Christoffer Gabel

Christoffer von Gabel
Born	January 6, 1617 Glückstadt, Germany
Died	October 13, 1673(1673-10-13) (aged 56) Tórshavn, Faroe Islands

Christoffer Gabel (January 6, 1617 – October 13, 1673) was a Danish statesman.

He was born on January 6, 1617, at Glückstadt.^[1][2] His father, Wulbern or Waldemar Gabel, originally a cartographer and subsequently recorder of Glückstadt, was killed at the siege of the fortress there, by the German Imperial Army, in 1628.^[2] Nothing is known of Christoffer's youth, but it is certain he received a university education.^[3] Christoffer's name is first recorded in 1639, as overseer and accountant at the court of the Archbishop of Bremen, Duke Frederick.^[2] When the duke ascended the Danish throne as King Frederick III of Denmark, Gabel followed him to Copenhagen as his private secretary and man of business,^[4] holding great influence over the irresolute king.^[5]

During the brief interval of peace between King Charles X's first and second attack upon Denmark, Gabel was employed in several secret missions to Sweden;^[5] and he took part in the intrigues which resulted in the autocratic revolution of 1660. While not the originator of the revolution, he was certainly the chief intermediary between Frederick III and the Conjoined Estates in the mysterious conspiracy which established absolutism in Denmark.^[6] His activities won the king's lifelong gratitude. He was enriched, ennobled, and in 1664 made governor of Copenhagen.^[7] From 1660 to 1670 he was regarded as the most influential figure at court,^[8] and very largely employed in financial and diplomatic affairs. During this period he carried out a pro-French foreign policy,^[8] while his domestic policy was affected by laziness^[2] and corruption.^[9]

When Frederick III died, in February 1670, Gabel's power was at an end. The new ruler, Christian V did not favour him, and accusations against Gabel poured in from every quarter.^[10] When, on April 18, 1670, he was dismissed, there was no public sympathy for a man who had grown wealthy in a time of widespread poverty. He was stripped of all titles and privileges, except the financial control of the Faroe Islands. He spent his remaining time at the Faroe Islands, and died on October 13, 1673,^[10] in Tórshavn.

Sources

• Christian Bruun, "Gunde Rosenkrantz: Et Bidrag Til Danmarks Historie Under Frederik Den Tredie", 2008, ISBN 0559246404 Google Books edition
• Carl Frederik Bricka, "Dansk biografisk Lexikon : Volume V : Faaborg - Gersdorff", Copenhagen, 1891 Online edition

References

1. ^ Bruun (2008), p.110
2. ^ ^{a b c d} Bricka (1891), p.512
3. ^ Bruun (2008), p.111
4. ^ Artikel: Enevælden, Danmarkshistorien.dk, Aarhus University
5. ^ ^{a b} Bricka (1891), p.513
6. ^ Bricka (1891), p.514
7. ^ Bricka (1891), p.515
8. ^ ^{a b} Bricka (1891), p.516
9. ^ Bricka (1891), p.517
10. ^ ^{a b} Bricka (1891), p.518

Persondata
Name	Gabel, Christoffer
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	January 6, 1617
Place of birth	Glückstadt, Germany
Date of death	October 13, 1673
Place of death	Tórshavn, Faroe Islands