Christian IV of Denmark

Christian IV (b 1577) became King of Denmark in 1588. A Protestant, he considered the Catholic King Philip II of Spain an enemy and became very concerned about Philip's imperialism when Philip conquered England and installed his daughter and nephew on the English throne the same year that Christian became King of Denmark.

Christian granted asylum to many Protestant English lords who managed to flee their country ahead of the Duke of Parma's army. In 1598 he granted asylum to Anthony Bacon and Bacon's young lover Thomas.