John, Prince of Schleswig-Holstein

Johan of Schleswig-Holstein (9 July 1583 – 28 October 1602) was the youngest son of Frederick II of Denmark and Norway and Sophia of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. He went to Russia in 1602 as the bridegroom of Boris Godunov's daughter Ksenia (Xenia), but fell ill and died before the marriage could take place.^[1] It is possible that Boris Godunov's ministers may have poisoned him. The cancelled marriage between John and Ksenia was an attempt to ally Denmark-Norway with the Russian Empire.

John
Duke of Holstein
Born	(1583-07-09)9 July 1583
Died	28 October 1602(1602-10-28) (aged 19)
House	Oldenburg
Father	Frederick II of Denmark and Norway
Mother	Sofie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin

Other notable facts

• In Alexander Pushkin's chamber drama Boris Godunov and the Mussorgsky opera based on it, Johan is referred to in Boris's monologue "I have attained the highest power":

I thought to make my daughter happy
By wedlock. Like a tempest Death took off
Her bridegroom—and at once a stealthy rumour
Pronounced me guilty of my daughter's grief--
Me, me, the hapless father!

Ancestry

Ancestors of John, Prince of Schleswig-Holstein

16. Christian I of Denmark (=#28) 8. Frederick I of Denmark (=#14) 17. Dorothea of Brandenburg (=#29) 4. Christian III of Denmark 18. John Cicero, Elector of Brandenburg 9. Anna of Brandenburg 19. Margaret of Thuringia 2. Frederick II of Denmark 20. John V of Saxe-Lauenburg 10. Magnus I, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg 21. Dorothea of Brandenburg 5. Dorothea of Saxe-Lauenburg 22. Henry IV, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg 11. Catherine of Brunswick 23. Catherine of Pomerania-Wolgast 1. John, Prince of Schleswig-Holstein 24. Magnus II, Duke of Mecklenburg 12. Albrecht VII, Duke of Mecklenburg 25. Sophie of Pomerania-Wolgast 6. Ulrich, Duke of Mecklenburg 26. Joachim I Nestor, Elector of Brandenburg 13. Anna of Brandenburg 27. Elizabeth of Denmark 3. Sophie of Mecklenburg-Güstrow 28. Christian I of Denmark (=#16) 14. Frederick I of Denmark (=#8) 29. Dorothea of Brandenburg (=#17) 7. Elizabeth of Denmark 30. Bogislaw X, Duke of Pomerania 15. Sophie of Pomerania 31. Anna of Poland