Christian VII of Denmark

Christian VII
Portrait by Alexander Roslin, c. 1772
King of Denmark and Norway (more...)
Reign	14 January 1766 – 13 March 1808
Coronation	1 May 1767 Christiansborg Palace Chapel
Predecessor	Frederick V
Successor	Frederick VI
Regents	See list Hereditary Prince Frederick (1772–1784) Crown Prince Frederick (1784–1808)
Chief Ministers	See list Count Johann Hartwig Ernst von Bernstorff Johann Friedrich Struensee Ove Høegh-Guldberg Andreas Peter Bernstorff Christian Günther von Bernstorff
Born	(1749-01-29)29 January 1749 Christiansborg Palace, Copenhagen, Denmark
Died	13 March 1808(1808-03-13) (aged 59) Rendsburg, Duchy of Holstein
Burial	Roskilde Cathedral
Spouse	Caroline Matilda of Great Britain ​ ​ (m. 1766; div. 1772)​
Issue	Frederick VI Louise Auguste, Duchess of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg
House	Oldenburg
Father	Frederick V of Denmark
Mother	Louise of Great Britain
Religion	Lutheran
Signature

Christian VII (29 January 1749 – 13 March 1808) was King of Denmark and Norway and Duke of Schleswig and Holstein from 1766 until his death in 1808. His motto was "Gloria ex amore patriae" ("Glory through love of the fatherland").^[1]

Christian VII's reign was marked by mental illness. For most of his reign, Christian was only nominally king. His royal advisers changed depending on the outcome of power struggles. From 1770 to 1772, his court physician Johann Friedrich Struensee was the de facto ruler of the country and introduced progressive reforms signed into law by Christian VII. Struensee was deposed by a coup in 1772, after which the country was ruled by Christian's stepmother, Juliane Marie of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, his half-brother Frederick, and the Danish politician Ove Høegh-Guldberg. From 1784 until Christian VII's death in 1808, Christian's son, later Frederick VI, acted as unofficial regent.^[2]