Frederik Ahlefeldt


Count Frederik of Ahlefeldt-Rixingen was a Danish landowner and statesman. By birth member of the House of Ahlefeldt, he was the first reigning Count of Rixingen. He was also Grand Chancellor during the reign of King Christian V. He was also Landgrave of Langeland.

Early life

Ahlefeldt was born on Søgård Manor, east of Kliplev in the Duchy of Schleswig as the eldest child and only son of Frederik of Ahlefeldt-Seestermühe and his wife and relative, Birgitte of Ahlefeldt-Graasten. He had one younger sister, Elisabeth von Rumohr.
At age twenty, Ahlefeldt was sent on an educational tour of Europe, where over a six-year period he studied at universities in Jena, Bologna, Paris and Amsterdam. On this tour he accompanied later danish chamberlain and queen's favourite Jacob Petersen as a valet on his travels.

Career

In 1657, he was appointed to the Land Council as a commissioner. He also served in a diplomatic capacity to the state of Brandenburg on behalf of the Duke of Gottorp. In September 1659, he landed in Ystad with 460 men, but was later repulsed by Swedish forces under the command of Gustaf Otto Stenbock. In 1660, he was sent to England in a similar capacity, and there ended a trade and friendship treaty on behalf of Denmark which was signed February 1661. After his return, he was appointed as stadtholder for Copenhagen, then as a civil judge, and finally as a steward to the governor of Dithmarschen. During the early and mid 1660s he belonged to the influential circle around Hannibal Sehested, Hans Svane, Peter Bülche, Petersen and Theodor Lente, who became increasingly opposed to Frederick III's favorite Christoffer Gabel.
During 1670s and up to the fall of Gabel, Ahlefeldt was the leading minister of the government. In 1673, he was replaced by Peder Schumacher Griffenfeld. Following the arrest of Griffenfeld, Ahlefeldt was made chancellor again. He held that post until 1686.

Holdings and titles

Ahlefeldt owned Gråsten Manor, as well as estates at Søgård, Ballegård, and Herningsholm in Herning. He spent most of his time at Gråsten. On October 11, 1663, he received the Order of the Elephant.
In 1759, he received Tranekær Manor from his father-in-law as part of his wife's Dowry. In 1672, he became landgrave of the county of Langeland.

Imperial County of Rixingen

He was raised ad personam in 1665 to Heiliger Römischer Reichsgraf, Count of the Holy Roman Empire in immediate vassalage to the Holy Roman Emperor. But in 1669 he bought the County of Rixingen, thus becoming the real sovereign count. After his death, his son from his second marriage, Count Carl von Ahlefeldt, inherited the dominions of Rixingen and Mörsberg in 1686, which he later passed on to his brother-in-law, Count Friedrich Ludwig von Nassau-Ottweiler.

Marriages

On 28 December 1656, Ahlefeldt married Countess Margarethe Dorothea zu Rantzau. The only daughter of Count Christian zu Rantzau, governor of the Duchy of Holstein and one of Denmark's richest men. Ahlefeldt and Margarethe Dorothea had two children:
On 1 December 1668 he married Countess Marie Elisabeth of Leiningen-Hartenburg-Dagsburg, daughter of Friedrich Emich, Count von Leiningen-Dagsburg-Hartenburg and his wife, Countess Sibylla von Waldeck, daughter of Christian, Count of Waldeck-Wildungen. Ahlefeldt and Marie Elisabeth had three children:

Works cited

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