Christian was born on April 8, 1818 in Gottrup, Denmark. After the death of the Danish King Frederick VII on November 15, 1863, he succeeded him. His official title was: King of Denmark, the Wends and the Goths, Duke of Schleswig, Holstein, Stormarn, Dithmarschen, Lauenburg and Oldenburg. Together with his wife Louise of Hesse-Kassel, he founded the Glücksburg line, which still provides the Danish heirs to the throne today. King Christian IX died on January 29, 1906 at Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen.

During a joint visit with King Oscar II of Sweden and Norway, he signed the Golden Book of the City of Wiesbaden on May 14, 1902.