Christian IX and Louise of Hesse-Kassel, ancestors of nearly all European monarchs

The Danish royal couple Christian IX (1818-1906) and Louise of Hesse-Kassel (1817-1898) were called the father- and mother-in-law of Europe for having contrived to marry into so many reigning houses. Today they are the direct ancestors of nearly all the monarchs of Europe.

Their grandsons were Nicholas II, Emperor of Russia, Constantine I, King of Greece, George V, King of Great Britain, Haakon VII, King of Norway, and, of course, Christian X, King of Denmark.

Christian IX himself, a great-great-grandson twice over of the English king George II, was not a direct heir to the Danish throne, being the son of the youngest daughter of the youngest daughter of Frederick V, King of Denmark and Norway. In 1842 he married his second cousin, Princess Louise of Hesse, the eldest daughter of the youngest daughter of a son of Frederick V by his second marriage. At the time of the marriage Princess Louise was a niece of the reigning king, Christian VIII, and knew perfectly well that her cousin Frederick (the future Frederick VII), the king's only son, was childless.

Five years after the dynastic marriage Christian was named heir to the crown. It was Louise's command of dynastic connections, together with her heraldic ambitions, that secured for all six of their children advantageous matches and places in the royal palaces of Europe.