History of Denmark

Prehistory

The oldest traces of human life to the Denmark go back to approximately -12500. The communities of farmers are formed only towards -3900. It is necessary to await the previous centuries the birth of Jesus-Christ to see appearing the first rural communities and approximately 400 to 750 after Jesus-Christ to see constituting the first cities. The oldest city of Denmark east Ribe (southern of the Jutland).

The Danish Bronze Age ranges between -1400 and -450.

During the age of iron (500 before J. - C. - 1 a. J. - C), the climate of Denmark and the southernmost Scandinavia became fresher and wetter, limiting the Agriculture and forcing the indigenous groups to emigrate in the south into Germanic. At that time, the inhabitants started to extract iron from the Marais of peat. The obviousness of Celtic immigration goes back to this period in Denmark and much of places of Europe of the North-West, and is reflected in some of the older place names.

The provinces Roman be, to which the borders are close to Denmark, maintained the commercial relations with the Danish people, attested by lucky finds of Roman coins in the country. About the year 200 the first runic inscription appeared. The exhaustion of the ground cultivated in Denmark seems to have contributed to the increasing migrations in Scandinavian Europe and the conflicts of the Teutonnes tribes with the Roman establishments in Gaulle.

The age of Germanic iron and the arrival of the Danes

The material culture of Northern Europe during the migrations of mass of Ve-VIIe centuries is indicated under the name of the age of Germanic iron. Among the remainders the best known ones of the period there are the " corpses of the peat marshes " , which seems to be the preserved bodies of two strangled men, perhaps during a Community sacrifice.

The incursions in Denmark since North increased in Ve century. One of most largely dominant was a tribe called the Danish since the southernmost area of the Sweden, the Scanie (or Skåne) in the neighborhoods of the year 500. The name of the tribe was applied to all the Jutland by the German ones living in the South.

Early middle ages

The centralized union is made towards 700. Harald Hildetand (Tooth of Combat) which reigns from 705 to 735 creates the first regional gathering Danish clans organized in kingdom. From 735 to 756 it is Sigurd Ier Ring which reigns. From 756 to 794 the king bears the name of Ragnar Ladbrog. In 794 Siegfried II becomes king, and in 800 there are combined Saxons remained hostile with Charlemagne, he disappears into 803. His/her Godfried son, succeeds to him. In 808, it starts the construction of a line of fortifications on its southernmost border, to protect the country from the incursions of the Francs. Its death in 810, Hemming succeeds and signs in 811 to him a treaty with the Carolingian empire which guarantees its borders. In June 826, Harald 1st is made baptize with Ingelheim, then it leaves to reconquer its kingdom against wire of Godfried. Between 826 and 829 part of the country is évangélisé at its instigation by the monk Anschaire. In 863 Harald 1st dies, into 878 king Guthrum is made baptize, the king Alfred Large the is used to him as godfather.

The weakening of the Francs increases the stability of the monarchy which succeeds in being denied the invasions come from the South. The union is completed under the reign of Harald Ier of Denmark " with the tooth bleue" , died towards 987. Runic stones as the Large stone of Jelling on which for the first time the name " appears; Denmark " are often regarded as the birth certificate of Denmark.

The Middle Ages

The time Viking

Between 800 and 1100, powerful monarchy is consolidated. Many forwardings Viking S are organized. They lead to the conquest of the Normandy in 911, of the England in XIe century like with voyages until in Ireland, France or even Russia.

They helped the Saxons against Charlemagne, but were finally obliged to beseech peace in 803. Their frequent incursions afflicted the Carolingian empire, the Germany, the Spain and especially the Great Britain during one century. Twice they conquered almost all the England: 1st in 878, at the time of Alfred Large the, which soon took again on them part of the country; the second in 1015, with died of Edmond II of England, and under Knut Ier Large the; but their domination in England lasted only until in 1042.

In spite of the brought back richnesses, the Vikings do not manage to create a durable empire. The assassination of Saint Knut IV of Denmark in 1086 mark for a time end of powerful the monarchie.*

Christianization

The Christianisme arrives at Denmark at the time Viking. It is introduced towards 826, by Saint Anschaire. Harald Ier is made baptize towards 965. Denmark is equipped with a clergy which spreads the faith. The Church does not cease extending its influence lasting of the centuries. The agricultural company of 700.000 people becomes a company to the feudal standards: a powerful clergy, a secular nobility of land great landowners which constitutes the core of the defense of the kingdom, a middle-class which grows at the same time as the cities and a very many farming community.

11th century and 12th century

The dynasty Skioldungienne died out in Denmark in 1047 and was replaced by the Esthrithides; under those, Denmark became one moment stronghold of the Germany (1153 - 1162). Become again independent, it acquired the island of Rügen (1168), the Slavonie, the Mecklembourg (1184 - 1188), the Pomérélie (1210), that however it lost soon, the Estonia (1239) that Valdemar sold in 1347 with the Ordre Teutonique.

Union of Kalmar

The modern period

The Reform

The Reform, which is originating in Germany and the ideas of Martin Luther, has a strong impact on Denmark; the national Church is still Lutheran today. As elsewhere in Europe, Protestantism could extend thanks to popular enthusiasm for the reform from the Church and to princely enthusiasm for the increase in independence with respect to Rome.

The Reform arrives at Denmark in 1536 after a three year old civil war. In 1533 indeed, with died of Frederic Ier, a council of bishops takes the control of the country and refuses to recognize the election of Christian III, of which they fear possible conversion with the Lutheranism. The opposition armed with the nobility and the town of Lübeck oblige them however to recognize it as king; the goods of the Church are then seized, which increases the public revenues by 300%. The Danish Church becomes a princely church Luthérienne and the priests are constrained to lend allegiance to this new church.

Denmark is thus side of the Protestants at the time of the wars of religion of the XVI and XVIIe centuries. It quickly forms part of the heart of the Lutheranism in Europe and the country knows, at the 17th century, one period of strict orthodoxy Lutheran. The Church becomes an instrument of monarchy reinforced to discipline ideologically and morally the populations. The teaching of the doctrines of Calvin or Zwingli are then strictly prohibited.

XVIe century and the first part of the XVIIe century

Denmark grows rich during the 16th century, mainly thanks to the increase in the sea traffic in the Øresund. The country controlling the two coasts of the strait, a tax of passage can be taken there. The cereal trade between the Poland and the Netherlands increases enormously at this period and the Danish sovereigns do not hesitate to tax it.

The Danish economy also profits from the Guerre Eighty Year old in the Netherlands, during which a great number of refugees of the country which is then most advanced of Europe establish in Denmark, contributing to its development. This immigration helps to modernize many aspects of the company and to draw up commercial links with the Netherlands.

The competition with Sweden marks all the modern history of Denmark. Each one asserts hegemony on the the Baltic (six wars resulted from it: 1563/1570; 1611/1613; 1643/1645; 1657/1660; 1675/1679; 1709/1720).

The war of Kalmar (1611-1613)

The Guerre of Kalmar opposes Sweden to the Denmark. The straits connecting the the Baltic to the the North Sea being controlled by Denmark, Sweden has sought for several years to set up a new shopping street which would pass by the Lapland little populated and the North of Norway, territories belonging them-also to Denmark.

In 1607, Charles IX had proclaimed king of the Lapps and Norrland and had started to collect taxes in these areas. Tolls in the straits being the independent source of income of the kingdom of Denmark-Norway, the king Christian IV quickly opposed the Swedish will to create new trade route and protested highly.

In 1611, in answer to the Swedish claims on the north of Norway, Denmark attacks Sweden and an army of 6 ' 000 men puts the seat in front of the town of Kalmar and takes the city. The Norwegian troops stationed at the border they received the order not to attack.

October 20th, Charles IX dies and his/her son Gustave Adolphe succeeds to him. He immediately asks Sweden to conclude a peace treaty, but Christian IV then sees an opportunity of gaining a greater victory and strengthens his armies in the south of Sweden.

The Netherlands and the England, also implied in the trade at sea Baltic, however make pressure on Denmark so that it signs peace. The Danes, although equipped well and strong, miss money and are brought to signed the Traité of Knäred on January 20th, 1613.

Denmark then obtains control on Swedish Lapland and Sweden is forced to pay a strong ransom for the two fortresses which the Danes occupy. Sweden obtains on the other hand the right to be exempted toll on Sound. England and the Netherlands obtain the same rights.

War the thirty year old and its consequences immediate

Denmark is then a relatively powerful kingdom. The European policy of XVIe century turns largely around the quarrel between the catholic and Protestant forces. It is thus inevitable that Denmark - a kingdom strong and unified Lutheran - is involved in the war when this one intervenes. Denmark was thus drawn in the Guerre Thirty Year old between 1625 and 1629 to save the Protestant cause, but this military intervention of Christian IV is a fiasco for Denmark. Worse still, the Sweden intervenes then with a great success in the war.

Christian IV however is regarded as one of the large kings of Denmark. In addition to to have reigned extremely a long time - of 1588 to 1648 - it is known as the architect of the kingdom because of the many construction projects which it undertook. Many are the large Danish buildings built during its reign.

The war of Torstenson, which opposes Denmark to Sweden between 1645 and 1648 is concluded by a Danish defeat. Several Norwegian provinces must then be yielded to Sweden (Jemtland, Herjedalen and Idre & Särna), like two islands of the Baltic (Gotland, Ösel).

After the death of Christian IV, Denmark engages in a war even more disastrous, always against Sweden. One abnormally cold winter makes it possible the Swedish troops to cross the strait on the ice and to attack Copenhagen directly. Denmark must yield its richest provinces at the time of the Traité of Roskilde, in 1658: the Scanie, the Halland and the Blekinge. Its surface is reduced by a third and its population passes from 800.000 to 600.000 inhabitants.

The absolute monarchy

The internal political crisis due to the damage of the wars transformed the mode into 1660/1661. In 1665, an insurrection of the people against the noble ones gave to the royalty the absolute capacity: it in the USA for the good of the country, improved the legislation, abolishes serfdom and proclaimed the equality of all in front of the law. The elective monarchy dominated by the nobility became a hereditary monarchy with the absolute capacity, according to the Royal Loi of 1665, until in 1848 and the drafting of a democratic constitution in 1849. This law was supplemented in 1683 by a code common to all the kingdom, the Danish Code of Christian V of Denmark. The State became a state senior civil servants organized well under the domination of sound only very powerful king, father of all his subjects.

The contemporary period

19th century

Combined Napoleon i, Denmark was cruelly treated by the England and saw bombarding Copenhagen (1807); in 1814, it lost Norway. who was joined together in Sweden. In 1816, the Prussia yielded to him the duchy of Lauenbourg. In 1831, Frederic VI of Denmark granted to its people assemblies of provincial States; in 1849, Frederic VII of Denmark gave them a parliamentary constitution: the diet is composed of 2 assemblies, the Folketing ( Chambre of the people ) and Landsthing ( Chambre of the great landowners ).

The payment of the future succession to the throne gave place in 1848 to a great agitation, the Sleswig, the Holstein and the Lauenbourg having tried on this occasion to separate from Denmark, with the support of Prussia: after a 3 year old war, in which Prussia had the lower part, the Traité of London of the May 8th 1852 finished the disagreement by ensuring the succession, after the extinction of the Maison of Oldenbourg, with the prince Christian de Sonderbourg-Gtucksbourg. However, with died of Frederic VIII of Denmark (1863), Germany claimed the independence of Holstein and Sleswig, which gave place to a new war, disastrous for Denmark: the October 30th 1864, a peace was signed, by which Denmark yielded to the Austria and Prussia, which had responsible themselves for the federal execution, the duchies of Sleswig, of Holstein and Lauenbourg.

During the Second world war

See too

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