Stinnes Dørnsk - Nørreskoven Als
Love between a man of royal lineage and a woman from the lower nobility led to strife and a tragic death.
In Nørreskoven Als, by Fjordmosevej and near what was once Østerholm Castle, you'll find the remains of a round mound that was the secret meeting place for Prince Christian Carl and his lady-in-waiting Dorothea Christine von Aichelberg, which is why the place was popularly called Stinnes Dørnsk - local dialect for sitting room.
Dorothea was the daughter of Johan Franz von Aichelberg, bailiff at Nordborg Castle and administrator of Nordborg County under Christian Carl's father, Duke August, so the couple grew up together.
Christian Carl is the second eldest son and receives a military education that results in the title of general. Dorothea becomes lady-in-waiting to Duchess Elisabeth Charlotte and moves to the widow's seat at Østerholm Castle when Duke August dies in 1700.
When they meet again as adults, love blossoms between them, but Dorothea is of lower nobility and they meet secretly in the orangery at Østerholm Castle and in Nørreskoven by the remains of a round mound, where they think they are safe.
Unfortunately, they are exposed by court hunter Güntelberg and the Dowager Duchess forbids them to meet - a simple noble will not lead her son to disgrace. Prince Christian Carl is not just anyone, he is the great-grandson of Duke Hans the Younger - the progenitor of the Danish royal family.
Dorothea packs her things and heads down to her good friend, Christian Carl's sister, where he meets her and they are married in Umstadt in 1702. This marriage means that Christian Carl must sign a document renouncing his title, his estates and his own and his sons' claims to future inheritance.
However, Christian Carl von Carlstein and his wife are granted a home in Sønderborg and a small amount of annual allowance. Dorothea gives birth to a girl, Wilhelmine Augusta, in 1704, but tragedy strikes when she is pregnant with their second child.
During a fishing trip out on Vemmingbund, a large sailing ship drops anchor, a rowing boat is launched and the men row a figure towards the shore, next to Christian Carl's boat the wind lifts a cloth that has been over the figure's face into the air and it lands on Christian's face - the next day he becomes seriously ill with smallpox.
This disease has a fairly high mortality rate and Dorothea Christine therefore chooses to send word to the Dowager Duchess to send her physician to Sønderborg, the answer received is; I only have one son and he is not sick.
Christian Carl dies on 23 May 1706 and is buried in the chapel at the church in Nordborg, though without the presence of the ducal family. Two and a half months later, Dorothea Christine gives birth to a baby boy, christened Frederik Carl von Carlstein, who, thanks to his mother's perseverance, will become the last duke at Nordborg Castle and in Plön.