Frederick VIII of Denmark

Born 3 June 1843, Frederick was the eldest son of Christian IX, the man who married his children into every royal house on the continent. He became heir apparent and spent over four decades in that holding pattern, his father freezing him out of any real power. When Christian IX died in January 1906, Frederick acceded at 62, already worn down. He favored the parliamentary reforms of 1901 — a liberal tilt his father had resisted — but ill health shadowed him through the whole reign. Married to Louise of Sweden, he had eight children: their eldest became Christian X of Denmark, their second son…