Died July 21, 1708, Denmark | Mother Christine Rantzau Parents Ditlev Reventlow Name Conrad Reventlow | |
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Spouse(s) Anna Margrethe GabelSophie Amalie von Hahn Children Anne Sophie Reventlow, Christian Detlev Reventlow Grandchildren Christian Ditlev Reventlow Great grandchildren Christian Ditlev Frederik Reventlow, Louise Stolberg Similar People Anne Sophie Reventlow, Frederick IV of Denmark, Christian VI of Denmark, Christian V of Denmark, Princess Charlotte Amalie of | ||
Conrad, Count von Reventlow (April 21, 1644 – July 21, 1708) was a Danish statesman and the first "Grand Chancellor of Denmark" (Danish: Danmarks storkansler), a predecessor title of the Prime Minister of Denmark, from 1699 until his death. His chancellorship occurred during the reign of King Frederick IV.
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Military career
After attending university, Reventlow was called to the Danish Court in 1665, where he rose through various positions of responsibility. In the 1670s, he became a colonel in the Danish military. He recruited a regiment and distinguished himself in the prevailing intra-Scandinavian warfare of the day.
In 1700, Reventlow was deeply involved in the negotiations for peace with Sweden during that country's naval blockade of Copenhagen, an early event in the Great Northern War. Both France and the United Kingdom dealt extensively with Reventlow in their efforts to pressure Denmark to declare peace, in order to prevent a wider war from spreading into Europe.
Councillor and Grand Chancellor
In 1685, Reventlow used his influence as a councillor to the court on behalf of privateer Benjamin Raule, to promote Danish acquisition of the island of St. Thomas in the West Indies.
Family
He married twice; with his first wife, Anna Margarethe Gabel (1651-1678), he had:
With his second wife, Sophie Amalie Hahn (1664-1722), he had:
His sarcophagus in the Schleswig Cathedral (Schleswiger Dom) was designed by the renowned sculptor Thomas Quellinus.