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Christianity was first introduced in 826 by St. Ansgar. King Harald Bluetooth, who reigned from 935 to 985, was the first Danish monarch to become a Christian. Christianity became widespread during the 11th century during which time also the power of the Danes increased. Danish kings ruled over Denmark, England, Norway and southern Sweden. After a period of turmoil and civil war Denmark regained its powerful position in the north in 1397 when Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, the Faeroe Islands, Iceland, and Greenland were brought together in the Kalmar Union, under the Danish crown. In 1520, Sweden and Finland revolted, seceding from the Union in 1523. In 1536, the Reformation brought about the establishment of a national Lutheran church. In the following century Denmark participated in the Thirty Years' War (1618-48) as a champion of Protestantism. In 1658, under the Treaty of Roskilde, the Swedes forced the Danes to give up their provinces on the southern Swedish mainland. The 1700s was a period of internal reform, including the abolition of serfdom and land reforms. At the Congress of Vienna in 1815, at the end of the Napoleonic wars, Norway was taken from Denmark and came under the control of Sweden. The Danish liberal movement in the early 1800s succeeded in making Denmark a constitutional monarchy in 1849. After the 1864 war against Prussia and Austria, Denmark was forced to cede Schleswig-Holstein (the southern area of Jutland) to Prussia and adopt a policy of neutrality. Despite these territorial losses, Denmark prospered economically in the 19th century and, in the latter part of the 1800s, Denmark began important social reforms laying the basis for the present state. During World War I, Denmark maintained neutrality. At the war's end, North Schleswig returned to Denmark following a plebiscite, and the present southern border with Germany was established in 1920. In 1933 great social reforms were instituted, beginning Denmark's modern welfare state. Despite its neutrality during World War II, Denmark was invaded by the Nazis in 1940 and was occupied until its liberation by the British in May 1945. | Christianity was first introduced in 826 by St. Ansgar. King Harald Bluetooth, who reigned from 935 to 985, was the first Danish monarch to become a Christian. Christianity became widespread during the 11th century during which time also the power of the Danes increased. Danish kings ruled over Denmark, England, Norway and southern Sweden. After a period of turmoil and civil war Denmark regained its powerful position in the north in 1397 when Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, the Faeroe Islands, Iceland, and Greenland were brought together in the Kalmar Union, under the Danish crown. In 1520, Sweden and Finland revolted, seceding from the Union in 1523. In 1536, the Reformation brought about the establishment of a national Lutheran church. In the following century Denmark participated in the Thirty Years' War (1618-48) as a champion of Protestantism. In 1658, under the Treaty of Roskilde, the Swedes forced the Danes to give up their provinces on the southern Swedish mainland. The 1700s was a period of internal reform, including the abolition of serfdom and land reforms. At the Congress of Vienna in 1815, at the end of the Napoleonic wars, Norway was taken from Denmark and came under the control of Sweden. The Danish liberal movement in the early 1800s succeeded in making Denmark a constitutional monarchy in 1849. After the 1864 war against Prussia and Austria, Denmark was forced to cede Schleswig-Holstein (the southern area of Jutland) to Prussia and adopt a policy of neutrality. Despite these territorial losses, Denmark prospered economically in the 19th century and, in the latter part of the 1800s, Denmark began important social reforms laying the basis for the present state. During World War I, Denmark maintained neutrality. At the war's end, North Schleswig returned to Denmark following a plebiscite, and the present southern border with Germany was established in 1920. In 1933 great social reforms were instituted, beginning Denmark's modern welfare state. Despite its neutrality during World War II, Denmark was invaded by the Nazis in 1940 and was occupied until its liberation by the British in May 1945. | ||
Denmark’s influence extends beyond the Baltic and northern Europe. Iceland and Greenland have been governed by Denmark since the Viking era. The Faeroe Islands passed to Denmark in 1380. In the latter half of the 1600s the Danes claimed and colonized the islands of St. John and St. Thomas in the West Indies. They purchased St. Croix from France in 1733. These islands became known as the Danish West Indies. In 1917 Denmark sold their Danish West Indies Islands to the United States (now known as the United States Virgin Islands). In 1918 Denmark recognized Iceland as a sovereign state united with Denmark under a common king. Iceland became fully independent in 1944. The Faeroe Islands received home rule in 1948, and Greenland became an integral part of Denmark under the new constitution of 1953 and received home rule in 1979. Both now have local government and each has two representatives in parliament. Denmark joined the European Community (EC) in 1973. | Denmark’s influence extends beyond the Baltic and northern Europe. Iceland and Greenland have been governed by Denmark since the Viking era. The Faeroe Islands passed to Denmark in 1380. In the latter half of the 1600s the Danes claimed and colonized the islands of St. John and St. Thomas in the West Indies. They purchased St. Croix from France in 1733. These islands became known as the Danish West Indies. In 1917 Denmark sold their Danish West Indies Islands to the United States (now known as the United States Virgin Islands). In 1918 Denmark recognized Iceland as a sovereign state united with Denmark under a common king. Iceland became fully independent in 1944. The Faeroe Islands received home rule in 1948, and Greenland became an integral part of Denmark under the new constitution of 1953 and received home rule in 1979. Both now have local government and each has two representatives in parliament. Denmark joined the European Community (EC) in 1973. | ||
==Timeline== | ==Timeline== | ||
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The estimated population of Denmark was 400,000 in A.D. 1000 and about 600,000 by 1500. Primary sources for exact population statistics are almost nonexistent in the Scandinavian area until the seventeenth century when parish registers were introduced. In 1660 Denmark also levied a poll tax which yielded a population figure of 750,000. It increased to 800,000 by 1700. The one million population mark was reached in Denmark in 1800. In 1850 there were 1.5 million Danes; by 1900 there were 2.5 million. Today, the population of the country is about 5.2 million. Toward the end of the 19th century Denmark, like all industrialized European nations, experienced a pronounced migration of people from the countryside to the towns and larger cities; this urbanization has almost ceased, however, and many Danes still live in small towns. Presently about 85% of the population is urban. Some 37% of the total population is concentrated in the four largest cities (Copenhagen, Ålborg, Odense, and Århus). A significant German minority lives primarily in south Jutland. | The estimated population of Denmark was 400,000 in A.D. 1000 and about 600,000 by 1500. Primary sources for exact population statistics are almost nonexistent in the Scandinavian area until the seventeenth century when parish registers were introduced. In 1660 Denmark also levied a poll tax which yielded a population figure of 750,000. It increased to 800,000 by 1700. The one million population mark was reached in Denmark in 1800. In 1850 there were 1.5 million Danes; by 1900 there were 2.5 million. Today, the population of the country is about 5.2 million. Toward the end of the 19th century Denmark, like all industrialized European nations, experienced a pronounced migration of people from the countryside to the towns and larger cities; this urbanization has almost ceased, however, and many Danes still live in small towns. Presently about 85% of the population is urban. Some 37% of the total population is concentrated in the four largest cities (Copenhagen, Ålborg, Odense, and Århus). A significant German minority lives primarily in south Jutland. | ||
Between ninety and ninety-seven percent of the people are Lutheran. The Evangelical Lutheran Church is the state-supported religion. Presently there is complete religious freedom. The Roman Catholic church is the largest minority faith | Between ninety and ninety-seven percent of the people are Lutheran. The Evangelical Lutheran Church is the state-supported religion. Presently there is complete religious freedom. The Roman Catholic church is the largest minority faith | ||
== References == | == References == | ||
{{reflist}} | {{reflist}} | ||
[[Category:Denmark History]][[Category:Denmark]][[Category:History]] | [[Category:Denmark History]][[Category:Denmark]][[Category:History]] | ||
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