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| 2. Denmark, Norway, and Iceland |
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(See 1643–45)| Monarchs: Frederick III (1648–70), Christian V (1670–99), Frederick IV (1699–1730), Christian V (1730–46), Frederick V (1746–66), Christian VII (1766-1808). | 1 |
| Denmark remained in control of Norway and Iceland between 1648 and 1814. | 2 |
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| Denmark |
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| Economics and Society: After years of warfare, Denmark suffered from plagues, famine, and hardship during the second half of the 17th century. Agricultural development continued to be based on manorialism, and peasants remained tied to the land until the late 18th century. Economic development was always hampered by Denmark's difficulties in financing the government, worsened by the development of a court society in the 18th century. This court society contributed to the growth of Copenhagen, but other Danish cities also experienced growth with the increase in trade and industry in the 18th century. The long period of peace after the Great Northern War stimulated further economic development. | 3 |
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| 1648 |
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| Frederick III compelled to accept the håndfœstning (charter), which required that candidates for seats in the council be selected by nobles from the province which held that seat. However, Frederick sought to limit control of the council from the start. | 4 |
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| 1648 |
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| Nobles exempted from excise duty on beer and spirits imposed on commoners. | 5 |
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| 1655–60 |
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| War with Sweden. Denmark entered the war after Sweden invaded Poland. Charles of Sweden advanced across the frozen Belts to Zealand. Denmark sued for peace (1658) and surrendered central Norway and Bohuslän. However, Charles marched on Copenhagen but sustained heavy losses and failed to gain his objective (Feb. 1659). He began another campaign in 1660 but died unexpectedly. | 6 |
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| 1660 |
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| Charles's son's regents sued for peace and a treaty was signed at Copenhagen restoring territory to Denmark. | 7 |
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| 1660, Sept |
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| Estates summoned to discuss the acute economic situation caused by war and ensuing devastation. The two commons' estates protested noble tax privileges and demanded tax equality. | 8 |
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| 1660 |
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| Lower estates barred the gates of Copenhagen and called out the militia to force the nobles to agree to a hereditary monarchy and declare the håndfœstning invalid. | 9 |
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| 1661 |
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| Signatures collected from the Danes on a document granting absolute authority to the monarch. | 10 |
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| 1661 |
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| Anders Arrebo's Hexaëmeron published posthumously. Arrebo has been heralded as the Father of Danish Poetry. | 11 |
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| 1665 |
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| The Royal Law (Kongelov) promulgated. It became the only absolutist constitution in Europe. The king was required to remain Lutheran, maintain his territories intact, and assure the full force of his laws within the bureaucracy. | 12 |
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| 1671 |
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| The noble ranks of baron and count instituted. These ranks were more dependent on the crown. They received tax privileges and estates, undermining measures of equality won in 1660–61. | 13 |
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