Iver Rosenkrantz

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Iver Rosenkrantz

Iver Eriksen Rosenkrantz (5 December 1674, Rosenholm – 13 November 1745, Rosenholm) was a Danish statesman and landowner.

Education and early career

Iver Rosenkrantz was the son of Erik Rosenkrantz, a Rosenholm Geheimrat, and his third wife Margaret Krabbe of Vemmetofte. His father died when Iver was aged 7. He seems to have had a very rigorous education, though it is uncertain where. In 1691 he came to the newly created Knight Academy in Copenhagen. Three years later he took on the obligatory trip to a foreign country, returning in 1697. Now an elegant young man of the world aged 23, he was later described as friendly and charming. In January 1698, he was appointed Kammerjunker to Princess Sophia Hedwig.

Diplomat

Frederick IV of Denmark sent Rosenkrantz on a diplomatic mission to Charles XII of Sweden, though he returned unsuccessfully. In 1702 he was appointed a Counsellor, he served as Danish ambassador to England 1702–1706 and 1710–1714. On his return he was appointed President of the Kommercekollegiet. With Frederick IV relying increasingly on his Queen Anne Sophie Reventlow, and with Rozenkrantz critical of the Danish aristocracy, he was stripped of his titles and appointed governor of Viborg, thereby removing him from central government, but he remained on good terms with the King's siblings.

Minister of State

When Frederick IV died in 1730, the new King Christian VI immediately called Rosenkrantz back to Copenhagen, where he was appointed a Knight of the Elephant and appointed Chief of the two Danish Chancellories. During the hostility between England and France, he backed England. He was also known for his patronage of Copenhagen University. He was dismissed in 1735.

He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in June 1713.

He married twice: firstly Birgitte, daughter of Frederik Gersdorff, Chief Master of Ceremonies, of Ravnholt and Tølløse, and secondly Charlotte Amalie, daughter of Christen Skeel, Prefect of Vallø. Charlotte Amalie Skeel and Rosenkrantz were the parents of Frederik Christian Rosenkrantz.