrendered.
Hans Schack in SønderjyllandAs a reward, the king gave Hans Schack the then Møgeltønderhus and Gisselfeld Zealand. He was also a member of the State College (the temporal government), was supreme commander (a kind of Defense) and was a main driving forces behind the introduction of absolutism in 1660 when the Danish nobility managed to reduce its power and influence.
When he had served in both the Danish, Swedish, French and German army, had he been around in Europe and seen how the kings and counts lived. And Møgeltønderhus - there was almost a ruin when he took over the castle - was not at all to his dreams. He had much bigger plans. And his employment as hærføre had made him one of the richest men in the kingdom.
He tore down the old buildings and started to build a castle on the foundations of the old castle. The builders were given the task to build a three-winged castle in Baroque, which was dominant contemporary style. Two of the original buildings in the area were built upon, inter alia, gatehouse. It has not changed significantly since 1664 brands. Moreover preserved Hans Schack moat - probably a reflection of his experience as a fortress expert. The castle is considered actually to be the last fortified castle in Denmark.
Schackenborg 1750
The new palace was commissioned in 1664 brands. Seven years later, Hans Schack elevated to a Count and he took the opportunity to put new preface to his status - the castle changed its name from Møgeltønderhus to Schakenborg .
It was originally built in red brick. Only in the 1750s was its present appearance with plastered white walls. The castle was rebuilt in the period and got such the large rococo decorations on the farm since. Hans Schack acquired eventually other possessions around Denmark. Among other things, he took Gram Castle in the 1663rd It was in a terrible state, and in 1667 he began a renovation of both the farm and buildings. Little by the same principles that he had renewed Schackenborg Castle.
The war with the Swedes had reduced the number of farmers in the area around Gram Castle from 830 to 70. Therefore, Hans Schack was able to get farmers from other parts of the country to take over the empty farm , so the large farms, which belonged to the castle, could get going again.
A Danish bastionThe family Schack and Schackenborg Castle was a Danish bastion between 1864 and 1920, when the province was German . Møgeltønder was the vote in 1920 almost 100% Danish mind while neighboring towns barrels and Hojer then had a large German majority. During the First World War, Count Otto Didrik Schack detained for four months. The German authorities saw him as a threat that could drop them in the back. Danes winning his staunch struggle Danish unit by letting him keep panegyrics to Christian X, Reunion party on 11 July 1920 on Dybboel bank.
Schack 's history in recent timesSchakenborg came to belong Schack family for 11 generations. The last count and countess had no children. Therefore, they decided in 1978 to give the castle back to the royal family. It was the then 9- year-old Prince Joachim, who would " inherit " the castle.
