Danneskiold-Samsøe

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 family uses a traditional spelling of the name; a modern spelling would be Danneskjold-Samsø.

History
The name was created for several descendants of Danish monarchs of the House of Oldenburg, born of their liaisons with royal mistresses. The first grantees were children from the 1677 marriage between Countess Antoinette von Aldenburg and Ulrik Frederik Gyldenløve, Count of Laurvig, a celebrated (Norwegian) general and the son of Frederick III of Denmark by his mistress Margrethe Pape. King Christian V, the count's half-brother, granted a comital title to all of his male-line descendants.

The next grantees were all the children of Christian Gyldenløve, Count of Samsø, the eldest son of Christian V by his mistress Sophie Amalie Moth in 1696. He married his cousin, Countess Antoinette Augusta von Aldenburg (1660-1701) (eldest daughter of Count Anton I von Aldenburg und Knyphausen and his first wife, Countess Auguste Johanna zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Hohenstein, himself a legitimated son of Anton Gunther, last independent Count of Oldenburg). The male Danneskiold-Laurvigen line was extinguished in 1783, and the Laurvig countship was inherited through an heiress by the noble Danish line of Ahlefeldt family. In 1786, François Xavier Joseph Gyldenløve, second Count of Løvendal, great-grandson of Count Ulrik Frederik's first marriage, was granted the surname Danneskiold as well ; but this Danneskiold-Løvendal branch, too, was extinguished in its male line upon the death of his childless son in 1829. The first marriage of Count Christian produced only daughters, but the issue of his second marriage succeeded to the countship of Samsø and continues in male line, bearing the surname "Danneskiold-Samsøe".

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.

The present comital family numbers the noble families Ahlefeldt, Frijs-Frijsenborg, Kaas, Trolle, Ulfeldt, Huitfeldt, Sehested, Gyldenstierne, Rosenkrantz, Rantzau, Reventlow, Brahe, Grubbe, Krag til Juellund, and Krag-Juel-Vind-Frijs among their ancestress-linked relatives.

The present head of the family is Mikkel Archibald Valdemar Christian Count Danneskiold-Samsoe, with the style of Excellency.

Danneskiold-Løvendal
Frederik III's son with Margrethe Pape, Ulrik Frederik Gyldenløve's sons from his first marriage to Sophie Urne, Carl and Woldemar (1660-1740) became barons of Løvendal in 1662, the latter's son Ulrik Frederik Woldemar was elevated in 1741 by the king of Poland to regent, and his son, Major General and french Marshal François Xavier Joseph Danneskiold-Løvendal (1742-1808), was admitted in 1778 to the Danish court with the name Danneskiold-Løvendal. This line became extinct in 1829 with his son Carl Valdemar Count Danneskiold-Løvendal (1773-1829).

Danneskiold-Laurvig
Ulrik Frederik Gyldenløve's children from his third marriage to Countess Antoinette Augusta von Aldenburg were named Danneskiold in 1693. The son, Ferdinand Anton, founded the count's line Danneskiold-Laurvig. He owned the County of Laurvig in Norway, was director of the West Indies-Guinea Company and built it since the Counts Moltke belonging to the Palace in Bredgade in Copenhagen. With his son Christian Conrad, Count Danneskiold-Laurwigen, the line also died out in 1783.

Notable family members

 * Frederik Danneskiold-Samsøe (1703-1770), politician, minister, admiral, chief of the Danish-Norwegian marine
 * Christian Conrad Danneskiold-Samsøe (1774-1823), councillor, board member, landowner and magistrate
 * Henriette Danneskiold-Samsøe (1776–1843), businesswoman, founder of Holmegaard Glass Factory
 * Countess Louise Sophie Danneskiold-Samsøe, (1796-1867)
 * Christian Conrad Sophus Danneskiold-Samsøe (1836-1908) theatre director
 * Ulrich Friedrich Woldemar von Löwendal (1700-1755)
 * Ferdinand Anton Danneskiold-Laurvig (1688-1754)

Agnatic succession

 * Rangkronen-Fig. 15.svg Elimar I, Count of Oldenburg (1040–1108)
 * Rangkronen-Fig. 15.svg Elimar II, Count of Oldenburg (1070–1142)
 * Rangkronen-Fig. 15.svg Christian I, Count of Oldenburg († 1167)
 * Rangkronen-Fig. 15.svg Maurice, Count of Oldenburg (1145–1211)
 * Rangkronen-Fig. 15.svg Christian II, Count of Oldenburg (1184–1233)
 * Rangkronen-Fig. 15.svg John I, Count of Oldenburg (1204–1270)
 * Rangkronen-Fig. 15.svg Christian III, Count of Oldenburg (1234–1285)
 * Rangkronen-Fig. 15.svg John II, Count of Oldenburg (1272–1315)
 * Rangkronen-Fig. 15.svg Conrad I, Count of Oldenburg (1300–1347)
 * Rangkronen-Fig. 15.svg Christian V, Count of Oldenburg (1342–1399)
 * Rangkronen-Fig. 15.svg Dietrich, Count of Oldenburg (1390–1440)
 * Royal Crown of Denmark.svg King Christian I of Denmark (1426–1481)
 * Royal Crown of Denmark.svg King Frederick I of Denmark (1471–1533)
 * Royal Crown of Denmark.svg King Christian III of Denmark (1503–1559)
 * Royal Crown of Denmark.svg King Frederick II of Denmark (1534–1588)
 * Royal Crown of Denmark.svg King Christian IV of Denmark (1577–1648)
 * Royal Crown of Denmark.svg King Frederick III of Denmark (1577–1648)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg Ulrik Frederik Gyldenløve, Count of Løvendal (1638–1704)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg Count Carl Danneskiold-Løvendal (1660-1689)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg Count Woldemar Danneskiold-Løvendal (1660–1740)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg Count Ulrich Friedrich Danneskiold-Løvendal (1694–1754)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg Count Ulrich Friedrich Woldemar Danneskiold-Løvendal (1700–1755)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg Count Woldemar Henrik Danneskiold-Løvendal (1723-1724)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg Count Frederik Woldemar Danneskiold-Løvendal (1724-1740)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg Count Franz Xaver Danneskiold-Løvendal (1742–1808)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg Count Carl Woldemar Danneskiold-Løvendal (1773–1829)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg Count Ulrik Frederik Danneskiold-Laurvig (1678)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg Count Christian Anton Danneskiold-Laurvig (1679-1679)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg Count Frederik Christian Danneskiold-Laurvig (1681-1696)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg Ferdinand Anton, Count of Laurvig (1688–1754)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg Count Frederik Ludwig Danneskiold-Laurvig (1717–1762)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg Count Christian Frederik Danneskiold-Laurvig (1717–1762)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg Count Ulrich Ferdinand Danneskiold-Laurvig (1720)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg Count Christian Conrad Danneskiold-Laurvig (1723–1783)
 * Royal Crown of Denmark.svg King Christian V of Denmark (1646–1699)
 * Royal Crown of Denmark.svg King Frederick IV of Denmark (1646–1699)
 * Crown of a Prince of Denmark.svg Prince Christian William of Denmark (1672–1673)
 * Crown of a Prince of Denmark.svg Prince Christian of Denmark (1675–1695)
 * Crown of a Prince of Denmark.svg Prince Charles of Denmark (1680–1729)
 * Crown of a Prince of Denmark.svg Prince William of Denmark (1687–1705)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg Christian Gyldenløve, Count of Samsøe (1674–1703)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg Count Christian Danneskiold-Samsøe (1702-1728)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg Count Frederik Christian Danneskiold-Samsøe (1722-1778)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg Count Christian Conrad Danneskiold-Samsøe (1774-1823)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg Count Frederik Christian Danneskiold-Samsøe (1798-1869)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg Count Christian Conrad Sophus Danneskiold-Samsøe (1800-1886)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg Count Christian Danneskiold-Samsøe (1838-1914)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg Count Christian Emil Robert Danneskiold-Samsøe (1884-1886)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg Count Aage Conrad Danneskiold-Samsøe (1886-1945)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg Count Christian Ernest Danneskiold-Samsøe (1840-1908)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg Count Magnus Otto Sophus Danneskiold-Samsøe (1804-1894)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg Christian Conrad Sophus Danneskiold-Samsøe (1836-1908)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg Count Christian Valdemar Danneskiold-Samsøe (1864-1931)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg Count James Christian Carl Sophus Danneskiold-Samsøe (1900-1966)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg Count Valdemar Dale Danneskiold-Samsøe (1935-2016)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg Count Mikkel Archibald Valdemar Christian Danneskiold-Samsøe (b. 1971)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg (1) Count Frederik Valdemar Mikkel Hannibal Danneskiold-Samsøe (b. 1985)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg (2) Count Christian Valdemar Gustav Mikkel Danneskiold-Samsøe (b. 1987)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg (3) Count Kevin Christopher Christian Mikkel Danneskiold-Samsøe (b. 1990)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg (4) Count Sofus Charles Valdemar Mikkel Danneskiold-Samsøe (b. 1992)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg Count Oliver James Mikkel Alexander Danneskiold-Samsøe (2000-2016)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg Count Viggo Danneskiold-Samsøe (1874-1936)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg Count Knud Danneskiold-Samsøe (1900-1969)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg Count Hans Christian Erik Viggo Danneskiold-Samsøe (1915-1975)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg (5) Count Carl Christian Erik Leopold Danneskiold-Samsøe (b. 1945)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg (6) Count Frederik Jost Conrad Erling Danneskiold-Samsøe (b. 1946)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg (7) Count Christian Jürg Heinrich Caspar Danneskiold-Samsøe (b. 1951)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg (8) Count Kaj Ulf Carl Johan Danneskiold-Samsøe (b. 1959)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg (9) Count Ulrik Otto Hubert Viggo Danneskiold-Samsøe (b. 1965)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg (10) Count Philip Christian Ulrik Manuel Danneskiold-Samsøe (b. 1989)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg (11) Count Niklas Christian Sophus Laszlo Danneskiold-Samsøe (b. 1990)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg Count Niels Frederik Kjeld Viggo Danneskiold-Samsøe (1916-1994)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg (12) Count Ulrik Christian Lauritz Danneskiold-Samsøe (b. 1945)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg (13) Count Niels Danneskiold-Samsøe (b. 1982)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg (14) Count Otto Frederik Aage Danneskiold-Samsøe (b. 1947)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg (15) Count Rolf Danneskiold-Samsøe (b. 1976)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg (16) Count Helge Danneskiold-Samsøe (b. 1981)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg (17) Count Kjeld Viggo Gerhard Danneskiold-Samsøe (b. 1952)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg Count Oluf Erling Christoffer Viggo Danneskiold-Samsøe (1917)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg Count Ubbe Eyvind Gregers Sophus Viggo Danneskiold-Samsøe (1921-1978)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg (18) Count Jakob Frederik Christian Danneskiold-Samsøe (b. 1968)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg (19) Count Julius Valentin Danneskiold-Samsøe (b. 1991)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg (20) Count Johan Conrad Sophus Danneskiold-Samsøe (b. 1970)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg (21) Count Valdemar August Theodor Danneskiold-Samsøe (b. 2008)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg (22) Count Vilfred Arthur Cornelius Danneskiold-Samsøe (b. 2012)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg Count Knud Danneskiold-Samsøe (1876-1957)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg Count Frederik Vilhelm Steen Danneskiold-Samsøe (1837-1895)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg Count Frederik Sophus Christian Ludvig Danneskiold-Samsøe (1864-1944)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg Count Einar Carl Otto Danneskiold-Samsøe (1868-1908)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg Count Axel Edzard Ernest Danneskiold-Samsøe (1871-1925)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg Count Palle Julian Danneskiold-Samsøe (1906-1968)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg (23) Count Thomas Godske Danneskiold-Samsøe (b. 1946)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg (24) Count Mikkel Frederik Danneskiold-Samsøe (b. 1985)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg Count Otto Ludvig August Balthazar Danneskiold-Samsøe (1841-1896)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg Count Adam Sophus Danneskiold-Samsøe (1874-1961)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg Count Adam Otto Danneskiold-Samsøe (1910-1981)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg (25) Count Bent Otto Aksel Danneskiold-Samsøe (b. 1943)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg (26) Count Adam Peter Wilhelm Danneskiold-Samsøe (b. 1946)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg Count Ludvig Danneskiold-Samsøe (1926-1990)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg Count Ulrik Adolph Danneskiold-Samsøe (1723-1751)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg Count Friedrich Danneskiold-Samsøe (1703–1770)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg Count Christian Ulrich Danneskiold-Samsøe (1725-1726)
 * T04 Danish Count.svg Ulrik Christian Gyldenløve, Count of Samsø (1678–1719)