Does the name Constantin Marselis ring a bell? You might wonder why I ask. Well, we are standing in front of Constantinsborg. This manor is named after him.
Constantinsborg has a rich history. It stretches back to at least 1400. Back then, it was known as Stadsgaard. The estate sits on the southern shore of Årslev Engsø. This is a nature reserve and part of Brabrand Lake.
Let’s step back in time. Imagine Erik Jensen Munk owning this land around 1400. His son, Peder Lykke, took over in 1464. The Lykke family held it until 1583. Then, Valdemar Parsberg sold it to King Frederik II.
Why did the king want Constantinsborg? He wanted to expand his hunting grounds. Skanderborg Palace was nearby. Constantinsborg became part of Havreballegård fiefdom.
In 1661, things changed again. The Danish state owed money to Gabriel Marselis. Gabriel was a Dutch merchant. He received the fiefdom and Constantinsborg as payment.
In 1667, Gabriel’s son Constantin Marselis came to Denmark. He managed his father’s estates. He chose Stadsgaard as his home. He renamed it Constantinsborg after himself. By 1683, Constantinsborg was officially a manor. This meant it was a large and important estate.
Constantin Marselis died in 1699. His widow, Sophie Elisabeth Charisius, took over. She turned it into a fee tail. She then married Peder Rodsteen. Rodsteen became a Baron. In 1714, Rodsteen died. The manor then passed to Christian Charisius, Sophie’s nephew.
Christian’s son, Constantin August Charisius, inherited it in 1724. He dedicated 52 years to Constantinsborg. He expanded the estate but also accumulated debt.
In 1787, Hans Frederik Fædder-Charisius took over. He was allowed to sell parts of the estate. The profits had to go to his descendants. An auction occurred in 1799. Fædder-Charisius bought the main building and some land.
Peder Jacob Møller bought Constantinsborg in 1832. He then sold it in 1867 to Hendrik Pontoppidan.
Hendrik Pontoppidan became involved in agriculture. He also joined Hedeselskabet. He had made his fortune in trade. He co-founded Aarhus Privatbank. This bank became one of Denmark’s largest.
Hendrik Pontoppidan passed Constantinsborg to his son Alfred in 1885. Alfred had studied agriculture. Constantinsborg became a center for agricultural education.
In 1999, a Pontoppidan descendant sold Constantinsborg. The buyer was Troels Holch Povlsen. He is the founder of Bestseller.
The main building we see today dates back to 1801. It is built in Neoclassical style. It has one story above a deep basement. A large frontispiece marks its facade.
Constantin Marselis had built an earlier building in 1677. It was three times larger than the current one. It featured Baroque style with three wings.
The farm buildings in front of Constantinsborg create a large complex. Hendrik Pontoppidan built the oldest parts in 1870. Modern buildings from the 2000s now stand nearby. These serve as offices.
Constantin Marselis likely created the original garden. It was in Baroque style with terraces. Hendrik Pontoppidan changed it to an English style. He added free-standing trees and lawns.
Today, Constantinsborg is owned by Constantinsborg A/S. Anders Holch Povlsen runs the company. This estate has seen many changes. It stands as a testament to Danish history and agriculture.