Technically, Denmark's current Queen Margaret II is the country's first Queen Regnant, her namesake Margaret I never officially having held the title of Queen in that country. Before her, no woman ever officially sat on the Danish throne, although there have been several influental Queen Consorts and female regents.
For a brief time in the 18th century however, Denmark had a female heir apparent: Sophia Magdalena, who between her older brother's death on the 3rd of June 1747 and until her younger brother's birth on the 29th of January 1749 was the legal heir of her father, Frederick V, and thus of Denmark-Norway. If her father had died between June 3rd 1747 and (roughly) April 1748 so that there's no posthumous birth, this could have some fascinating consequences as a 1-year old girl becomes Denmark-Norway's first Queen.
Now, Frederick V was in otl one of the Danish-Norwegian Kings least involved in the government of his realm, leaving it fully in the hands of his ministers to dedicate himself to his hedonistic lifestyle - which surely could be the cause of an early death in the alternate timeline. In this regard, the difference between his "rule" and a regency for the infant Queen may not be that different. A chief difference might be that J.H.E Bernstorff may not be as influental in the regency as he was in Frederick V's otl reign, as he only became a Privy Councilor in 1749, although he was rapidly rising in the ranks of Danish politics before then. Bernstorff was in otl a hugely important driver of Danish diplomacy in this era, and played an important role in Denmark-Norway maintaining peace during the second half of the 18th century, leading to both a massive expansion in revenue from trade, and a gradual decay of the Danish military. Most notably he was to a large degree responsible for solving the inheritance dispute over Schleswig-Holstein that in 1762 almost had led to a russian invasion of Denmark, with a female ruler that succession dispute is likely to me even more rough and if Bernstorff isn't there to step in with his diplomatic talent the situation might be resolved way differently.
Of course, later down the line Frederick's early death means that Christian VII, of "a royal affair" fame, is never born, sparing Denmark-Norway a very mentally unstable monarch's 42-year long reign, but also most likely the temporary liberal reforms of Johann Struensee. Additionally, with Juliane Marie of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel never becoming Queen, and Hereditary Prince Frederick never being born, means that two important political figures are totally removed from late 18th century Denmark. Speaking of Queens, Frederick V's early death means it's highly likely that Louise of Great Britain lives longer, since she died from complications related to her sixth pregnancy by the King. I assume she would be an important part of Sophia Magdalena's regency, and while she was popular both with the Danish people and nobility, I'm unsure how effectively she could take the reigns of actually governing if it came to her. Especially, she might butt some heads with the German nobility that had grown so dominant in the Danish government during the first half of the 18th century.
Now, regarding the ever fun question of marriage, it's obviously going to be a big deal for Sophia Magdalena - unless she turns out to be a Queen Elizabeth or Christina type of person (not impossible, her lack of a sex life with her husband was rather famous otl, but I think most people put this rather on Gustav than her). Her otl match of Gustav III of Sweden is probably straight off the table and out the window, or maybe not. Frederick V had been considered as a candidate for the Swedish throne in 1743, so the idea of a new Dano-Norwegian-Swedish personal union wasn't exactly foreign, but the Danish government wasn't that hot on the idea. Louise had also opposed Sophia Magdalena being paired up with Gustav iotl, although she of course didn't stand to be Queen of Denmark in otl. I find it most likely that another husband is found for her, but it's not impossible.
Now as I already mentioned earlier, Sophia Magdalena inheriting Denmark-Norway may lead to trouble in the Duchies of Schleswig and Holstein, traditionally Salic Law was practiced in the Duchies, but this had been ignored in 1460 with the treaty of Ribe, which had allowed Danish inheritance laws to apply. In short, the inheritance laws were a bit mucky, and that's naturally a hotbed for conflict. Even if there's, say, a Danish "pragmatic sanction" Otl's Peter III would probably be declaring her succession in the duchies illegitimate the moment Frederick V died, and would do everything to claim them for himself, though he probably can't do much before he becomes Emperor - much like in otl. Sophia Magdalena might be promsied to marry into another branch of the Dukes of Schleswig-Holstein to try and stabilize the situation there a bit (Peter himself is out of the picture since he married Catherine in 1745, and either way there's probably to much bad blood for him to have been considered anyway), a Duke of Augustenburg might be a possibility, seing as they were the second-most senior branch of the Oldenburgs, but Frederick Christian is 25 years older than Sophia Magdalena... If the situation cannot be resolved, we may end up with a straight up war of succession in Schleswig-Holstein, as well as perhaps a "pragmatic sanction" of sorts for Sophia Magdalena.
Now, as for Sophia Magdalena herself, her upbringing might be completely different than in otl, both because she's raised to be Queen Regnant, not merely Queen of Sweden, but also because her longer-living mother will be a much bigger part of it. She seems to have been fairly introverted in otl, though still charming, but this was probably to some degree at least influenced by her stern religious upbringing, if she is raised by her much more lively mother then she may well have a completely different personality. She never involved herself much in politics in otl, but the few times she did she seems to have been decent at it. Most of all she was completely misplaced in otl, in a court she didn't fit in with, a husband who largely ignored her and a mother-in-law who despised her. As Queen Regnant she'll have a much better chance at "spreading her wings" so to speak, and be a more actively involved part of her country's politics.
What do you think of these possibilites?
For a brief time in the 18th century however, Denmark had a female heir apparent: Sophia Magdalena, who between her older brother's death on the 3rd of June 1747 and until her younger brother's birth on the 29th of January 1749 was the legal heir of her father, Frederick V, and thus of Denmark-Norway. If her father had died between June 3rd 1747 and (roughly) April 1748 so that there's no posthumous birth, this could have some fascinating consequences as a 1-year old girl becomes Denmark-Norway's first Queen.
Now, Frederick V was in otl one of the Danish-Norwegian Kings least involved in the government of his realm, leaving it fully in the hands of his ministers to dedicate himself to his hedonistic lifestyle - which surely could be the cause of an early death in the alternate timeline. In this regard, the difference between his "rule" and a regency for the infant Queen may not be that different. A chief difference might be that J.H.E Bernstorff may not be as influental in the regency as he was in Frederick V's otl reign, as he only became a Privy Councilor in 1749, although he was rapidly rising in the ranks of Danish politics before then. Bernstorff was in otl a hugely important driver of Danish diplomacy in this era, and played an important role in Denmark-Norway maintaining peace during the second half of the 18th century, leading to both a massive expansion in revenue from trade, and a gradual decay of the Danish military. Most notably he was to a large degree responsible for solving the inheritance dispute over Schleswig-Holstein that in 1762 almost had led to a russian invasion of Denmark, with a female ruler that succession dispute is likely to me even more rough and if Bernstorff isn't there to step in with his diplomatic talent the situation might be resolved way differently.
Of course, later down the line Frederick's early death means that Christian VII, of "a royal affair" fame, is never born, sparing Denmark-Norway a very mentally unstable monarch's 42-year long reign, but also most likely the temporary liberal reforms of Johann Struensee. Additionally, with Juliane Marie of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel never becoming Queen, and Hereditary Prince Frederick never being born, means that two important political figures are totally removed from late 18th century Denmark. Speaking of Queens, Frederick V's early death means it's highly likely that Louise of Great Britain lives longer, since she died from complications related to her sixth pregnancy by the King. I assume she would be an important part of Sophia Magdalena's regency, and while she was popular both with the Danish people and nobility, I'm unsure how effectively she could take the reigns of actually governing if it came to her. Especially, she might butt some heads with the German nobility that had grown so dominant in the Danish government during the first half of the 18th century.
Now, regarding the ever fun question of marriage, it's obviously going to be a big deal for Sophia Magdalena - unless she turns out to be a Queen Elizabeth or Christina type of person (not impossible, her lack of a sex life with her husband was rather famous otl, but I think most people put this rather on Gustav than her). Her otl match of Gustav III of Sweden is probably straight off the table and out the window, or maybe not. Frederick V had been considered as a candidate for the Swedish throne in 1743, so the idea of a new Dano-Norwegian-Swedish personal union wasn't exactly foreign, but the Danish government wasn't that hot on the idea. Louise had also opposed Sophia Magdalena being paired up with Gustav iotl, although she of course didn't stand to be Queen of Denmark in otl. I find it most likely that another husband is found for her, but it's not impossible.
Now as I already mentioned earlier, Sophia Magdalena inheriting Denmark-Norway may lead to trouble in the Duchies of Schleswig and Holstein, traditionally Salic Law was practiced in the Duchies, but this had been ignored in 1460 with the treaty of Ribe, which had allowed Danish inheritance laws to apply. In short, the inheritance laws were a bit mucky, and that's naturally a hotbed for conflict. Even if there's, say, a Danish "pragmatic sanction" Otl's Peter III would probably be declaring her succession in the duchies illegitimate the moment Frederick V died, and would do everything to claim them for himself, though he probably can't do much before he becomes Emperor - much like in otl. Sophia Magdalena might be promsied to marry into another branch of the Dukes of Schleswig-Holstein to try and stabilize the situation there a bit (Peter himself is out of the picture since he married Catherine in 1745, and either way there's probably to much bad blood for him to have been considered anyway), a Duke of Augustenburg might be a possibility, seing as they were the second-most senior branch of the Oldenburgs, but Frederick Christian is 25 years older than Sophia Magdalena... If the situation cannot be resolved, we may end up with a straight up war of succession in Schleswig-Holstein, as well as perhaps a "pragmatic sanction" of sorts for Sophia Magdalena.
Now, as for Sophia Magdalena herself, her upbringing might be completely different than in otl, both because she's raised to be Queen Regnant, not merely Queen of Sweden, but also because her longer-living mother will be a much bigger part of it. She seems to have been fairly introverted in otl, though still charming, but this was probably to some degree at least influenced by her stern religious upbringing, if she is raised by her much more lively mother then she may well have a completely different personality. She never involved herself much in politics in otl, but the few times she did she seems to have been decent at it. Most of all she was completely misplaced in otl, in a court she didn't fit in with, a husband who largely ignored her and a mother-in-law who despised her. As Queen Regnant she'll have a much better chance at "spreading her wings" so to speak, and be a more actively involved part of her country's politics.
What do you think of these possibilites?
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