Conrad von Reventlow


Conrad, Count von Reventlow was a Danish statesman who was "Grand Chancellor of Denmark", a predecessor title of the Prime Minister of Denmark, from 1699 until his death. His chancellorship occurred during the reign of King Frederick IV.

Early life

Conrad von Reventlow was the son of Chancellor Ditlev von Reventlow and his wife, Christine zu Rantzau. He was the brother of chamberlain Count Henning von Reventlow and Chancellor, Count Ditlev von Reventlow.

Career

Military career

He attended Academy in Sorø Academy and studied at the University of Orleans. After attending university, Reventlow was called to the Danish Court in 1665, where he rose through various positions of responsibility. In the 1670s, he became a colonel in the Danish military. He recruited a regiment and distinguished himself in the Scanian War.
In 1700, Reventlow was deeply involved in the negotiations for peace with Sweden during that country's naval blockade of Copenhagen, an early event in the Great Northern War. Both France and the United Kingdom dealt extensively with Reventlow in their efforts to pressure Denmark to declare peace, in order to prevent a wider war from spreading into Europe.

Councillor and Grand Chancellor

In 1672, he became a land commissioner in Schleswig-Holstein. In 1685, Reventlow used his influence as a councilor to the court on behalf of privateer Benjamin Raule, to promote Danish acquisition of the island of St. Thomas in the West Indies.
In 1678, he applied for leave from service when his wife was incurably ill.

Family

He married twice; with his first wife, Countess Anna Margarethe Gabel, he had two children:
  • Christian Detlev, who played a prominent political role
  • Christine Sophie became an influential advisor to her sister and brother-in-law, the Danish queen and king.
With his second wife, Sophie Amalie Hahn of Seekapm, he had three children:
His sarcophagus in the Schleswig Cathedral was designed by the renowned sculptor Thomas Quellinus.

Ancestry

Additional sources