The 18th Century, 1700 - 1799 The Freedom of The Farmers

There have been wars between Denmark and Sweden for over 100 years, but in the 18th century it seems the wars between the 2 countries are going to stop.

For the first time for over 300 years the 2 nations are working together in some matters.

1700 War with Sweden

The new king Frederik is in the southern parts of Denmark, when the Swedish king Karl 12. is landing troops just north of Copenhagen.

Soon the Danish king is back in the Danish capital. The Swedish king has to give up his dreams about getting Copenhagen and return to Sweden with his troops.

The days between the 18th of February and the 1st of March 1700 are missing in Denmark, because Denmark is changing from the Julian to the Gregorian calender.

In 1703 marries king Frederik a woman, so he have 2 queens even bigamy is punished by death. The 2nd queen dies only a year after the marriage.

1708 Lost Chance

King Frederik is travelling without his queen to Venezia in Italy. The goal of the travelling is only to enjoy himself.

The russian ambassador in Denmark is coming with a propossal to the Danish government. The russians wants to make a Danish-Russian union. They offers a big amount of economic help to Denmark and besides 10,000 russian soldiers so the Russians and the Danes together can fight the Swedes, but the Danish king is busy enjoying all the black-eyed italian beauties.

1720 Peace with Sweden

In 1709 the Russian zar still wants to make a Danish-Russian union against Sweden, but the conditions have changed for Denmark. The Russian zar will not offer troops or money to help the Danes with the new war against Sweden. now are the conditions not so good for Denmark, no troops and no money. The Swedes are not interesting in a new war with the Danes, but as the Danes are back in Scania with a Danish army in November 1709, the Swedes have to fight.

In the Swedish possessions in Germany Sweden is retreating because of the pressure from the Danes and their allies. 1712 the Swedish general, Stenbock will do the same as was done 1643, where Sweden occupied the most of Denmark. This time there is no success for the Swedes.

In 1716 the Swedish king once again wants to attack Copenhagen, he wanted to pass the Sound, while it was covered with ice. The Spring come and the ice disapeares and instead his is attacking Norway. The Norwegians have something to fight for, they still want to be Danish and for sure not Swedish.

At all fronts the Swedes are beated. June the 3rd 1716 zar Peter and king Frederik has a meeting, where they made an agreement about attacking Sweden. September an army with 23,000 Danes and 30,000 russians are assembled at Copenhagen. The Russian, the English, and the Danish navies are ready to transport the troops to Sweden. Zar Peter declares suddenly, it is too late for the invasion and he is returning the troops. Sweden is rescued. The reason why the russians were leaving is the big distrust the Zar had to everyone of his allies.

The Swedish king, Karl 12. is shot, probably assassinated, December the 11th 1718 and Sweden don't want to be at war with anyone. One by one the Danish allies make peacetreaties with Sweden, and July the 3rd 1720 Denmark signes the peacetreaty. Denmark don't get any of the old areas back, but Sweden pays a good indemnity and shall also payes duty for passing the Sound, like all other nations.

1730 Pietism

In the year 1721 is king Frederik establishing 240 schools all over the country for the lower-class children. October the 20th 1728 a fire began in Copenhagen. The fire lasted for 3 days and over 40% of the city was burned.

King Frederik dies in 1730 and is followed by his son Christian. People all over Denmark feel realy sad about the loss, because king Frederik was a good and honest king for Denmark.

The new king is very religious and many things in Denmark change. Shortly before king Frederik dies a new law was signed. Everybody shall join the sundayservice at church. If people don't come they are punished, in the towns by penalties, in the country by pillory.

1734 Alliance with Sweden

In 1733 we are making our colonies in the Carribian bigger by buying the island, St. Croix.

Because of Russias expansions in the Baltic, Sweden - the earlier enemy - signs a defencetreaty with Denmark in 1734.

Because of the pietism, king Christian forbidden 'unchristian' people like actors and mountebanks to travel to Denmark in 1738. These 'unchristian' people must not act privately or public.

1741 Vitus Bering

The Danish discover, Vitus Bering dies in 1741 on the Bering-island. He had discovered Alaska and the strait between America and Asia.

1748 300 years anniversary

In 1746 king Christian dies and is followed by his son, Frederik. The new king is very popular because he is plain and kind.

In 1448 the first king of the Oldenburg dynasty entered the Danish throne and a part of Copenhagen should be the place to celebrate the anniversary.

King Frederik began the building of a big new church in 1749. The new church should be like the Saint Peters Church in Rome, but because of lack of money the church was not finished. For many years it was like a ruin. A bankowner finished the church in a minor version 145 years later.

The part of the city is called Frederiksstaden and the plans were the church and magnificent buildings. Some of the buildings were build and one of them is the Amaliecastle - the residence of the crown.

1762 War with Russia

In 1762 enters a new zar the Russian throne. Zar Peter 3. really hates the Danes and wants to go to war destroying Denmark. Our allies in Europe are afraid of the big Russian power, so Denmark is alone. We mobilize 70,000 men and our navy go east into the Baltic Sea. July the 8th the zar is dethroned by his consort, Katharina 2. She likes Denmark and the danger for war with Russia is over.

1784 Crown Prince

In 1766 king Frederik dies and are followed by his son Christian. The new king is very intelligent but evil. An insane is lurking.

1768 king Christian is visiting England and France. People in his company looking closely after the insane king, so he won't be able to make any scandals. When he returns in 1769 he brings a new advisor, Struense. Struense is German and don't have much knowledge of Denmark, but he is good to calm down the king.

Struense takes the queen as mistress and he became a kind of dictator in 1771. The hate against Struense is growing inside all classes of the Danish people and Januar the 16th 1772 a coup d'etat is taking place. People are happy. The execution of Struense was celebrated by the citisens of Copenhagen.

It is forbidden betroths to move together in 1783 and at the same year the first Danish balloon is in the air.

April the 16th 1784 the crown prince, Frederik joins the meetings of the Ministers of State. In a very short time he functions as king.

1788 Freedom for the Farmers

For 100s of years the squires have taken more and more power over the farmers and at the end of the century the farmers are the absolute lower-class in Denmark. The farmers are owned by the squires and are also the only ones, who are drafted as soldiers.

In 1786 the crown prince set up a committee to look at reforms inside the agriculture. June the 20th 1788 the farmers adscription is suspended and the farmers become free people.

1799 Defend of the Neutrality.

In 1789 there is revolution in France. The revolution gives the signal to start new wars in Europe. Denmark and Sweden trying to be neutral. Our navies are cooperating to defend our merchant ships.

June the 5th 1795 there is a new fire in Copenhagen. 55 streets and 941 buildings are destroyed by the fire, which was lasting for 2 days.

The english do not like neutral ships and in 1799 a Danish frigate has to open fire against some english warships, which wanted to stop the convoy, the Danish frigate was escorting.