Halls and rooms
Christian IV's Bedchamber
The earrings and Christian IV's blood-stained clothes are on display in Christian IV's Bedchamber at Rosenborg Castle.
Shrapnel earrings
Two of the pieces of shrapnel that were removed from Christian IV's head were used to make a pair of earrings that he gave to his mistress for 14 years, Vibeke Kruse.
Did you know that Christian IV had shrapnel removed from his brow and his eye and had the fragments turned into jewellery for his mistress Vibeke Kruse?
A romantic gift to the King's mistress
During the large naval battle against the Swedes at Kolberger Heide, in 1644, Christian IV's flagship 'Trefoldigheden' [Trinity] was struck by a hail of Swedish bullets. Several of the men on board the King's ship were killed, and the King himself was struck by several pieces of shrapnel. The aging Christian IV almost lost his life, but his men were able to bring him round. Among his many injuries, the King lost sight in his right eye. Two of the pieces of shrapnel that were removed from Christian IV's head were mounted in a pair of earrings that he gave to his mistress for 14 years, Vibeke Kruse.
The earrings are made of enamelled gold and are shaped like a pair of hands, which hold fragments from an exploded cannon and a Swedish bullet. After the battle, surgeons removed the shrapnel from the King's brow and injured eye. The jewellery shows the warmth of Christian IV's feelings for his mistress, even though she was initially merely a distraction and a comfort for the lovesick Christian, after he was abandoned by the love of his life, Kirsten Munk. Christian IV and Vibeke Kruse stayed together until the King's death, in 1648, four years after the naval battle.
Obsessed with his posthumous reputation
It is quite remarkable that Christian IV parted with the shrapnel, rather than adding them to his collection of personal war mementos, as he did with his blood-stained clothes from the explosion. Christian IV was obsessed with shaping his posthumous reputation and collected tangible mementos from his heroic exploits.
Today, the earrings and the blood-stained clothes are on display in Christian IV's Bedchamber at Rosenborg Castle.
