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| 2. Denmark and Iceland |
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(See 1809, June 26)| Monarchs: Frederick VI (r. 1808–39), Christian VIII (r. 1839–48), and Frederick VII (r. 1848–63). | 1 |
| Icelandic trade. The Napoleonic Wars had severely hurt Icelandic trade because of the blockade between Iceland and the Continent as well as continued trade restrictions. | 2 |
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| 1809, June 26 |
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| A proclamation bearing Jørgen Jørgensen's name was posted in Reykjavík. It proclaimed the end of Danish rule in Iceland and requested that all loyal Icelanders remain in their homes. Jørgensen led an armed raid on Danish merchants and declared himself the protector of Iceland (July 12). He was imprisoned, and Magnus Stephensen was placed in his stead. | 3 |
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| 1803–30 |
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| Golden age in Danish culture. Writings imbued with the Aladdin theme, which demonstrated that greatness could not be avoided if it was destined, no matter how inadequate the individual. The theme often served as a rationale for nationalistic pride. | 4 |
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| 1813, Jan. 5 |
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| Frederick VI proclaimed bankruptcy of the kingdom of Denmark and replaced the Kurantbank with the Rigsbank. Paper money was exchanged for new currency, but the inflation continued. In 1818, the Rigsbank was replaced by the National Bank, which managed to restore the currency to par by 1838. | 5 |
| State bankruptcy and continued inflation led to a large number of bankruptcies and business crises, worsened by the English Corn Laws, which hurt agricultural exports. The government responded by reducing taxes. | 6 |
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| 1814 |
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| Primary education made compulsory. | 7 |
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| 1815 |
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| Stephensen presented a proposal to establish free trade between Iceland and Denmark. The Danish government responded by publishing a proclamation in 1816 that allowed Icelandic ships to deliver their goods directly to foreign ports upon payment of a duty. | 8 |
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| 1831, Feb |
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| The Danish king ordered legislation for the establishment of four consultive assemblies on independence of Schleswig-Holstein, which would meet in Roskilde, Urbog, Schleswig, and Itzehoe. This action demonstrated not only concessions to liberalism but also the growing strength of the independence movement in Holstein and the pressure exerted by Prussia. For the meetings, the king deliberately chose four cities outside of major population centers and thus somewhat immune to popular pressure. | 9 |
| Scandinavianism. Students meeting in Copenhagen (1845) expressed support for a united Scandinavia. Scandinavianism gained strength because of the king's growing recognition that he needed support from Sweden over the Schleswig-Holstein issue. Christian VIII's son Frederick VII was the last of the line of Oldenburg and would most likely die without a male heir, which meant that, upon the latter's death, the throne would pass through the female line. Although such a passage was legal under Danish law, Holstein would not accept such a lineage. | 10 |
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| 1835 |
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| Hans Christian Andersen first published his fairy tales. The tales demonstrated an interest in everyday life in Copenhagen and also adopted the popular Alladin motif. | 11 |
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| 1840 |
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| King Christian VIII instructed a commission to consider the establishment of a national assembly for Iceland. The commission favored the founding of an independent assembly (Althing) and recommended that it meet in Reykjavík. The assembly met on March 8, 1843, and consisted of 20 members elected by male property owners and six of the king's appointees. | 12 |
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| 1841 |
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| Ný félagsrit, a paper advocating Icelandic nationalism, first published. Jon Sigurdsson, one of the founders of the paper, became a leading force in Icelandic nationalism. | 13 |
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| 1843–55 |
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| Søren Kierkegaard published his philosophy. His ideas, along with those of N. F. S. Grundtvig, led to reforms within a branch of the Danish Lutheran church. | 14 |
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| 1844 |
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| First folk high school established in Rødding under direction of Christian Kold. This high school was to educate ordinary people and instill a sense of nationalism through teaching the Danish language. | 15 |
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