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Christian Conrad Sophus

Count Danneskiold-Samsøe

Christian Conrad Sophus, Count Danneskiold-Samsøe (29 August 1836 - 1 November 1908), normally referred to as Christian Danneskiold-Samsøe, was member of the Danish comital family Danneskiold-Samsøe, landowner and administrative leader of the Royal Danish Theatre. He was born in Copenhagen as the son of Postmaster-General Sophus Danneskiold-Samsøe and Frederikke Marie Danneskiold-Samsøe née Levetzow. He completed secondary school in 1855 and became cand. polit. from the University of Copenhagen in 1861. He headed the court of crown prince Frederik (Frederik VIII) in 1869-76. He was largely unknown by the general public when he succeeded Edvard Fallesen as head of the Royal Danish Theatre in August 1904. His appointment was met with skepticism but he soon gained recognition for his work with restoring the economy of the theatre. His wife brought Annerup and Christiansholm into the marriage, transferring ownership of both properties to him in collection with the marriage. The two properties were sold in 1874 and 1900. In 1894, he succeeded his father as the owner of Nordfeld, Ålebækgård and Klosterskov on Møn. He married Wanda Sophie Elisabeth Candia Zahrtmann (12 August 1842 - 27 April 1916) on 22 January 1863. She was a daughter of captain and later vice admiral and naval minister C. C. Zahrtmann and a cousin of the painter Kristian Zahrtmann. They had six children.

The Guard Hussar Regiment (Danish: Gardehusarregimentet). The purpose of the regiment is to provide mounted escorts for the Royal family and carry ceremonial services for the Royal Danish Army. In 1762, there was a possibility of war between Denmark and Russia. The general staff was wary of the coming battle, due to the Cossacks, and Denmark's inability to counter the light cavalry. Inspired by the Hungarian hussars, Denmark created their own hussar regiment and adopted a similar uniform. The current ceremonial uniform of the Guard Hussar Regiment dates from 1870.

The House of Danneskiold-Samsøe is a Danish family of high nobility associated with the Danish Royal Family, and who formerly held the island of Samsø as a fief. By royal statutory regulation, the Counts Danneskiold-Samsøe and their male-line descendants are ranked as the second-highest nobles in Denmark, second only to the Counts of Rosenborg, who also descend from the Danish Kings. With a place in the 1st Class No. 13, they are entitled to the style "His/Her Excellency". The name was created for several descendants of Danish monarchs of the House of Oldenburg, born of their liaisons with royal mistresses. All Danneskiolds since 1829 have been descendants of the eldest son of Christian V and his mistress Sofie Amalie Moth (1654-1719), whom the king elevated to be the first Lensgrevinde til Samsø ("Countess of Samsø"). A descendant, Countess Frederikke Louise Danneskiold-Samsøe (1699-1744,) married her kinsman Christian August, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg (1696-1754), a partitioned-off duke, and from whose marriage all the future Augustenburgs descend.

Awards: Collar, sash and star of the Order of the Dannebrog.

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