Christian Albert was a duke of Holstein-Gottorp and bishop of Lübeck.
Background
He was a son of Frederick III, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp, and his wife Princess Marie Elisabeth of Saxony. Christian Albert became duke when his father died in the Castle Tönning, besieged by the King Christian V of Denmark. Even the marriage with the daughter of King Frederick III of Denmark, arranged in the hope for peace, changed nothing.
Career
Christian Albert was forced to flee and the remainder of his life was characterized by his fight with Denmark. During Christian Albert"s reign, the connection with Sweden, having been initiated by his father, was strengthened, which provided some protection. However, this also led to the duchy being pulled into all of Sweden"s conflicts, including the Great Northern War and several wars with Denmark.
From 1675 to 1689, Christian Albert lived in exile in Hamburg.
On 5 October 1665, he founded the University of Kiel. The painter Jürgen Ovens worked more than 30 years for him and his father Frederick III of Holstein-Gottorp.
In 1678 the duke took part in the founding of the Hamburg Oper am Gänsemarkt.