Denmark
Kingdom of Denmark Kongeriget Danmark | |
|---|---|
 Flag | |
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| Capital and largest city | Copenhagen |
| Official languages | Danish |
| Recognised regional languages | German |
| Demonym | Danish |
| Government | Constitutional Monarchy |
| Legislature | Folketing |
| Establishment | Kalmar Union - 1397
Union of Denmark-Norway - 1523 Kingdom of Denmark - 1814 |
| Currency | Danish Krone |
Denmark (Danish: Danmark), officially the Kingdom of Denmark (Danish: Kongeriget Danmark) is a country located south of the Scandinavian Peninsula. It comprises the majority of the Jutland Peninsula and numerous nearby islands, of which, the most populated island is Zealand, on which the capital and largest city, Copenhagen, is situated, followed by Funen, the North Jutlandic Island, and Amager.
After a popular revolution ended absolutist rule following Denmark's defeat in the Scandinavian Wars, Denmark remained a stable constitutional monarchy, mainly focused on internal development.
History
The unified Kingdom of Denmark emerged in the 8th century AD as a proficient maritime power amid the struggle for control of the Baltic Sea. To counter the influence of the powerful Hanseatic League, it joined the kingdoms of Norway and Sweden to form the Kalmar Union in 1397 under Queen Margaret I, which persisted until Sweden's final secession in 1523.
The remaining Kingdom of Denmark–Norway would endure and in the following centuries it fought numerous conflicts against the Kingdom of Sweden, most notably the Second Northern War (1655-1660), which resulted in the final loss of Scania and Bornholm. Denmark began the Scandian War (1675-1679) and joined the Great Northern War (1700-1721) in the hopes of regaining Scania, but was only able to regain Bornholm and secure its rule over the duchies of Schleswig and Holstein. In the following century it focused instead on settling its overseas dependencies of Iceland and Greenland, along with their colonies in the Virgin Islands and ports in India.
English Wars & Independence of Norway (1801 - 1814)
During the Augustine Wars, Denmark-Norway was forced into an alliance with France, which led to a series of separate wars against Great Britain, known in Denmark as the English Wars (Danish: Englandskrigene). British naval superiority allowed them to occupy Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands, and cut off Denmark from Norway. Here they would support the Norwegians in a revolt to break free from the unequal union, which despite on paper being a union of equals, Norway had always seen as the junior partner, fueling resentment.
Denmark would recognize the independence of the Kingdom of Norway, and in the Treaty of Vienna, it ceded its unprofitable colonies in the Caribbean and India to Britain. After Britain refused to withdraw its troops occupying Iceland, the Faroe Islands and Greenland, Denmark was also forced to cede its North Atlantic territories, which were subsequently annexed as British territories. The Danish royal family was reportedly upset with the loss of these territories, with the Kingdom of Denmark still claiming the Faroe Islands and Greenland as rightful royal territory to this day.
In 1865, Denmark launched an invasion against the Kingdom of Norway, aiming to reintegrate it through force. They were initially successful, which prompted Sweden and Hanover to intervene, declaring war on Denmark.
Overwhelmed on three fronts, Denmark was forced to sue for peace. Sweden was able to extract favorable trade concessions from the Danes, as well as relinquishing control over Bornholm Island, a strategically located island in the Baltic Sea. They would also be forced to cede the overwhelmingly German Duchy of Holstein to Hanover. Denmark was allowed to keep the Duchy of Schleswig, which it eventually incorporated into Denmark proper in the following decades.
The Scandinavian War marked the end of Denmark's role in international affairs, and saw a brief revival in Sweden's status as a major European power.
