; -■' '"^ A •>:^^■^, "oo^ ' V 0°'.' < ^ ■"o o"* .°«i .<^ %, '.1 V^ 0^ ■% ^= .0^.. ^:^^ i'^^^. -■^^ r^' -'--y. %> # ■"oo^ xO ^^. .^^ ^^., A <^:^'^, c^i^^n-. THE SCANDINAVIAN RACES THE NORTHMEN; THE SEA-KINGS AND VIKINGS, THEIR MANNERS AND CUSTOMS, DISCOVERIES, MARITIME EXPEDITIONS, STRUGGLES, AND WARS, UP TO THE PRESENT TIME. PAUL C^^SINDING, Hon. member OF THE QUEBEC HISTORICAL SOCIETY. NEW YORK: PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR. 1875. thy. r0.4l ,0 U Q^S PREFACE Although I soon learned by experience, after my arrival in the city of New York, what indeed had been long before reported to me, that the enlightened people of the United States pay great attention to science and the arts, and specially among their intel- lectual pursuits, have explored some of the wide fields of history with zeal and success, I was yet almost immediately aware that Scandinavian affairs — the past history and present condition of a kindred people — were too little known in this country. Indeed by that ardent love of my native land, which might well prompt me to effort in such a case, and which is a feeling said to be peculiarly strong VI PREFACE in the race of tlie Northmen, I resolved, as far as lay in my power, to throw some light on this, here, almost terra incognita^ by writing a brief history of the people of Scandinavia — a people and a land neither unknown nor undistin- guished in the history of the past, having not only played an important part in the history of Europe, being even at one time the arbiter of the European system, but having also amongst their archives authentic records of early voy- ages of adventure and discovery extending to this new Western world, even as much as %nq centuries before Columbus reached St. Salvador or Guanahany. But while thus making refer- ence to these interesting traditions, which trace the discovery of this great western continent to the hardy and adventurous " Kings of the Northern Sea," let me not be understood as say- ing that these traditions, though certainly exist- ing, and possibly even well known to Columbus himself, when he undertook his remarkable voyage, have at all eclipsed the splendor which never will cease to invest the name of this un- exampled discoverer. Should the result of my labor — the work P E E F A C E . Vll whicli I here offer only as an Introduction to the History of Scandinavia — be found calcu- lated to promote even a little interest in the subject, my desire and purposes will be fully realized. THE AUTHOR. PROF. PAUL C. SINBING. My Dear Sir: The Scandinavian peninsulas — one hanging down from the mys- terious North, the other jutting forth from the central mass of civilized Europe, to meet its comrade — are emblematic (in their geographical position) of the twofold historic interest with which they are clothed. While the legendary period of other peoples occupies a place subordinate to their clearer history, Scandinavia calls up before us, with equal power, the mist-robed Odin and the mail-clad Vasa. The strange adventures amid Northern seas, in a primitive age, are as prominent as the leadership of European poli- tics in an age of remarkable light. We oddly mingle the old and the new, the dim and the bright, when we turn to Scandinavia, as we do with no other land. This double character naturally lends peculiar attraction to its history. Yet, with all this attraction, the history of no part of Europe is less familiar to the general mind ; probably because the Scandinavian countries lie somewhat off from the world's great highways, and participate but moderately in the world's chief commerce. This should not be. The ignorance is a fault, especially among us of English descent, whose ancestral history is so intimately and various'iy associated with that of Den- mark, Sweden, and Norway. The Norsemen have left the memo- rials of their habitation on the coasts and islands of Scotland, where Runic inscriptions tell the story of their prowess, while through much of England the familiar names of towns and hamlets are purely Norse, These are the fruits of the wild adventures of the Vikings. A Danish dynasty once ruled our fatherland, and the Con- queror who founded the present succession of British monarchs, was himself of Scandinavian blood, transplanted to a more southern 9 X LETTER FROM PROFESSOR CROSBY. clime. The stalwart men, who could venture upon unknown, cold, and stormy seas, in their small barks, on lengthy voyages, until passing the new-found shores of Iceland, they landed among the green leaves of the Viinland coast, deserve to be known and saluted by every succeeding age. And their posterity, still maintaining the best characteristics of the fathers, invite our regard and claim our encomiums. The names of Tegner, Hans Andersen, Fredericka Bremer, in literature ; of Clausen, Madvig, and Rafn, in theological, philological, and archae- ological research ; of Thorvaldsen in art. and of Ole Bull and Jenny Lind in music, are as household words in our American homes. Our merited regard for these well known worthies of our own day, must render keener our appetite for Scandinavian knowledge. This ■^petite amounts to a necessity, when we mark, that our ancestral .iistory and mythology, and our composite philology, must be eluci dated by the light of these chronicles and languages of the Norse men. It is, therefore, full time that our Universities should have their chairs of Scandinavian literature, as a needful part of the apparatus for a thorough English education, to render more complete the ex amination of the roots of our speech and race. While this want is felt, we may gladly hail any contribution to American literature which tends to open this interesting field of research. In your vol ume, my dear sir, I recognize such a pioneer, and rejoice to give ' welcome. In it may many laggards in this lore find an introduc tion to the old romantic legends of the Skalds, as well as to th more recent but no less romantic stories of the great and magnani mous Gustavus Vasa, Gustavus Adolphus, and the brilliant comets Tordenskjold (Thundershield) and Charles the Twelfth HOWARD CROSBY, D. D., Chancelor of the University of the City of New York. SUMMARY OP CONTENTS, The Origin of the People — Mythology — Language — Skalds or Bards — Runes — The Warfaring Life — Piracy — Duels — Foster-brother Covenant — State and Condition of the Female Sex — Means of getting a Livelihood by — Victuals — Trade — Dwelling-places — Weapons — Funeral Solemnities — State Affairs — King — Pea- sants and Prefects — Slaves — Viking Expeditions — The Oldest Kings c Page 19-49 First Period, from A. D. 811-1241. 1. Promulgation of the Gospel by Ansgarius — Gorm the Old and his Queen Thyra Dannebod — Harold Bluetooth — Christianity — Civil War — Palnatoke— Swen Splitbeard — Viking Association — Battle by Svolder — Conquest of England — Harold — Canute the Great — England and Denmark united — Pilgrimage to Rome — Battle by Helge-River — Ulf Jarl (Earl) — Conquest of Norway — The Discovery of America by the Northmen — The Union with England ceases 50-86 2. Magnus the Good — Swen Estrithson — Expedition to England — Ecclesiastical Affairs — Canute the Pious — New Expedition against England — Eric the Good — Expedition to Venden — Canonization of Canute the Pious — Canute Lavard — Nicholas — Civil War be- tween Swen Grathe, Canute Magnusson, and Waldemar, — Frede- rick Barbarossa — Battle on Grathe-heath in Jutland 87-108 2. Waldemar I. the Great — Absalon — Canute VI. — Bugislaw, of Pomerania — Waldemar II. the Conqueror — Conquests along the Baltic — Ei^thonia — The Captivity of the King — Science and the Arts , 109-130 (xi ) XI] SUMMARY OF CONTENTS. Second Period, from A. D. 1241-1536, the Introduction of the Reformation. 1. Eric Ploughpenning — Expedition to Esthonia — Abel — Christo- pher I. — Conflict with the Clergy — Archbishop Jacob Erlandson — Interdict — Eric Clipping — Battle on Loheath — War with Nor- way — Eric Menved — The Regicides — Archbishop John Grand — Peace with Norway — Expedition to Pomerania and Mecklenburg —The Hanseatic League 131-145 2. Christopher XL — Charter — War with Geert, Count of Holstein — Battle on Tapheath — Niels Ebbeson — Waldemar IV., Atterdag — Insurrection in Jutland — Magnus Smek of Sweden — War with the Hanseatic Towns — Rebellion — Waldemar leaves the country — Olaf — Queen Margarethe (the Semiramis of the North) — King Albrecht of Sweden — The Battle at Falk6ping in Sweden — The celebrated Union of Calmar 145-1()7 3. Queen Margarethe — Attempts to regain Schleswig — Eric of Pomerania — Dispute about Schleswig — War with the Hanseatic Towns — Rebellion in Sweden — Engelbrechtson — Charles Canut- son — Dethronement of the King in Denmark and Sweden — Chris- topher of Bavaria acknowledged King of all three Kingdoms — Rebellion of the Peasantry 168-182 4. The House of Oldenburg — Christian I., the first King of the House of Oldenburg — Charles Canutson — Archbishop Jens Bengtson — Steno Sture, the Elder — Battle on Brunkehill — Pilgrimage to Rome — University of Copenhagen — The Charter of King Hans (John) — Division of the Duchies — Expedition to Ditmarsh — Re- bellion in Sweden and Norway — War again with the Hanse Towns — Christian II. the T^r/ran^^Exp edition against Sweden — Archbishop Gustav Trolle — The Slaughter of Stockholm — Sigbrit- Dyveke — Torben Oxe — The Beginning of the Reformation — Re- bellion — The King flees — Frederick I. — Civil War — Rebellion in Skane — Soren Norby — The Reformation spreads — John Tausen — Diet of Odensee — Diet of Copenhagen — The War of the Count — Christian 7/7.— Shipper Clemens — Battle by Oxenhill — Litera- ture and Language 183-236 Third Period, from A. D. 1536-1660; the acknowledgment of Lutheranism until the Introduction of Absolute Sovereignty. \. Christian III — Diet of Copenhagen — Charter — The Reforma- tion introduced into Iceland — Intolerance — University and School SUMMARY OE CONTENTS. XUl AflFairs — Alliance with Sweden — New Division of the Duchies — Frederick 11. — Conquest of Ditmarsh — Three Crowns — The Northern Seven Years' War — Daniel Ranzau — Peace in Stettin — Peter Oxen — Foundation of Kronborg — The Sound Dues — LUbeck — Hamburg — Science and Arts — Henrik Ranzau — Tycho Brahe — Christian IV. — The Queen-Dowager Soj^^hia of Mecklen- burg — Guardianship — Peasantry— Nobility 237-266 Christian IV. — Care and Interest for Norway — Variance with Sweden — Calmar War — Peace at Knoerod — He encourages Science and the Arts — Commercial Affairs — Discoveries — Regulation of the Post Affairs — Manufactures — Buildings — Participation in the Thirty Years' War — Battle by Lutter, near the Bareuberg — Peace of Liibeck — Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden plays a prominent part in the Thirty Years' War — Dissatisfaction amongst the Peasantry and Burgher Class with the Aristocracy — Dispute with Hamburg -— -^ound Dues at Elaenore — War with Sweden — Inroad of the Swedish General, Torstenson — Battle of Colberg by Femern — banish National Song — Peace of Bromsebro — Frederick III. — Election of King — The Charter — Alliance with Holland — Corfitz Ulfeldt — Rupture with Sweden — Peace of Roeskilde — Renewal of the War — Siege of Copenhagen — The Dutch Admiral Opdara — Battle at Nyborg — Peace of Copenhagen 266-301 Fourth Period, from A. D. 1660-1863 ; {from the introduction of the Absolute Sovereignty till the conclusion of the War with the rebellious Duchies.) Frederick III. — The Diet of Copenhagen — The Charter annihil- ated, and Absolute Sovereignty introduced — Kay Lykke — Corfitz Ulfeldt — Eleonora Christina — Dispute with Christian Albrecht of Gottorp — Christian V. — Acquisition of Oldenburg and Delmen- horst — War with Sweden and France — Admiral Niels Juel — Peace of Lund and Fontainebleau — Griffenfeldt — Ole R6mer — The Peasantry — Olaf Rosenkranz — Masius and Bagger — Frede- rick IV. — War with the Duke of Gottorp — Peace of Travendal — ElevenYears' War with Sweden — The Brilliant Comets CAarZesX//. of Sweden, and the Danish Admiral Thundershield (Tordenskjold) — Peace of Fredericksborg — Hostile Terms with Russia — Hans Egede christianizes Greenland — Science and the Arts — Christian VI. — The Peasanti-y — Ecclesiastical Affairs — School Affairs — Science and the Arts— The Navy — Count Danneskjold Sams6 — XIV SUMMARY OF CONTENTS. Frederick V. — Hostile Terms with Russia — Peter III. of Russia murdered — Manufactures— Commercial and Financial state— The Peasantry — Science and the Arts 302-381 2. Christian VII. — Alterations among the Higher Officers of State — C?re for the Peasantry — The King's going abroad — Struensee and Brandt beheaded — The Queen banished — Ove Guldberg — The Queen-dowager Juliane Marie — Prince Frederick — Deed of Ex- change with Russia — A. P, Bernstorff — The Armed Neutrality — The Finances — The Press — The Peasantry — Care for the Danish Language and Literature — The Charter of Naturalization — Crown Prince Frederick, afterwards Frederick VI. — A. P. BernstorflF — Henrik Stampe — Reventlow — C. Colbjornson — Hostilities with Sweden — Neutrality during the French Revolutionary War — In- dependence of the United States acknowledged by Sweden and Denmark — Tripoli — Hostilities with England — Renewal of the Armed Neutrality — The Horrible Battle of the Baltic — Copenha- gen cruelly bombarded, and the fleet carried away — War with Sweden — Peace of J6nk6ping — Prince Christian August of Au- gustenburg — His Death — Charles John Bernadotte, Prince of Pontecorvo, elected Crown-prince of Sweden; later, King of Sweden — He dies — Oscar I. King of Sweden, died 1859, and Carl XV. ascends the Throne — War with Sweden, Russia, and Prussia — Alliance with France — Fierce Fight at Sehestedt in Schleswig — Norway granted a Free Constitution from the Danish Prince, Chris- tian Frederick — Denmark loses Norway forever in the Peace of Kiel — Emancipation of the Peasantry from Feudal Bondage — Other important alterations in different branches of the Govern- ment — Care of the King for Public Instruction — University and School Affairs — Literature — Pecuniary Affairs — Representative Council given Denmark and the Duchies — Christian VIII. — School Affairs in Copenhagen and in the Country — Iceland — ^The Danish East India Possessions disposed of — Care for the Danish Language in the Northern part of Schleswig — Railroads — Frede- rick VII. — He gives Denmark a Free Constitution — Horrible War with the rebellious Duchies — Treaty in London — Marriage of the Princess Alexandra with the Prince of Wales — Death of Frederic VII. and accession of Christian IX. to the Crown — The Second Schleswig-Holstein War — Review of the Succession — Dispute — Austrian-Prussian Invasion — The Danish Army over- powered evacuates the Duchies — Their Cession — Peace Con- cluded—The Discovery of Iceland and its Millenial Celebra- tion 383-471-476 INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. There is a wide difference between History and Philo sophy. History is the delineation from the past and the present of both the active and the passive forces, and intel- ligence of human nature and human action. Philosophy excludes from its consideration human action, and deals with thought as referable to reason alone. History in- forms us of the product of human passion and thought. Philosophy considers the latter undisturbed by the weak- ness of the former. But, nevertheless, if the cultivator of History is not guided by Philosophy, or the rules of reason, History will to him be only a barren act of memory, without life or nourishment for the under- standing and heart ; in short, History will not be a science to him ; he will not clearly comprehend the consequences of events in their pragmatical connection " It little concerns us to know," says Rollin, " that there were once such men as Genghis-Khan, Caesar Alexander, Grustavus Adolphus, Napoleon, "Washington, and so on, and that they lived in this or that period, or died in this or that day ; but it highly concerns us to know the steps by which they rose to the exalted 16 INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. pitch of grandeur we cannot but admire, what it was that constituted their glory and felicity, what were the causes of their declension and fall, and how in religious and moral respects they have influenced their own and after-ages ; all of which we cannot obtain but by Phi- losophy, or more properly, by the Philosophy of History, through which we ascertain the causes of things or their phenomena. History itself is immense in refer- ence to compass, circumference, and contents. A boundless ocean of facts and events lies behind us, while each day and each hour the stream of time is swelling in new and large billows of events, visions, and names ; all of which, seen in the light of truth and pragmatical connection, are of exceeding interest and use. And of such great interest and use is the His- tory of the Scandinavian Kingdoms, taken, as all His- tory must be, in due connection with the contempora- neous History of other lands. This History is that of a brave and interesting people, which, on a large scale, has influenced the world, and is yet so little known to the United States, and even, I am told, to the mass of the people of Great Britain. A talented young American wrote, a few years ago, an eloquent arti- cle in the Journal of Commerce, inscribed " Scan- dinavian History, — a Work Wanted," wherein he iNTRODUCTORY REMARKS. 17 says : " There is a nation, even now extant, possess- ing as brave a History as that of the Romans, as poetic as that of the Grreeks ; a nation that has con- trolled the World's History in many things, and at many times, and whose achievements in war and in letters, are worthy the most heroic age of Rome and the most finished period of G-reece ; a nation whose Philo- sophy outran their age, and anticipated results that have been slowly occurring ever since. This reference," he says, ''can be true of but one people, and that people is the Norsemen^ the dwellers in Scandinavia, who lived as heroes, lords, and conquerors ; who, sailing out of the ice and desolation in which they were born and nurtured, conquered England, Scotland and Ireland ; ravaged Brittany and Normandy ; discovered and colo- nized Iceland and Greenland; and they can be said, with confidence, to have crossed the Atlantic in their crazy barks, and to have discovered this very conti- nent, before Columbus,- to have anchored in Vineyard Sound, and left a monument behind them ; and where- soever they went, they went as lords and rulers. And then their religion," he continues — " what a wild, massive, manly mythology ! With nothing of the soft sentimentalities of more southern people, but continent of much that revelation has assured us to be true in 18 INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. doctrine — preaching ever the necessity of right, and doing right — of manliness, honesty and responsibility rewards and punishments." And he thus concludes : " Is there not some one who will plunge in medias res^ and, bringing order out of confusion, give us this so greatly desiderated History of Scandinavia ?" These eloquent words, a correspondence with the talented v/riter, and later, an interview with him, have inspired me, a native Dane, having completed my studies at the University of Copenhagen, and im- bued with patriotic feelings, with a mind and cour- age to plunge in medias res, and to the best of my ability to do justice to that undeniably interesting sub- ject. Jacta est alea, and I will commence by describing the state and condition of Denmark, in the most ancient times, until the Provincial Territories tvere united, and Christianity began to he ypromulgated hy Ansgarius, a learned and pious monk from Westphalia, in Crerman^. HISTORY OF SCAIDIMYIA. The Origin of the People — ^Mythology and Public Worship — Language — Skalds or Bards — Eunes — The Warfaring Life of the People — Piracy — Duels — Foster-brother Covenant — State and Condition of the Female Sex — Means of getting a livelihood by — Victuals — Trade — Dwelling- places — ^Weapons — Funeral Solemnities — State Affairs — King — Peasants and Prefects — Slaves — Norse Expeditions — The Oldest Kings. The present inliabitants of Denmark, as well as of Norway and Sweden, are successors of the enormous, Gothic tribe formerly dwelling round about the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, to which district this tribe seems to have come from yet more eastern regions, afterwards wandering up to the northern coasts of the Baltic, whence the one branch of the Grothic tribe departed to the opposite tracts of Scandinavia, peopling and settling the southern part of Sweden, Skane, Hal- land, and Bleking, the Danish islands, together with the northern part of the Jutlandish peninsula, and likewise spreading itself over the greater part of Norway. The other branch of these ancient and distinguished Goths remained south of the Baltic, and oftentimes (19) 20 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. changing their dwellings, afterwards prevailed in Ger A. D., many, scattering under the great European 375. emigration over a great part of southern Europe, Grreece, Italy, Spain, Portugal and France, making considerable conquests, and even often exacting tribute A. D., Divided here into Ostro and Yisi-G-oths, they ^93. erected, under their chief leader, Theodorik^ the Ostrogothic kingdom in Italy, and the Visigothic in A. D., Spain under Astulph, and their influence and ^23. that of their descendants have since been per- manent in Europe and the world. On the southern borders of Denmark, in the present Duchy of Hoistein, dwelt the Saxons, belonging to the German Goths ; higher up in Schleswig and in the southern and western part of Jutland dwelt the Angles and Jutlanders, forming, in a certain way, an intermediate line between the Scandinavian and German Goths. But as a great A. D., number of Angles, Saxons, and Jutlanders, in the ^^9- middle of the fifth century, led by the brothers, Hengist and Horst^ departed for England, founding there the Saxon Heptarchy, the more northern Goths settling in the regions which those had left, were after- v/ards the prevailing tribe in all Jutland and Schleswig. On the entrance of the Goths into Scandinavia, the land was inhabited by two reciprocally kindred nations, whose present names are Laplanders and Finns. Both of them had come from the east, but the Laplanders were forced by the Finns up to the remotest parts of HISTORY OP SCANDINAVIA. 21 Norway and Sweden, where remnants of them are yet to be found. The Finns themselves were, after a valiant resistance, pressed back by the Groths, whose descendants at present live in Finland, which now belongs to the Russian Empire. It is also possible that some Celtic tribes, the primitive inhabitants of the south and west of Europe, have lived in the Scandi- navian countries. The culture of the oldest dwellers of the north was at a very low ebb ; they lived dispersed, rambling about the immense and impenetrable forests, and on the coasts adjacent to the' ocean and the numerous lakes, many of which are now transformed into moors and marshy land, or dried up altogether. Grame from the forests, and fish from the sea and lakes, supplied the inhabitants with nutriment and hides and furs to protect their bodies against the severe climate ; and in such respects they were very well off, wanting nothing fortune could supply. Their weapons and hunting-tools were stones, but often made with curious and admirable workmanship — the use of metals being yet unknown. Yery interesting, deep, and instructive is the religion 01 the mythology of the Norsemen, wherein their char- acter and peculiar views of life have received a proper embodiment, containing much of the spirit of obedience, for which St. Paul praises the heathens that are without the law, but do by nature the things contained in the law, showing the work of the law written in their 22 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. hearts. Their religion, better, perhaps, called their mythology, announced also clearly the important doc- trine of future responsibility — rewards and punishments. At all events, it was great, nervous, and poetic, and, in many respects, fit for facilitating the introduction of the higher light of Revelation, which first in the ninth century was brought to them. In the abyss of ages — thus read the old Sagas — all was without form and life, and darkness was upon the face of the deep, on which B. c, the warmth was continually operating, until '^^- Ymefj a " giant sprang forth. But Odin, a Scandinavian Deity, yet supposed to be a historical person, having come from Asgard on the river Don (Tanais) in southern Eussia, killed Ymer and his whole offspring ; the bad and evil letters and Thyrsers (giants) were drowned in that stream of blood proceeding and flowing from Ymer's corpse, except one, who propagated the generation of Jetters or Thyrsers, and lived in con- tinual enmity with gods and men. Of Ymer's body — thus read the old Sagas — Odin moulded and framed the ordained and settled world with mountains, rivers, lakes, trees, and clouds ; and of the great ash-tree, Yggdrasill, whose topmost branches were said to dance eternally in the heavenly light, he moulded the first couple of men, Askur and Embla, who resided in Midgard. The gods themselves live in Asgard, close by Upsala, in Sweden. Odin, superior to all the other gods, is father of gods and men, and rules the whole world, which he. fflSTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 23 by his wise and judicious eye, contemplates and views from liis high Hlidskjalf^ his heavenly seat, his royal palace. The peculiar G-od of War and Thunder is Thor. a son of Odin, most ardently worshipped by the warlike Norsemen, and kept long in memory even after the other gods were thrown into oblivion. He being consi- dered the good principle, and chosen to bruise the head of all the evil principles, is incessantly fighting with the Jetters, slaying them with his hammer, the heavy Mjolnir. The brave having found an honorable death on the battle field were taken up to the mansion of the gods, and came to the splendid castle, Valhalla^ radia- ting with shining shields and gUttering swords, and where Odin, Thor, Freia, Frigga, and the Nornas^ with their irrevocable decrees, were assembled. Odin's maideijs, the Valkyriers, were continually rushing through the ether, seeking in all countries for the bravest heroes, whom they marked with their spear- point, when the hour of death had come. The departed heroes, called Einheriars, pass their time in Yalhalla, having every day the pleasure of arming themselves, marshaling themselves in military order, fighting and knocking down one another ; but in the evening they get up again and return to Yalhalla, where a fes- tival meal is prepared for them, consisting of the flesh of a boar, called Sahrimner, wliich, though butchered every day, returns to life again, and the beautiful virgins, the Yalkyriers, present to them the 24 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. mead-horn, of which they drink till they are in a state of intoxication ; but the pleasures of love do not entei at all into the joys of this extraordinary Paradise. Odin sits hy himself at a particular table. A different lot or fate fell to the cowards who feared the battle and dangers of war, and allowed themselves to be cut off by disease. Cast down to Helheim (hell) they had to continue their life there, as silent, trembling shadows, without pleasure and exploits, and under the perpetual suffering of anguish, remorse, and famine. Odin him- self, Thor, and the keen Tyr, belonged to the Asatribe; while Freia^ the goddess of love, together with Njord and Frigga^ disposing of tranquil occupations, hunting, fishing, favorable winds on the ocean, and plenteous years, were ascribed to the gentle Vane-tribe. Nevertheless, the dominion of the Valhalla gods was not to last forever, but the power to be given to another god, who should judge men conformably to a higher law, not as they were brave or cov/ardly, but as they were good or evil, for the Edda of Snorro says : '^ The world shall be judged in righteousness." The Valhalla gods, however, were safe as long as Baldur, the wisest and most righteous of all gods, and protector of innocence, was living. But the cunning and designing Loke, the evil deity and the father of iTeachery, by birth half related to the gods, half to the Jetters, and father of Hela, the Fenriswolf, and the dreadful Midgards serpent, smugging himself into HISTORY OF SCANDINA\riA. 25 the fellowship of the gods, so prevailed, by his crafti- ness, upon Baldur's own brother, as to kill him. Now nothing can avert the declension of the gods and the perdition of the world. The sun becomes eclipsed, the ocean overflows-, and the Midgards serpent rises from the deep. Loke and Jetters confederated with the burning and consuming 8urtw% rush now upon Yalhalla, which, together with Niftheim (Helheim) perish in Ragnarok^ the twilight of the gods. Al] gods and Einheriars fall in the battle, and the whole world perishes. But a new earth rises from the ocean, and the Almighty Grod descends himself to judge men in righteousness. The honest and true get permission to enter into Gimle — Odin's gold-radiating palace — to live there in eternal joy with the Almighty, and in fellov»^ship with the other gods, who had been purified through the flames. Gimle has no need of the sun, neither of the moon, for Odin gives it light himself. But the evil, perjurers, mur- derers, and seducers, could not enter into that society, but are cast down to Nastrond^ the eternal fire, where they have to expiate their misdeeds crossing streams of yellow matter, and suffering great pain in the eternal flames prepared for them. The gods were worshiped partly in the open air, in groves, or places encompassed by a circle of huge stones, partly in wooden temples, among which that in Upsala /'Sweden) was most famous. The public worship — the Uiain point of which were sacrifices — was in general 36 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. administered by the head of the family ; at the temples priests were appointed — sometimes, also, priestesses. In order to honor the gods several great annual feasts were established, among which Juel (Christmas) was most remarkable as the most joyous and festival season to the Norsemen. From all quarters of the country men and women then resorted to the temples, making large offerings ; friends and relatives presented one another with gifts, and many days were spent in feasts and gay ' compotations. In the spring there was a sacrificial offering, to ensure luck in war and in Yiking expedi- tions (piracies) usually beginning at that season. With these barbarous people the number nine was supposed to have something in it of peculiar sanctity. Every ninth month, therefore, a sacrifice was offered up to the gods. The usual victims were horses, oxen, young swine, hawks, and cocks. From the entrails and the running blood the priests told the people their fortunes, and the flesh was prepared for a meal to the assembled sacrificers. Sometimes even men were offered — mostly slaves and prisoners of war — for the Norsemen, in their uncultivated state, were, to a certain extent, cannibals ; to wh^ch Dithmar^ a reliable historian of the eleventh century, bears witness, telling that before Odin's arrival the goddess Hertha was, in Leira, in the island of Sj ell and, (Zeeland,) worshiped with great solemnity ; and that every ninth year, in the mxonth of January, the Danes offered up to her ninety-nine men, and the HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 27 same number of horses, dogs, and cocks, in the firm assurance of thus ohtaining her favor and protection. The different classes of Norsemen, heing of the same extraction, had also the same language, except some provincialisms, idioms, and differences in pronuncia- tion, entirely inevitable where the same language is spoken over extensive tracts and territories. While thus the old Scandinavian language, in process of time, was undergoing several alterations, it was in the remote Iceland kept in its perfect purity, free from all foreign idioms. The general appellation of the common lan- guage was Danish tongue, the Danes being a long time considered the main people, and through several cen- turies playing the most important parts in the North. The language improved by discourses in public meet- ings, and by the songs of Skalds or Bards ; and later, when the use of letters became customary, by a multi- tude of historical writings, particularly composed by the Icelanders skilled in old sayings, which were handed down to them from antiquity, a considerable number of which writings are yet left. The poets, generally called Skalds, who by their songs have immortalized ancestral achievements and exploits, were seldom mis- sing ii_ public meetings, drinking bouts, and other festival occasions. They stayed often at the royal courts and the manors of the Prefects, where they propagated, through their songs, achievements and exploits of Kings and Prefects to succeeding generations ; and being often, 28 ffiSTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. not jnly eye-witnesses themselves, "but even partakers of the achievements they have glorified in their songs. Their poetic productions, a great number of which have been preserved uncorrupted down to our very days, are of importance for History. The Norsemen had some peculiar letters, consisting of sixteen marks or characters, called Runes, the origin of which ascends to the remotest antiquity. They were used not only by the Norsemen, but also by kin- dred tribes abroad. The signification of the word Rune (mystery) seems to allude to the fact that, originally, only a few have known the use of these marks, and that they mostly have been applied to secret tricks, witch- craft, and enchantments. There were both plain and artificial Runes, called Lonrunes, (the Scandinavian word Lon denoting secret,) with the latter of which a great superstition was connected, the priests believ- ing, by aid of them, to be able to haunt a place, to dull weapons, to stop thunder and hurricanes, to cure or occasion diseases, and so on ; and, when engraved on nails, wrists, rudders of 'ships, handles of swords, these Lonrunes were supposed able to bring a thing to a happy issue, or avert dangers. But the Runes were also used as communications in writing ; for instance, on being engraved on thin wooden tablets, which were sent away as letters, or on being used to record a series of kings, genealogical tables, and the like. Worthy to be noted is also the use of Runes for inscriptions on HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 29 stones, in order to preserve the remembrance of cele. brated men and their achievements. To the most remarkable of such Eune-stones, to be found round about in the Scandinavian countries, belong the tv^o Jellingstones in Southern Jutland, w^here it is sup- posed that the king, Gorm the Old^ and his queen, Thyra Dannebod, have their sepulchre. The warlike mind, so strongly and clearly expressed in the Northern mythology, appears in ail parts of the popular life. Tranquil occupations did not enjoy any reputation among the ancient Norsemen, while war and fighting were a sure way of acquiring an emineni name with contemporaries, glorious fame with succeeding generations, and means and riches in abundance. To eat bread in the sweat of the brow was considered inglorious. Life was of little value, and had to be risked at any cost for honor ; and an old warrior, when unable to wield his sword, often caused one of his friends to kill him, to avoid a natural death, which was an exclusion from the privileges of Yalhalla. But, although frequent wars and mutual challenges were carried on in Scandinavia, the Norsemen often sailed to far-off regions to win honor a^nd renown. Yet, however, not only desire for warfare allured the Norsemen from home, but much more, the necessity of procuring such necessaries of Hfe and such enjoyments as they could not have in their own countries. In the spring, great crowds of new-raised men, fit to bear arms, usually 30 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. went away fiom home, mercilessly plundering coasts and lands, wherever they made their appearance, and in the fall returning with rich spoil and prisoners of war, who thereupon became slaves. Such expeditions were called Vikingefarter, and the partakers Vikings. Some made even such a life a business, and spent nearly all their time on the ocean as pirates, despising the easier country life, and speaking disdainfully of sleeping under a sooty ceiling, or sitting round a warm stove with old women. According to the character of the Norsemen, their disputes were nearly always settled by arms. " It was more honorable for men," say the old Sagas, ''to fight by sword than to quarrel by tongue ;" and when, therefore, a quarrel arose, either on account of personal offences, or concerning inheri- tance and borders, then the sword was usually the judge. After challenging one another to a duel, they met on a place surrounded by a circle of big stones, oi hedged in by wicker-work, or also on a small island, and if the challenged did not punctually make his appearance, he lost his reputation ; nobody would keep company with him, and sometimes even a high pole was erected, on which Uunes^were engraved, announcing his name and infamy. The challenged, however, was permitted to prevail upon another to fight instead of himself; but, in general, they were loth to do so, as it always set the principal in an unfavorable light. One murder became generally the cause of another ; for, * Vikings they are called, because they remained in the viclis or havens to catch and plunder pass ng ships. HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 31 although fines could be paid as atonement for a murder committed in an open and honest duel, the near rela- iives often required blood for blood ; a manner of thinking which a father, being offered money for a murder committed on his only son, properly expressed in answering : "I will not carry the corpse of my dearly beloved son in my pocket-book." And if a murder was committed cunningly and treacherously, then vengeance of blood was an unavoidable obligation, from which the surviving relatives could not withdraw without total loss of their reputation. Revengeful and inexorable as the Norsemen were in their enmity, so faithful and self- denying they proved themselves in their friendship. Warriors valuing one another highly, often made a contract called Foster-brother Covenant^ by which they, under the observance of different solemn ceremonies, mixed blood together, swearing allegiance, and binding themselves by a fearful oath to avenge the death of one another, by inflicting severe punishment upon the mur- derer. This covenant was now and then extended even so far as to promise not to outlive one another; and the ancient History of Scandinavia sets forth many beautiful examples of such faithfulness and self-denying love. Though bloody and implacable in war, they were not strangers to the virtues of peace ; hospitality and kindness to strangers, which are the common virtues of rude nations, the dwellers of Scandinavia possessed in a very high degree, and appreciated highly, and thej? 33 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. entertained for each other the most kindly ieelings of regard. Every traveler was received kindly, and the person of the guest considered holy ; and when a man entered into the house of his enemy, with whom he everywhere else would have to abide the issue of a bloody fight, he was, as long as he was his guest, safe from any outrage or mischief. On the whole, it was as if the Apostle's words had been known to the ancient Norsemen : "Be not forgetful to entertain strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." It is, therefore, very wrong, when some partial historians, as for instance. Yoltaire, set forth a few instances of bru- tality and barbarism among the Norsemen as character* istio of the manners and genius of the whole race. The respect, likewise, which the dwellers of Scandi- navia entertained for the female sex, was a striking feature in their character, and could not fail to human- ize their dispositions. The state and condition of the female sex in society at large, was better in the north than in most other countries where Christianity had not produced a salutary revolution. The daughters, brought up in their paternal home, and taught occupations per- taining to females, were permitted to partake in social enjoyments and public meetings. Even the females appreciated bravery and a manly rriind; the want of which with the males, was, in their opinion, not repa- rable from other excellencies. The father or guardian mSTORY OF SCANDINAVIA 33 disposed, according to custom, of the hand of the unmarried girl, but in reality she was, however, at her own disposal, being very seldom given in marriage against her own option. The wedding ceremony, per- formed under the observance of religious ceremonies, was attended with festivities during several ^ays, whereafter the husband guided his wife to her new home, handing her the bunch of keys (Nogleknippet) as a sign of her duties as the mistress of the house. Monogamy was customary ; nevertheless the husband cohabited now and then with concubines, — a cause of frequent divorces and bloody fights. As for chastity and pure manners, the old sayings report well, and speak in high terms of the women of the north. They were true to their country, their husbands, their friends and their home, and their love did not cease on this side the grave. The science of healing, imperfeci as it might be at that time, was mostly practiced by women, to whom, also, the peculiar gift to interpret dreams was ascribed ; which ' gift, according to the old sayings, Odin had sent down to all women from his splendid Hlidskjalf The business of the Norsemen was hunting, fishing, and breeding of cattle, also a little agriculture. Pytheas^ a merchant from Marseilles, in Southern France, who. about three hundred years before Christ, arrived in a country which he calls Thule^ generally considered to have been Southern Norway, tells that the inhabitants 34 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. understood how to till barley, and prepare a drink of honey, and that they did not, as in Southern Europe, thresh their gi-ain in the open air, hut binding it up into sheaves, carried it into large barns to be threshed. The most common food of the Norsemen was the flesh of wild and domestic animals, fish, and vegetables ; horse and swine flesh were considered the finest dishes ; beer and mead were their drinks. Trade was exercised by the keen northern navigators on far-off coasts, but their traffic was often turned into piracy, and the sword was substituted for gold and silver. Grrain, honey, flour, salt and cloth were brought from England. Oriental commodities came by land to Russia, from whence the Norsemen imported them, and the harbors of Northern Germany drew together commercial connections with Middle Europe. Scandinavia herself had only very few wares to export; nearly none but fish, fur, and amber, which w^as found on the shores of the Baltic and on the AVestern coast of Jutland. Coins were unknown, and payment was, therefore, made by pieces of gold and silver, or wares exchanged for wares. Of mechanical arts there were in ancient times only very few. Nevertheless, the art of ship-building, and dex terity in hammering arms and ornaments were highly valued and exercised by free-born men, while plainer works and domestic services were made by slaves. The women were very skillful in weaving tapestry, and interweaving fxgures of men, animals, and landscapes mSTORY OP SCANDINAVIA. 33 The dwellings of the Scandinavian people were made of timher, and the construction was plain, one room being both kitchen, bed-chamber, and sitting-room. In the middle of the room were the stove and the chimney, and to let out the smoke an opening was made in the ceiling, which also let in light to the room ; for windows were unknown. Nevertheless the rich and prominent families had more convenient dwellings : kitchen, parlor, bed-cliamber, bathing-room, and often a handsome hall. The Norseman's dearest and most important property were his arms. In ancient times they were plain and art ess. and, like other implements, made of stones ; later, CI copper ; for it was a long time before the Norsemen learnt how to forge iron. Their aggressive weapons, fre- quently mentioned in the old sayings, were clubs, stones, swords, battle-axes, slings, bows, arrows, and spears ; theu' defensive were shirts of mail, helms, and shields, adorned with figures of animals, as armorial ensigns, and so highly appreciated as to be hereditary. On the whole, for the young Norseman, whose education was, like the ancient Spartan's, exclusively calculated for a military life, the practice in using arms was necessary to make his body pliable and hardy ; by the early and frequent exercises of which they also acquired an almost incomprehensible dexterity and muscular strength in using and wielding the sword. Braver men never lived ; truer men never drew the bow. They had courage, fortitude, sagacity, bodily strength, and perseverance; 36 mSTORY OF SCANDINAVLA.. they shrurx from no dangers, and they feared no hard- ships. " Odin is for us — who can be against us?" was their watchword ; and the old Sagas say : " Here it was beautiful to live, sad to die." Penetrated with a lively desire for acquiring honor and renown, the ancient Norsemen employed all their efforts to keep their famous ancestors in an unshaken memory ; and when an emi- nent chief had died, his relatives and friends decreed solemn funeral honors, called Gravol^ (parentations,) by which a glorious mention was made of the actions of the deceased, and drinking cups of beer emptied in his honor, the present guests obliging themselves to honor his glorious and sacred memory by promising to perform some distinguished deed. To make such a vow, and empty such a cup of memory, which was called the Minnicup^ was a duty indispensably incumbent on the son, before he could place himself in the chair of state of his celebrated father. In remotest antiquity the corpses were buried in the earth ; later, burnt, the ashes being stored up in urns — a custom ascribed to Odin. At a later period it became again customary to bury the corpses, and heap up gigantic hills, many of which are yet to be found. The corpses of more distinguished persons were, however, seldom buried in the bare earth, but in a vault (mauso leum) surrounded with big stones ; and upon the vault was generally laid a tall stone, with an inscription — (Rune-stone.) According to the general opinion, that in HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 37 the life to come the deceased would have to acquit him- self of the same office as here, the best decorations, and things which had belonged to his situation and office, were laid down in the sepulchre ; wherefore, also, in said sepulchres, frequently are found swords and other arms, different implements, finger-rings, bracelets, neck- laces of pearl and amber, and mosaic work, and the like ornaments. Denmark, Norway, and Sweden were, in ancient times, divided into small portions, districts and pro- vinces, (Herreder, Sysler,) more of which by degrees were so united as to form small states, until at last all these single provinces made up three kingdoms, which for many centuries had mostly only one king. These ancient kings of Scandinavia were — thus record the old sayings — beloved and honored by their people, as fathers and friends. They did not expect their subjects to kneel to them when they came to ask a favor or advice, nor did their subjects ever prostrate themselves, like those of great monarchs of Asia or Egypt. Their power was limited, and their function, as written laws had not yet existed, was to settle disputes which might arise among the selfish and ignorant, to make laws and alter the old ones, by which the people and the influential men con- sented to be governed, and to lead their subjects in war. To offer sacrifices, and take a leading part in divine worship, was also often the king's business. For this the subjects gave their king large farms and lordships, a 38 HISTORY OF SCANBINAVIA. considerable part of the spoils of war, and the highest places at all feasts, and in the public deliberations — '*ihat is, in the assemblies or assizes (Thinge) — ^where they consulted together concerning public affairs ; and they always addressed him with respect. Moreover, forests and untilled tracts of land, and ornaments found in the earth, belonged to the king. When a king died. the people convened to elect his successor ; but, though heirship was not fully entitled to ascend the throne, the eldest son of the deceased king was generally chosen, in order to avoid disputes. Upon the failure of the blood royal, the election was enthely free. The government seems, on the whole, to have been almost an absolute monarchy, of a mixed, hereditary, and elective nature. The peasantry was, in this early age, almost the only corporation of Scandinavia. By a peasant was understood, not alone a husbandman, an agrioultor, but every free-born person who was possessed of real estates, with whatever office he else might be invested. Thus the peasantry constituted the people. But above the peasants ranked the chiefs or leaders^ not on account of peculiar privileges, but of the greater credit and influ- ence they enjoyed, because they were in possession of larger property, and descended from distinguished families. From among such families the kings in general took earls (Jarler) to rule the conquered pro- vinces, and all the warriors and officers who constituted their court (Hird). The peasants and the chiefs oonsti- fflSTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. dii tilted the Diet, and met at the assize (Thing), a place selected for this very purpose, and surrounded with holy ash trees or with a circle of stones. Here they con- sulted concerning war and peace ; here the kings were elected ; here the laws were passed or annulled, and law- suits decided ; and without the consent of the Diet the .king could not decide upon anything of consequence. The laws were few and simple, consisting mostly in customs ; the punishments were mild, and most crimes could he atoned for by paying a fine ; yet assassination, -ligh-treason, arson, and burglary, were now and then punished, either by slavery, outlawry, or forfeiture of life. The slaves were divided into native Scandinavians and foreigners. In the many wars which the Norsemen waged with southern Europe, they made prisoners, who became slaves, if their relatives or friends could not pay for their liberation. Also, many slaves were made by trade. Their condition was miserable. The ancient Norsemen hardly acknowledged slaves to be men. A slave might be beaten, starved, and otherwise tormented, or be killed by his master's order, and the abuser might go unpunished. They could not buy, sell, nor inherit — not take oath, not marry — but were sold and bought as other wares. Slaves never carried arms, except when expressly armed for military service. • One of the most toilsome but necessary labors of slaves, was the preparation of corn or wheat. In those iges there were neither wind nor water mills, corn being 40 mSTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. beaten by slaves, or pounded, or ground in a hand-miil There were, however, many slaveholders who never practised these cruelties, and the slaves of Scandinavia were, on the whole, treated with more humanity than in other parts of Europe. Slaves were even sometimes let out to serve other citizens, and in that case they were permitted to have a part of their wages, and tho money thus earned was often saved to purchase the liberty of the slaves. A kind master granted, some- times, a faithful slave his liberty, whose children then could become citizens, and enjoy all civil privileges. Of course, the introduction of Christianity put a stop to many abuses of slavery, and the first Scandinavian Christians treated their slaves kindly, approving of St. Paul's words to the Athenians : '' G-od made of one blood all nations of the earth, bond and free." Upon the whole, nothing is more horrible and affecting than such debasement of a fellow creature. The Grreek poet. Homer, who lived about twelve hundred years before Christ, says truly : " Whatever day makes man a slave takes half his worth away." Of the great European Emigration the Norsemen were, properly speaking, not partakers, except as far as Jut- A. J)., landers, Angles and Saxons, at about the same ^9- time, under the command of the two brothers, Hengist and Horsaf set out for and conquced England, and erected the Saxon Heptarchy, the history of which is very obscure. The duration of the several kingdoms, * The stallion and the mare are perhaps the names of the leaders, O" perhaps only the names of the vessels they commanded. fflSTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 41 till their union under Egbert, is almost all that a. D , can he noted with any approach to historical ^^7. certainty. But it is beyond all question, that the Cimbri and Teutons, and later, the Groths and Longo- beards, and the other people mentioned, have emigrated from Scandinavia, except, perhaps, that some single crowds from the north might have joined the kindred tribes south of the Baltic. But after that great agita- tion, called the European Emigration, had subsided, an emigration from Scandinavia commenced in the seventh and eighth centuries, breaking out violently in the ninth and tenth centuries. The Normans (the Danes, Norwe- gians, and Swedes, commonly styled so in southern Europe,) had undoubtedly formerly made frequent expe- ditions (Yikingefarter) to near and far-off regions ; but now their expeditions began to be made in greater num- bers, intending not only to obtain booty, but even possessions and dwellings abroad. The union of the provincial territories under one king, both in Denmark and Norway, and the introduction of Christianity, and the change of manners and customs connected therewith, had made many dissatisfied with their native country. This, together with a strong desire for a warfaring life, induced numerous crowds from all regions of the North to go away to seek a new home ; and the southern lands, which by the dissolution of Charlemagne's a. d., empire, were enervated and entirely defenceless, ^*^' were a tempting bait for the Normans. Their expedl** 42 fflSTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. tions extended from the Baltic straight down to tiie coasts of Africa, and to the innermost parts of the Medi- terranean sea, which had so often formerly resounded with the strife of Latin arms. Nor were their enter- prises confined to these coasts. They descended all along the shores of Portugal and Western France, and there- after along the largest rivers of Europe — Elbe, Ehine, Scheldt, Seine, Loire, Graronne, and Rhone. They dared, on their small flat-bottomed vessels, to make irruption into the inland parts of the countries, spreading terror and causing the most terrible havoc wheresoever they went. The flourishing cities of Holland and G-ermany, Nimvegen, Liege, Bonn, Cologne, and Aachen, were con- sumed by their fire, and they went over the entire dreadful drama of warlike glory. Finally Arnulf, the Grerman Emperor, put a stop to their invasions and A, D., cruelties, after having completely defeated them ^91- ne^x Loven, in Belgium. To France was the cruel Danish Yiking, Hastings, a horrible scourge. He marched twice to the gates of Paris, plundered, and exacted tribute. The third time A. D., Paris was saved by the bravery of Count Odo, ^^6- afterwards King of France. Then he prepared tc set out for Rome, resolving to give full way to his natural desire for conquest ; but mistaking the city Luna for Rome, he attacked and obtained it. Yet no A. D , rest for France, until Charles the Foolish, ®ii- King of France, gave up to RoUo, or Rolf HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 43 Grange, a Norwegian chief, a whole province, which was now called Normandy. Alfred the Grreat, of England, had, in resisting the cruel Hastings, to withstand a skillful veteran. For three years he had, undismayed, contended against Alfred, till he at last had to yielc* indignantly to that noble King of England. Has- a. d., tings had marked his course with blood ; but ^^'^^ whatever was done by him, fell short of the merciless ferocity of other Danes, who, about the same time, laid England waste. Scotland, the Hebrides, and Ireland were thrown into the most extreme desolation by the Danes and Norwegians, who in Ireland were called Ostmen (men of the east.) The exclamation of a monk of Worcester is forcible : " O qua77i crebris vexationibus, quam gravihus laboribus^ quam diris et lamentabilibus modis, non solum a Danis^ verum etiam ab filiis satan- ids ITasttng'U, tota vexata est Anglia.''^ Not till the Norsemen had won pleasant dwellings, and states by them were founded in France, Italy, Ostangel, Northum- berland, on the Island of Man, and the Orkney Isles, as also in Russia, where they were called Vareger, did the tumult gradually subside ; while, at the same time, the fierce passions of the Norsemen were in some degree moderated by the mild precepts of the Grospel. The oldest events in Scandinavia are only known from the old sayings or traditions, which first, at a later period, have been written down, and therefore do not give the events back in their true form, but are mixed 44 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. ap with fiction, which has given rise to an insuperable chronological difficulty. The traditions are so varied, that it is often impossible to discover the truth of any of the circumstances. The materials from which these traditions are compiled, are in Scandinavia, as in Rome, and Grreece, the legendary ballads, which are in every country the first records of warlike exploits. Of conse- quence are also the calendars and annals kept by the priests, and the genealogical tables kept by the earls and other distinguished families. But poetic historians have afterwards mingled so much fiction with truth, that often only few of their assertions can 1 6 deemed authentic. The history, therefore, of Scandinavia, thi'ough the first eight centuries after Christ, until King A. D., Grorm the Old, is properly and correctly called ^^^' the Fabulous Age, because deprived of the nature of historical evidence, and often involved in impenetrable obscurity, and accordingly, full of the greatest improbabilities ; while the period before Christ, destitute of all light, is called the Obscure Age. Odin, supposed to have arrived in Scandinavia about seventy years before Christ, and, according to the religious ideas of the Norsemen, considered the Supreme God, is by some historians described as a real historical person — a mighty king— who has ruled the northern countries. Several sons are ascribed to him, who, after his death, divided Scandinavia into equal parts. Heimdal is said \i^ have reigned in Skane, Niord in Sweden, Seming fflSTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 45 in Norway, Balder in Angel, (Schleswig,) and Skjold in Sjelland (Zealand) and Jutland ; the latter being the head of an illustrious generation of kings, called Skjoldunger, who are said to have resided in Leire, (Lethra,) twenty English miles from Copenhagen. In Christ's time Frode Fredegod (Pacific) is said to have been King of Denmark. The rulers at that time were not called kings, but Drots, and Rig', ruler of Skane, adopted first the title of king. A new generation a. d., begins with Dan Mykillati (The Splendid). 250. Almost all historians agree that he was the founder of the country called Denmark. Some have from him derived the name Denmark ; but it is more probable that it has originated from the word Dan, denoting loio or flat, and from Mark, denoting overgrown ivith loood ; the name Denmark thus denoting a flat land, overgrown with wood. After a reign of forty years, with the utmost justice and reputation — thus record the old say- ings — he died greatly lamented by his subjects. He ordered his courtiers to bury him solemnly, and in full equipage, in a hill ; and because it from his time became customary to bury the kings in such hills, the following age is called the Hill Age. At a subsequent time Rolf Krake was king. The graces of his person are said to have equaled those of his mind ; and his stature and strength to have been so extraordinary, that he was surnamed Krake, an old Danish word expressive of these qualities. He has become famous for his bravery 46 HISTORY OP^ SCANDINAVIA. and martial spirit, and for the twelve giants (Berserkers) he kept at his court ; among whom Bjarke^ Hjelte^ and Wiggo ought to be named. Berserker is a word of frequent occurrence in the Sagas, and denotes giants or warriors. They were often seized with a kind of frenzy, either arising from an excited imagination, or from the use of stimulating liquors — committing then the wildest extravagances, and striking indiscriminately at friends and foes. Rolf Krake was killed by the base perfi- diousness of his own sister, Skulda, married to Hjartvar, Rolf's viceroy in Skane, whom he had distinguished by numberless instances of his favor, and even exempted him from paying taxes for three years. Meanwhile Hjartvar, prompted by his wife, buckled for war : making haste, at the time expired, to Leire, where he in the night assaulted the sleeping king and his Ber- serkers, who had intoxicated themselves at a banquet Rolf had given in honor of his sister's arrival. Rolf and A. D., all his Berserkers were put to the sword, except 600. "VTiggo, who promised to avenge the death of the king. He kept his promise, and pierced Hjartvar with seven dagger-stabs. In the middle of the seventh century the brothers Rerek and Helge, thus sing the old Sagas, reigned jointly in Leire, at the same time as Ivar Vidfadme {i. e., who surpasses his bounds,) made himself ruler over a great part of the North, besides Sweden, which he already ruled. To enter into possession of Sjelland, HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 47 he gave his daughter, Audur, in marriage to Rerek, though she herself preferred the more warlike Helge. After that, he kindled variance between the brothers, sc that E-erek, in a fit of jealousy, killed his brother whereafter Ivar Yidfadme succeeded in conquering "Rerek and becoming master of Sjelland. But some time after, Ivar lost his life on an expedition to Eussia a. d., (Garderige), whither his widowed daughter had '^^^^ fled for refuge. About this time Hamlet, a Danish prince, whom Shakspeare has immortalized, is said to have enjoyed for a great number of years the Danish throne. It is, however, doubtful, in spite of assertions to the contrary, whether Hamlet ever was king of Denmark, all the best critics affirming that he was killed in a battle, just as he was endeavoring by force to sacceed to the crown ; and even Saxo G-rammaticus does not place him among the Danish monarchs. Harald Hildetand^ a son of Eerek and Audur, now brought under subjection all the countries his grandfather, Ivar Yidfadme, had ruled, and became a mighty and sove- reign king. But, after bearing sway a long time in peace, Sigurd Ring; his nephew, and viceroy in Swe- den, raised a sedition against him. The memorable battle was fought at Bravallahede^ in Smaland, a. d., Sweden, where the most noble heroes and giants 730. of the whole North encountered ; amongst whom was the notable StcBrkodder^ whose bravery and gigantic size have been so much praised in the heroic songs. But 48 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA, Harald Hildetand fell in the battle, Sigurd Ring gaining, the victory ; whose reign, however, is not worthy of much notice. He is said to have founded the city of Ringsted, in Sjelland, called after him. The more remarkable has his son, Regner Lodbrok, become, of whose exploits and enterprises of hazard the old sayings record so much. Perpetually roving in defiance and war, partly on the southern and eastern coasts of the Baltic, partly in Flanders, partly in Scotland, Ireland, and England, and being lord and ruler wheresoever he went, he was, at last, captured by King Ella, of Nor- thumberland, who, so say the English historians, threw him, bound, into a dungeon filled with snakes, vipers, A. D., and poisonous animals ; thus ingloriously putting ■^^^^ an end to a life grown old in glory and victory. The great Danish historians, Saxo Grammaticus, Pon- tanus, and Meursius, correspond with the English in this circumstance. His four sons avenging his death, divided now the wide-spread realm which Ivar Yid- fadme, Harald Hildetand, and Sigurd Ring had gathered together. Bjorn Jernside obtained Sweden, Hvidscerk Jutland and Wenden, Ivar Beenlos Northumberland, and Bigurd Snake-eye Denmark, Skane, Halland and Southern Norway. The historian, Meursius, speaks ic high terms of Sigurd Snake-eye. '' Grod," says he, ^* enabled him to complete a reign as pregnant with real felicity as any which the annals of Denmark can show." A grandson of his was Gorm the Old^ who fflSTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 49 collected the separate Danish provinces into one aggre- gate body. Thus has been traced the History of Scandinavia, from the fabulous age down to the period of historical evi dence ; on the accounts of which we accordingly could bestow an implicit credit. Christianity, also, now com- menced to be preached ; paganism at lengt^h entirely disappeared, and the influence of a purer faith became discernible in the lives and actions of the old Norsemeo. FIRST PERIOD. FROM THE COLLECTION OF THE SEPARATE PROVINCES INTO ONE BODY, AND FROM THE FIRST ENDEAVORS TO INTRODUCE CHRIS- TIANITY, UNTIL THE DEATH OF VALDEMAR VICTOR, AND THE ISSUING OF THE JUTLANDISH LAW, 1241. From the Foundation of the Danish Kingdom till A. D. 1042. Promulgation of the Gospel by Ansgarius — Gorm the Old and his Queen, Thyra Dannebod — Harald Bluetooth — Christianity — Civil War — Palnatoke — Svend Splitbeard — Viking Association — Battle by Svolder — Conquest of England — Harald — Canute the Great — England and Denmark united — Pilgrimage to Rome — Battle by Helge-River — Ulf Jarl — Conquest of Nor- way — The union with England ceases. A FEW years before Grorm's accession to the Danish throne, the promulgation of Christianity was com- menced, but met with great opposition from the warUke mind and rude manners of the people. The humble and self-denying spirit taught by Christianity was in no accordance with the stubborn mind of the ancient Norsemen. The Christian idea of the life to come, as a spiritual union with Grod and the Saviour, was very much onposed to the hope of the northern pagans far 50 - HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 51 Valhalla, and the sensual enjoyments expected there. The doctrine of fasting, abstemiousness, and chastening the body, displeased the Norsemen, who wished to enjoy the pleasures which this life offered them, and appre- ciated a strong and vigorous body. A long time, there- fore, passed away, till Christianity as an active principle entered their hearts ; but it is to be observed, that the victory was gained, not, as in many adjacent countries by violence and compulsion, but by the intrinsic power of the Grospel itself. Several points, also, of the heathen doctrine facihtated the introduction of Christianity. The doctrine of the pious Balder, of the destruction of the gods, after which a holy and righteous G-od was to rule, paved the way for the Christian ideas. The hea- thens' Loke, G-imle, and Nastrond, became easily the Christians' devil, kingdom of heaven, and hell ; as also the outward pomp and splendor of the Catholic divine service influenced the tractable mind of the ancient Norsemen. The Frankish emperors (the Franks were some petty Grerman tribes, who in the fifth century had established themselves as a nation in the provinces lying between the Ehine, the Weser, the Maine and the Elbe, including the greater part of Holland and Westphalia,) endeavored to spread Christianity among the Norsemen, in order thereby to bridle these troublesome neighbors. Charlemagne had with violence compelled the Saxons to embrace Christianity, and thus deprived the people of its independence. But the daring and efficient Godfred^ 52 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. King of Jutland, apprehending his designs, protected the Saxons, and commenced war. Making large progress, and even threatening to visit Charlemagne in his resi- dence, Aachen, the emperor was happy enough to get rid of that intelligent and brave enemy, Godfred unfor- tunately being treacherously killed by one of his own people. His successor, Hemming, made peace a. d., with Charlemagne, by which the river Eider was ^^^• appointed the limit between Denmark and Grermany. Louis the Pious, a son of Charlemagne, not so able as his father, but of a more pious mind, concerned himself very much in spreading Christianity in Denmark, send- ing thither the Archbishop Ebbe, of Rheims, who, never- theless, did not perform anything of consequence. But a Jutlandish sub-king, Harald Klak, who had been banished from the country, fled to the emperor for refuge, hoping by his aid to regain the kingdom. "While staying there, Harald was baptized in Ingelheim, by ]\Iainz, the emperor himself being sponsor at the chris- tening, and putting on him the white baptismal robe. It was after his return from Grermany that we may date the era of Christianity in Denmark. Ansgarms, called the Northern Apostle, a learned and pious monk in the cloister of Corvey, Westphalia, was the happy instru- ment of spreading Christianity in the North. The rjmperor was looking for a man who could guide Harald Klak home, strengthen his faith, and spread the Chris- tian doctrine amongst his people. Ansgarius undertook HISTORY OP SCANDINAVIA. 53 this "bold and difficult enterprise ; and, attended by another energetic monk, Autbert, arrived in Denmark, A. D., where he first resided in Hedeby (now the city S27. of Sohleswig), at that time a flourishing commer« cial city, and erected a missionary school, preaching the Kingdom of Grod, and teaching those things which con- cern the Lord Jesus Christ. Such was the force of truth — or such, perhaps, the inconstancy of human nature, always eager after novelty — -that Christianity spread with amazing rapidity, and was greatly aided in its progress by the zeal and piety of the king. After some years' preaching and baptizing in Denmxark, he went, advised by the emperor, to Sweden, preaching Christianity there for a year and a half. The emperor, learning what rapid progress the new doctrine had made in Scandinavia, purposed now, in order to promote it A. D., still further, to erect an archbishopric in Ham- ^3^- burg ; and Ansgarius, with whose Christian zeal he was highly pleased, was accordingly appointed Arch- bishop. Autbert, his faithful and pious attender, was already dead, deeply bewailed by Ansgarius. But the Northern Yikings (freebooters) some time after attacking and ravaging Hamburg, put unfortunately a consider- able stop to the missionary undertaking of Ansgarius. Through several years he had to ramble about, helpless and forsaken; while the disturbances, which broke out at the soon ensuing death of the emperor, could but withdraw attention from the advancement of 5-» e54 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. Christianity in the North. Finally, Louis the a. d,, German, interesting himself in the subject, ^^^• united the bishopric of Bremen with the archbishopric of Hamburg, and took care of Ansgarius, who anew commenced to preach, set the school of Hedeby again on foot, and, because of the favor he enjoyed with the Jutlandish sub-king, Erik^ was permitted to build in this city the first church — the very first — ^in Denmark., But upon returning from another journey in Sweden, he found King Erik dead, and Christianity under persecu- tion of the new king, who put several of the most devout and zealous Christians to death, who had refused to abjure their religion. Others he forced or bribed into a compliance with his will. He leveled all the churches with the ground, and sent an army to ravage Saxony, chiefly because the people of that country had received the light of the G-ospel. But Ansgarius spoke so con- vincingly to the king, that he not only withdrew his resentment, which had grievously oppressed the Chris- tians, but published entire liberty of conscience, and embraced the true faith. He erected, at his own expense, a magnificent church at Ripen, in Southern Jutland, ordered the pagan temples to be razed, and now became as zealous a Christian as a little before he had been a bigoted heathen. Upon the recommendation of Ansgarius, he appointed persons properly qualified for teaching the G-ospel in every corner of his dominions, allowed them handsome salaries, and took Ansgarius for his counselor, not only in spirituals but in temporals HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 05 likewise. He died the proselyte and chief support of that religion which, only a few years before, he had persecuted with such cruelty and bitterness. Of the new church erected by him at Ripen, Rembert, a disciple A. D., of Ansgarius, was appointed minister. At sixty- 865. four years of age Ansgarius died in Bremen, after a powerful and self-denying endeavor for spreading the Grospel in Scandinavia. Rembert, above mentioned, succeeded him in the archbishopric, acting with the same apostolic zeal as his great teacher, whose biography he has written and published in Latin. A following king of Denmark, by the name of Frotho, prepared, the better to propagate the faith, an embassy to Pope Sergius III., to acknowledge his supremacy in spirituals, and to request that he would send some persons perfectly qualified to teach the Grospel in Denmark, when death claimed him, and deprived his people of an excellent prince. The <^pread of Christianity in Scandinavia gave additional vigor to the papal power, for the Norsemen, with all the zeal of new converts, became eager to prove their sincerity by some enterprise in support of the pontiff, whom they regarded as the great director of their faith and hope. Shortly before the death of Ansgarius, the famous and heroic king Harold ITairfair, of Norway, so called be- cause of his long and beautiful hair, commenced his bold A. D., and glorious career. He ascended the throne in 863. 863. At that time Norway was divided betweec 56 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. thirty-one petty kings, against whom he immediately commenced making war, till they all were subdued and he had become the sole ruler of all Norway himself. That which induced him to wage so long and hazardous a warfare, was, besides his ambition and strong desire of superiority, his intense love of the two handsome prin- cesses Ragna and Gyda. Ragna he saw at a Christmas festival, and wooed her ; but she said that, before con- senting, she should wish to know whether he or another should rule Norway. At this bold question the king flew into a passion ; but the young lady answered calmly, "I should deem it more proper if thou didst pour out thine anger upon all those petty kings with whom the country swarms." Apt words have power to assuage ^the heat of a passionate mind. The king confessed the truth of her remark, and promised not only to war against all of them as long as one was left, but he even enacted a law that forbade all violence against women, under the penalty of banishment. Afterward, Harold was enamoured of the beautiful Gyda, who had been brought up with a rich peasant. Embassadors were sent to court her in behalf of the king. The proud Gyda answered, "Please tell the king that I will give him my hand and my heart, but only upon the condition that ho makes himself indisputable sovereign of all Norway, and rules this realm with the same supremacy with which the kings of Denmark and Sweden do theirs." No sooner was this answer conveyed to Harold than he exclaimed, HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 57 "I swear, by Him who made me and all that is, that I will neither cut nor comb my hair until all Norway has A. D., submitted to my authority!" Harold faithfully 936. kept his word, and at his death the whole king- dom was subject to his sceptre. But not only the tre- mendous power which he wielded in a military point of view makes him remarkable ; he is still more remarkable for his trampling under foot all the objects of credulity and idle superstition then so deeply rooted in his sub- jects, and for raising his mind to the invisible Master, the Father of the sun and all the universe. His words in a political assembly in the year 932, when Christianity had not yet found its way to that country, deserve to be quoted: "I swear, in the most sacred manner, that I will never offer sacrifices to any of the gods adored by my people, but to Him only who has formed the world and what I behold in it." He was succeeded on the throne by his son JErihj who had to wage incessant wars against his brethren, all of whom he killed with the exception of Hakon, who went to England, where he ingratiated himself with the Eng- lish king Adelstan, who adopted him. Erik, to whom on account of his cruelty was given the surname Blood-axe^ was, after a reign of two years, dethroned, and went to the Orkney Isles, where he for a long time made his living by piracy, till he finally was elected King of Northumberland. Already before Erik was dethroned, Hakon had returned to Norway with the view of taking 58 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. possession of Ms ancestral throne, assisted bj a powerful army and fleet equipped by the English king Adelstan. The enormous cruelties committed by his brother Erik Blood-axe, and an argumentative, eloquent, and forcible speech of Sigurd Jarl, at that time considered the wisest man of all Norway, facilitated his plan, and upon Erik's dethronement Hakon was unanimously elected a. D., King of Norway, and, in grateful remembrance ^^s. of his foster-father, he assumed the name Halton Adel- stan, The sagas of the old Norwegian kings, composed by the celebrated Icelander Snorre, speak in the highest terms of him: he protected the country against foreign aggression; increased it by the two Swedish provinces Jemteland and Helsingland ; enacted judicious laws, and tried to introduce Christianity, by building churches and sending for preachers from England. But an influential peasant, by the name of Asbjdrn, delivered a public speech strongly in favor of the pagan worship, in which he told the king that all Norway would desert him and swear allegiance to another, unless he desisted from his purpose. Hakon Adelstan had, therefore, to abandon his noble plan, and to be satisfied with introducing the Christian faith at his court. For nineteen years he ruled Norway in peace, when suddenly the sons of Erik Blood- axe laid claim to the throne, one of whom, Harold Grey- skin, unexpectedly arrived with a mighty fleet just as Hakon was sitting at a festival-table on the island Stord^ close by Bergen. Eivind, the king's court-skald, HISTORY or SCANDINAVIA. 59 seeing the hostile fleet from a hill, hastened to the king, crying out, "It is no longer time to eat, king: the sons of Blood-axe are about to attack thee!" The king, im- mediately jumping from his chair, asked, "What shall we do ? — remain, or flee?" But they all cried that they would rather die than betake themselves to their heels. At this answer the king's mind abandoned itself to ecstasy; and, with a gilded helmet on his head, the costly sword at his side called quern-biter, because it was so sharp that it could cut a hand-millstone through right to the eye, — a present from the English king, — and a javelin in his hand, he went to meet his foes, who were drawn up on the shore. The victory gained was de- cisive ; but when, in the heat of his passion, he was fol- lowing up the victory, the noble Norwegian king was A. D., mortally wounded by an arrow, and died. His 963. death was universally lamented, and the respect in which he was held was strikingly exhibited at his funeral. And, indeed, all Norway had good reason to lament the loss of the noble Hakon Adelstan; for his successor, Harold G-reyshin^ so called from a grey skin with which some Icelandic merchants had presented him, showed himself highly unequal to the task of a ruler. Contemporaneously with Rembert's efibrts for preach- A. D., ing and spreading Christianity, Crorm the Old 882-941. ^ag king of Denmark. He is chiefly to be re- membered for collecting all the small provinces into one body. At that time the Danish kingdom com- 60 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. prised Sjelland, with tlie adjacent islands, Jutland and South Jutland (now Schleswig), where the Eider river was the limit towards the south, and Skane, Hal- land, and Bleking, in Southern Sweden. But, though these parts were now thus united, they preserved for a long space of time their popular peculiarities, each part having its own laws, and the king receiving his homage separately in each province. We are not able to detail many facts of the reign of Grorm the Old, but we know, however, that he was a bitter enemy to the Christians, whom he persecuted in every quarter, demol- ishing their churches and banishing their clergy. Amongst other sacred buildings, he totally destroyed the famous cathedral in Schleswig, and ordered the pagan idols to be erected wherever they had formerly stood. "While his two sons, Canute and Harald — twins by birth, and rivals in glory — were gathering laurels abroad, Grorm took arms against the .Saxons, with a view to oblige them to renounce Christianity, but the emperor, Henry the Fowler^ soon came to the a. d., relief of the Saxons, defeated Grorm, and forced ^20. him to permit Christianity to be preached in Denmark. G-orm's queen, generally called Thyra Dannebod (the ornament or solace of the Danes), has rendered herself distinguished by founding Dannevirke (a great wall of earth and stones across Schleswig, strongly fortified by moats and tower bastions), to protect the country against inroads of the G-ermans. Already G-odfred, before men HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 61 tioned, had erected a like fortification, called Kurvirke^ but the irruption of Henry the Fowler had proved that the country needed a stronger bulwark, wherefore the queen founded that famous Dannevirke, remnants of which are yet to be seen. G-orm, loving his son Canute^ generally called Canute Danaast (the Splendor of the Danes), more than Harald, declared, dreading the death of his dearly beloved son, of whom he for a great while had received no intelligence, that whosoever might tell him of his son's death should lose his life. Finally, notice was given of his death on a Yiking expedition in England. The queen, not risking to tell it to the king, made the courtiers observe an unusual silence at the table, and had the apartment covered with black cloth. Guessing the reason, G-orm cried out : " Surely Canute, my dear son, is dead, for all Denmark is mourn- ing!" *' Thou sayest so, not J," answered the queen; A. D., upon which the king sickened with grief, and 9^1- died in a good old age. Harald Bluetooth^ his son, was immediately elected king, but he refused to accept the crown until he had first performed his father's obsequies with all the magni- ficence becoming his high rank. About the same time Hakon Adelstan was King of Norway, who had to fight with his nephews, sons of King Erik Bloodaxe ; of all of whom, Harald G-reyskin, countenanced and supported by the Danish king, succeeded, after the death of Hakon Adelstan, in ascending the throne of Norway. But, as 62 fflSTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. he did not pay the tribute promised the Danish king for his support, hostility broke out, and Hakon Jarl, whose father, Sigurd, had been killed by Harald Grreyskin, now found refuge in Denmark, inflaming the enmity between the kings to an extreme degree. At the same time Gold Harald^ a son of Canute Danaast, above mentioned, and consequently a nephew of Harald Bluetooth, had come back from his piracies, and claimed now, by virtue of supposed right, a share of the Danish Kingdom. Hakon Jarl advised the king to kill Harald G-reyskin, and then, to gratify his nephew's wish to a certain extent, to let him have Norway ; of which advice the king approved. Accordingly, Harald Greyskin was now, under pretence of friendship, allured down from Norway, and killed by the Lymfiord (a river running through the northern part of Jutland), by G-old Harald ; who was, however, soon after insidiously murdered by Hakon Jarl, who had made the king believe that Grold Harald hardly could bear so great honor. This heinous action done, Harald Bluetooth sailed with wind upon the beam to Norway, which he easily conquered, and divided between Hakon Jarl and Harald Grrsenske, a Norwegian prince ; after whose death, soon ensuing, Hakon Jarl became ruler of all Norway ; under oath, however, of allegiance to Harald Bluetooth. Thus Norway became a province to Denmark. After Harald Bluetooth had settled this affair, he sailed against the Venders, who committed horrid depredations on all the coasts of the Baltic, but fflSTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 63 he attacked them with such vigor, that he reduced and plundered all their strongholds, and, among the rest, the rich and important city of WoUin, built on an island of the same name, which is formed by two branches of the river Oder. But he had scarce rid his hands of this war when his aid and protection were solicited by Styr- bear. King of Sweden, who was driven out of his own dominions by Erik Yictor. To enforce his request Styr- bear had brought along with him Gyntha^ his sister. a lady of admirable beauty. The stratagem had the intended effect ; .Harald Bluetooth became enamored of her, married her, and promised the brother all the assist- A. D., ance in his power. Nevertheless Styrbear was 983. defeated by Erik Yictor, at Fyriswall, neai Upsala. The progress of Christianity, which G-orm the Old had resisted and disregarded, began now to attract the notice of the ruling power, and was, during the whole reign of Harald Bluetooth, vigorously promoted by Adeldag, who now was invested with the archiepiscopal see of Hamburg. Besides the two churches in Schleswig a,nd Ripen, above mentioned, a third was built in Aarhuus^ sit- uated on the eastern coast of Jutland, and bishoprics were established in said cities. But, although in favor of the A. D., new doctrine, the king would not comply with the 955- exorbitant and undue claims which the German emperor, Otho I., arrogated to himself. The G-erman kings claimed, by virtue of their dignity as Roman empe- 64 mSTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. rors, to be acknowledged the secular head of the whole Ohristian world, as the Pope was the ecclesiastical ; which claim Otho I. realized by giving to those bishoprics above mentioned, immunity and real estates in Den- mark. His successor, Otho 11. , claiming the same, excited the resentment of Harald Bluetooth, who col- lected all his forces, and pitched his camp on the narrow neck of land at Schleswig, to intercept Otho, but a. d., was defeated, the mighty emperor demolishing ^^*- the famous fortification, Dannevirke, and making his way through the country right up to the Lymfiord. A treaty of peace was made, and the king received baptism by Bishop Popo — Otho, the emperor, being sponsor — and the same ceremony was performed on his son, Swen. Bishoprics were now also established in Odensee and in Roeskilde, where Harald Bluetooth erected a splendid church. Odinkar Hvide, a native Dane, commenced now to preach Christianity, and annihilate the pagan worship ; all of which excited the resentment of the heathen party, in front of which went the king's own son, Swen, and his master-in-arms, Palnatoke, a mighty chief from the Danish island Fjunen, who from the depth of his heart was addicted to heathenism, and besides that, . believed to have several personal offences to be avenged upon the king. Harald Bluetooth, however, determined not to be wanting in his duty, raised an army and gave battle to his son, who aspired a. d., to liis father's crown. But the king wa?i defeat- ^^i- HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 65 sd, and shot by the hand of Palnatoke, while ht was walking in a grove near his camp. Before leaving Harald Bluetooth, it ought to be noticed that he removed the royal residence from Leire (Lethra) to Roeskilde, where the Danish kings resided for about five cen- turies, till Copenhagen, during the reign of Christopher of Bavaria, was made the capital. Harald Bluetooth was succeeded by his son Swen, A. D., generally called Swen Splitbeard, from some ^91-1014. peculiarity observed about his beard. He is also sometimes called Swen Otho, in compliment to his god- father, the emperor. Nearly all his time was spent in making expeditions to Norway, Grermany, and England. Notwithstanding Swen Splitbeard and the mighty chief, Palnatoke, above mentioned, had been on a very intimate footing, their good understanding soon ceased ; for the murder committed by Palnatoke on his father, Harald Bluetooth, required vengeance of blood. Palnatoke re- sorted to Jomsburg, a fortress on the Island of Kiigen, on the coast of Pomerania, founded by Harald Bluetooth to maintain the Danish dominion in these regions. Here Palnatoke establi ihed a band of iiorthern Yikings, who, by severe laws, j reserved the ancient warfaring life and manners, and by the name of Jomsvikings, for a long time struck tha whole North with fear. Palnatoke's institutions tended to instil into his Yikings the contempt of life. ''A man," says the chronicle of Iceland, "in order to acquire glory for bravery, should attack a singlo QQ mSTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. enemy, defend himself against two, and not yield to three, but might, without disgrace, fly from four ;" and it was, on the whole, glorious to seek every opportunity of encountering death. Some instances of their savage heroism are recorded which almost exceed belief. In an irruption made by the Jomsburgers into Norway, the invaders were defeated, and a few were taken prisoners. They were sentenced to be beheaded, and this intelli- gence they received with every demonstration of joy. One said : "I suffer death with the greatest pleasure ; I only request that you will cut off my head as quickly as possible. We have often disputed," said he, '' at Joms- burg, whether life remained for any time after the head was cut off: now I shall decide the question. But remem- ber, if so, I shall aim a blow at you with this knife which I hold in my hand. Dispatch," said he, " but do not abuse my long hair, for it is very beautiful." Not till the eleventh century was this piratical stronghold destroyed by Magnus the Grood. The following chief of Jomsburg, the designing Sigvald, by stratagem made Swen Splitbeard, who had taken up arms against him, a prisoner, and compelled him to acknowledge the inde- pendence of Jomsburg and Yenden (all the provinces along the Baltic) ; and Swen was first set at liberty on promising to pay a ransom of twice his own weight, when full armed, in pure gold. The ransom was settled at three payments, but the king's person was confined till the last payment was made, which was raised by HISTORY OP SCANDINAVIA, 67 the generosity of the Danish ladies, who sold their jewels for this purpose. Upon his return he, therefore, ordained that the women should inherit the half of all estates^ real and personal ; although it seems more probable that such an act of benevolence and kindness is to be ascribed to the mild influence of the Grospel, that offers the same rights to both sexes. Swen Splitbeard, thirst- ing for vengeance, induced Sigvald, at a wassail-bout, to undertake a very hazardous expedition against the mighty Hakon Jarl, in Norway, who had shown the same unwillingness to pay tribute to Denmark as his predecessor, Harald Grreyskin ; Swen himself making a vow to wage war against England, which had for some years thrown off her subjection to the throne of Den- mark. The elsewhere almost indomitable Jomsvikings A. D., were totally defeated at Hjorringebay ; Sigvald 99^- himself had to make his escape, and Norway was not subdued. Swen Splitbeard was more success- ful in his expedition against England. The impotent Anglo-Saxon king, Ethelred IL, also called Ethelred the Irresolute, held at this time the supreme authority in that kingdom. Putting all to the fire and sword, wher- ever he went, and treating England with the utmost severity, Swen obliged the English king to acknowledge his superiority, and to get rid of the Danes by pay- ing a large sum of money, called Danegeld. But an important event took place now in the North. The Nor- wegian prince, Olaf Trygveson^ who had been allied to 68 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. Swen in England, left him treacherously for Norway, the throne of which he ascended, after the death of Hakon Jarl, without taking any oath of allegiance tc Swen, who from his ancestors had inherited the sover- eignty over Norway ; and the misunderstanding increased when Olaf, without Swen's consent, married his sister Thyra, who had fled from her hushand, King Burislaw, of Yenden. Add to this, that Sigrid Storraade, Swen Splitbeard's queen, before married to Erik Victor, of Sweden, had been greatly provoked to wrath against Olaf Trygveson, who, when he some years ago had courted her, but without success, had beaten her with a stick, and called her an old hag of threescore and a pagan bitch. She, of course, now urged both her hus- band and her son, Olaf Skotkonung, of Sweden, to ven- geance. Swen Splitbeard, Olaf Skotkonung, and Erik Jarl, a Norwegian prince, who lived at the Danish court, attacked Olaf Trygveson, who with his fleet had gone through Earsound (Oeresund, the small sound between Denmark and Sweden), to Yenden, where hisg^j^g wife was lawfully possessed of some real estates. A. D., A "very bloody sea-battle was fought by Swolder, ^^^^' on the Pomeranian coast. Seldom a more memorable naval engagement has been fought, whether we regard the kings that contended, or the whole kingdom that was in dispute. Olaf Trygveson was, after a most heroic resistance, defeated, and his fleet totally dispersed^ Escaping out of the battle with a few ships, he was so HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 69 closely pursued, that, to avoid the disgrace of being taken prisoner, he precipitated himself into the sea and was drowned. The most renowned heroes of Norway shared in this battle, and the heroic songs of Einar Tam- beskjelver, the great archer, Ulf the Red, and Thorgeir, who all fought as madmen, resound yet among the rocks of old Norway, which was now divided between the three victors, and had to submit to the conditions which they dictated. But while Swen was taken up with settling the affairs of Norway, Ethelred 11. had taken advantage of Swen's absence to perform a dreadful car- A. D., nage among the Danes in England. Informed 1002. of it, Swen immediately appeared in England with a powerful army of the most valiant soldiers, came off victor everywhere, turned Ethelred out, who had to flee to Normandy; and Swen Splitbeard was at his A. D., death an undisputed sovereign of the whole of 1014. England, and with all good reason he was called not only a great warrior and a mighty king, but the most successful ruler of his time. Encomium, Emmo^^ calls Swen ; " omnium sui temjporis regum fortunatissimum.^^ He died February 3d, 1014, in Gainsborough, England, where he o^ this day, on horseback, held court. Suddenly seized with vio- lent convulsions, he expired in the evening. The old legends tell that the holy Edmund^ the tutelar saint of England, killed him, because he had ventured * See Langebek, Script. II., p. 474. 70 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. to deny Edmund's saintsliip. Etlielred, exasperated on account of Swen's victory, caused the closest inves- tigations to be made in order to find the royal corpse and mangle it ; but an English woman of high rank, probably of Danish extraction, had concealed it, and was fortunate enough to be able, unnoticed, to convey it to Denmark, where it was interred in the same Trinity church in the city of Eoeskilde, in which his royal father, Harold Bluetooth, 23 years before, had been entombed. In the beginning of his reign, he per- secuted the Christian doctrine ; but, before he expired, he began to perceive the folly he had committed, in persecuting the faith in which he had been baptized and instructed. Afterwards, in prevailing upon the people to receive the light of the Gospel, he was aided by Poj[>Oy a German bishop of great piety and elo- quence, who, by dint of example and persuasion, brought about what the king's authority could not effect. Several miracles are related of this prelate ; and, indeed, he was possessed of the happy talent of impressing the people with whatever notions he thought fit ; in which alone, of course, consisted his supernatural powers. A see was given to Popo, with power to preside over the Danish clergy ; while, at the same time, he was suffragan of Adeldag, Archbishop of Hamburg. During the reign of Swen, and already long before, the Danes, being then nothing but a set of pirates, had HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 71 mercilessly pillaged and ravaged Ireland. At length Brian Boromhe^ the great monarch of Ireland, arose, defeated the Danes in twenty-five engagements, and at the battle of Glontarf^ Good Friday, April 23d, 1014, totally routed them, but the valiant king sealed Ireland's liberty with his blood. The annals of Inis- f alien give an interesting account of Brian's address to his forces immediately before this memorable battle. He rode through the ranks in the twilight of morning, accompanied by his son Morrogh^ who also fell, reminded the troops of the bloody sacrifice which was commemorated on Good Friday ; and, holding up the crucifix in his left hand, and his golden-hilted sword in the right, declared that he was willing to die in so just and honorable a cause. Thomas Moore, the gifted Irish poet, thus writes : " From Irish shores forever was swept that day the Dane — But the old king and his valiant son were numbered with the slain." It is told, that before this battle the brave king, Brian, at the midhour of the night, saw a vision, as he slumbered, and that a woman, pale but beautiful, thus spoke to the sleeper : " King ! unto thee 'tis given to triumph o'er the Dane — To drive his routed army forth unto the northern main ; But the palace of thy fathers, thoufshalt never see again, Thou, and the son thou lovest, shall sleep among the slain." 72 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. Such was the end of the Danish tyranny, which Ire- land had for a long period endured. Indeed, the victory which was gained was dearly bought; nevertheless, freedom was exchanged for servitude and oppression, and loud joy resounded throughout the Emerald Isle. Swen Splitbeard had two sons, Harald and Canute ; and the Danish historian, Meursius, says, "that Harald, by right of primogeniture, succeeded his father to the throne of Denmark, while Canute, who at Swen's death lived in England, was elected King of the Danes there." But the Englishmen, taking advantage of Canute's youth, threw off the subjection they had promised his father, Swen Splitbeard, and called the fugitive Ethelred 11. back from Normandy, and a general insurrection broke out. After having ordered the tongues and ears of the English hostages to be cut off, and, on the whole, shown an inflexible severity, Canute repaired to Den- mark, where he brought together a numerous host of brave soldiers, and a well-manned fleet, with whibh he went back to England, accompanied by Erik Jarl, from Norway, Thorkel the High, and Ulf Jarl, who after- wards married Canute's sister, Estrith. He met with the English fleet, commanded by King Ethelred in per- son, whom he defeated after a sharp engagement. The valiant Edmund Ironside^ who had succeeded his father Ethelred on the throne of England, was forced a. d., to yield the half of England to Canute. But a ioi7. month after, Edmund Ironside was treacherously killed mSTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 73 by his "brother-in-law, Edrik Streon, whereupon Canute was acknowledged king of the whole of England. The first measure of Canute was now to seize Edmund's two sons, whom he sent to his ally, the King of Sweden, Anund Jacoh, with the request that they might be put to death. Humanity, however, induced the Swedish monarch to spare theu' lives and send them into Hun- gary. Canute, now ruler of England, tried to make himself both beloved and esteemed there ; he reigned with great judiciousness, paid respect to the privileges of the native people, and raised them to the highest offices ; advanced commerce and literature, and courted, in a particular manner, the favor of the Church, by munificent donations, and by presenting monasteries with rich gifts ; and he has, indeed, much better title to saintship than many of those who adorn the Roman calendar. To make himself yet more popular, he wisely married the virtuous Emma of Normandy, the queen- dowa^er of Ethelred, whom the English people loved dearly. But while he thus tried to make himself popular, and provide for the welfare of the State, his despotism and cruelty were often insupportable, and those whose influence seemed pernicious to him, he was not scrupulous in putting out of the way. Thus he caused Edrik Streon and Thorkel the High to be killed ; the fost of whom was invested with Mercia, the latter with East Anglia, as absolute fiefs. To confirm his power, and perform the conquests he had in view, he 74 mSTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. established a standing army, called the Tliingmannalid^ consisting of the most famous warriors ; and, on account of the sumptuous armor they had to wear, containing only the richest and most conspicuous. To this army he gave a peculiar law, called the Vitherlagslaw^ which for a long time enjoyed a great credit in Europe. His brother Harald, King of Denmark, died after a reign of four years. "Weak from his infancy, he a, d,, was little able to rule, and his profligacy, entire ^ois. contempt of decency and morality, rendered him odious to his subjects. Nothing need be said of him but that he reigned four years ; whereupon Canute, generally called Canute the Great^ was unanimously chosen to succeed him on the Danish throne, which thus, after an interval of only four years, was reunited with England ; which, superior to Denmark in refinement, arts, trade, and agriculture, long exercised a beneficial influence upon the Danish kingdom. To Canute the G-reat has Denmark to ascribe the complete introduction of Phris- tianity ; for under him the last vestiges of the pagan worship were destroyed, its idols overthrown, its altars demolished, and its temples closed ; and Christianity has since prevailed in Denmark, and formed the great bond of the social happiness, and the great source of the intellectual eminence which this remote quarter of the globe now so richly enjoys. Many English clergymen migrated in this period to Denmark. English clergy- men were mostly invested with the Danish bishoprics ; mSTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 75 and, on tlie whole, Canute considered England the main realm, and resided there. But he deserved well, also, of Denmark, by bringing a great portion of Yenden under subjection, and subduing the formidable Yendish pirates. About the same time Christianity was intro- duced into Sweden, under Olaf Skotkonung^ who was baptized by an English clergyman, Sigfrid ; and into Norway, under Olaf the Pious, who, with three hun- dred brave men, traveled round and destroyed the hea- tlien idols. Before relating Canute's last expedition to Norway, his exploits there, and his end, it may be noticed that he, like most royal persons in the period under oonsider- A. D., ation, made a pilgrimage to Rome, to pay, in 1^26. that sacred city, his devotion to the relics of some deceased saint, and obtain from the Pope remis- sion of his sins. While in Rome he established, by assent of the Pope, a caravansary for Scandinavian pil- grims ; procuring his subjects, also, on the same occa- sion, several commercial privileges. Upon his journey to Rome he chanced to meet with the Grerman Emperor, Conrad II., whom he induced to renounce his claims to the Margraviate of Schleswig, founded by Henry the Fowler, and a marriage was stipulated between Can- ute's daughter, Gunhilda, and Conrad's son, Henry. About this time, or a little before, the Scandinavians began to make discoveries in the North and "West. The Faroe islands had been discovered a+ the latter end of 76 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. the ninth century, ty some Scandinavian pirates, and soon after this, Iceland was colonized by the Norwegians. The Icelandic chronicles also relate, that the Norsemen discovered a great country to the West of Ireland; and it seems, indeed, very clear that they made their way to Grreenland, in the end of the tenth century — and they are thus the very first discoverers of America. The settlement made in Greenland, though comprising only a small population, seems to have been very prosperous in mercantile affairs. They had bishops and priests from Europe, and paid the Pope, as an annual tribute, 2,600 pounds of walrus teeth as tithe and Peter's pence. But the art of navigation must have been at a very low pitch, for the voyage from Grreenland to Iceland and Norway, and back again, consumed five years ; and upon one occasion, the Grovernment of Norway did not hear of the death of the Bishop of Grreenland until six years after it had occurred. Unfortunately, the Norse- men forgot too soon the navigation thither ; and their discoveries have, therefore, not derogated from that immortal renown, which Columbus, five centuries later, acquired. But the discovery of America by the Northmen, in the tenth and eleventh centuries, is of so great interest and importance to American antiquity, that I must dwell a little upon this subject. The great antiquarian of Copenhagen, Prof. C. Eafn, has investigated deeply upon the subject, and his tacts and assumptions resf HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 77 mainly on the authority of ancient Icelandic manu- scripts, which doubtless are authentic. Iceland was discovered in 863, by the Dane Garder^ who was of Swedish extraction. Only a few out places of this distant island had been visited previously by Irish hermits. Eleven years subsequently, thus relates Rafn, a Norwegian, Ingolf, began the colonization of the island ; the colonists established in Iceland a flourishing re- public, where the Old-Danish, or Old-Northern language was preserved unchanged for centuries, and Iceland became the cradle of a Northern historical literature, of immense value. The location of this remarkable island compelled its inhabitants to exercise and develop their hereditary maritime skill, and thirst for new discoveries across the vast ocean. The talented American, W Grilmore Simms, of South Carolina, rightfully remarks, that it is in favor of the Icelandic Sagas, that they do not seem to have been written to assert any claim of discovery. The very first of these old documents, to which I will request the reader's attention, is the Saga of Bjarne Herjulfson. This bold navigator was preceded by Erik the Red, by whom Greenland was discovered in 983, and who, three, years afterwards, by means of Icelandic emigrants, established the first colony on its southwestern shore, where, in 1124, the Bishop's see of Gardar was founded, which subsisted for more than 300 years. The head firths or bays were named after the chiefs of the expedition. Erik the Red settled in 78 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. Ericksfirth, Einar, RafUy and Ketil in the firths called after them, and Herjulf on Herjulfness. On a voyage from Iceland to Greenland, this same year (986), Bjarne Herjulfton^ a son of Herjulf, was driven far out to sea, towards the southwest, and for the first time beheld the coasts of the American lands, afterwards visited and named by his countrymen. In order to examine these countries more narrowly, Leif the Fortunate^ son of Erik the Red, undertook a voyage thither in the year 1000, from which his father was discouraged by an omen. His son, Leif, however, was not discouraged. With thirty-five hardy men, he landed on the shores described by Bjarne, detailed the character of these lands more exactly, and named them according to their appearance Jlelluland (Newfoundland) was so called from its flat stones, Hella signifying a flat stone; Markland (NoYai Scotia), from its woods ; Markland, that is woodland, and Vineland (New England) from its vines. It is therefore wrong, when some historians tell, that Grreen- land was called Yineland by the Northmen, hardly any vines being found there. Here in Yineland (New Eng- land), Leif the Fortunate remained for some time, and constructed large houses, called after him Leifbudis (Leif's booths). A Grerman, named Tyrker, who accom- panied Leif on this voyage was the man who found the wild vines, which he recognized from having seen them in his own land, and he gave the country its name from this circumstance. He departed then in the spring HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 79 for his native country, where the intelligence of his discovery created great sensation. Two years after- wards, Leif's brother, Thorwald^ pursued the adventure thither, and in 1003, caused an expedition to be under- taken to the South, along the shore, but was killed, in the summer of 1004, on a voyage northwards, in an encounter with the natives. "I have gotten a wound under the arm," says the brave fellow to his comrades, "and it will prove a mortal wound to me. Now get ye ready to depart instantly, and bear me to that cape where I thought it pleasant to dwell. There shall ye bury me, and set up crosses at my head and feet, and call the place Krossaness for all time to come." The cape where he was buried is supposed to be Cape or Point Aldeston, not far from the Pilgrim city, Plymouth, State of Massa- chusetts, where the fearless Thorwald, shortly before his sad termination of life, chiseled in Runes the exploits of his gallant crew. But among the most interesting of the Sagas at this period, is that of Thorfinn Karlsefne. The word Karl- sefne signifies " a man destined to become great," He is the most distinguished of all the first American discoverers. He was an Icelandic merchant, whose genealogy is carried back in the Old-Northern annals to Danish, Norwegian, Scottish, and Irish ancestors, some of them even of royal blood. In 1006, this chief, on a merchant voyage, visited Greenland, and married there Gudridj the widow of Thorstein (a third son of Erik the 80 HISTORY OP SCANDINAVIA. Red), who had died the year before, in an unsuccessful expedition thither. Accompanied by his wife, and by a crew of 160 men, on board three vessels, he repaired in the spring of 1007 to Yineland, where he remained for three years, and had many communications with the aborigines. Here his wife Gudrid bore him a son, called Snorre, who was the very first child of European parents born in America, and became the founder of an illus- trious family in Iceland, which gave that island several of its first Bishops. But the birth of this child is remarkable for another reason, for up to this child the great Danish sculptor, Albert Thorwaldsen, traces his lineage, along with that of many other eminent Scan- dinavians. The notices given by this illustrious navigator, Thor- finn Karlsefne, and, on the whole, by the old Icelandic voyager chroniclers respecting the climate, the soil, and the productions of this new country, are very character- istic, and correspond with the language of less question- able narrators, five hundred years later. Nay, we hava even a statement of this kind as old as the eleventh cen- tury from a writer, not a Northman, Adam of Bremen, who states, on the authority of the learned king of Den- mark, Sven Estridson, a nephew of Canute the Grreat, that the country got its name from the vine growing wild there ; and it is a remarkable coincidence in this respect, that its English re-discoverers, from the same reason, name the large island, which is close off the coast, Mar^ HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 81 tha's Vineyard. Spontaneously growing wheat (maize or Indian corn) was also found there. Upon the whole, it is the total result of the nautical, geographical, and astronomical evidences, in the origi- nal documents, which places the location of the countries discovered, heyond all doubt. The number of days' sail between the several newly-found lands, the striking description of the coasts, especially the white, sand-banks of Nova Scotia, and the long beaches and downs of a peculiar appearance on Cape Cod, are not to be mistaken, and cannot but open our eyes with interest. In addi- tion hereto we have the astronomical remark that the shortest day in Yineland (New England) was nine hours long, which fixes the latitude of 41^ 24^ 10'^, or just that of the promontories, which limit the entrances to Mount Hope Bay, where Leif's booths, above mentioned, were built, and in the district around where the old North- men had their head establishment, which was named by them Hop. The Northmen were, also, according to Prof. Rafn, acquainted with American land still farther to the South, called by them Hvitramannaland (the land of the White Men) or Irland it Mikla (Grreat Ireland). The exact location of this country has not been stated ; it was prob- ably, says Rafn, North and South Carolina, Greorgia and Florida. In 1266, some priests at G-ardar, in Grreenland, did also set on foot a voyage of discovery to the arctic regions of America, and an astronomical observation S2 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. proves, that this took place through Lancaster Sound and Barrow's Strait, to the latitude of Wellington's channel. The last memorandum supplied hy the old Icelandic records, is a voyage from Greenland to Markland (Nova Scotia) in 1347. Thus the claim that the Northmen were the very first discoverers of America, seems to be placed on good foundation, and it is embodied in the able and elaborate work of Professor C, Eafn, of the Royal Danish Society of Northern Antiquities. However, this does not, I may be allowed to repeat it, lessen the great merits of Co- lumbus, nor have I referred to it for this purpose ; but we ought, nevertheless, not to forget, that Columbus visited the Danish island, Iceland, in 1477, had access to the archives there, and must, doubtless, have heard of the former discoveries of its roving sea-chiefs. Be, there- fore, not ashamed, Americans, of claiming the old North- men, who sailed forth in swarms from their northern hives, as your earliest ancestors. Your lineage is, in the main, Anglo-Saxon, with a large infusion of Scandina- vian blood. And permit me to say, that when you trace your parent stock, through the kindred tribes of Angles, Saxons, Normans, and Danes, up to those hardy mari- ners, whose prows first saluted the American shores, you may boast of an exalted and heroic lineage. And I still dare to pit that race, both here and in England, for all that constitutes individual and national prowess, against any other on Grod's green earth. Try them yet, man to HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 83 man, on sea or shore, in peace or war, and they will work out an ultimate and lasting triumph. They are not lag- gards in peace, not dastards in war. On a visit to Plymouth, Massachusetts, while the seventh edition of this work was in process of being printed, all the exploits of the bold Northmen crowded upon my memory, Calliope me inspiravit, and I penciled down the following humble and unpretending lines, which I may be allowed to cite : — Each circling year its darkness casts Over the dim and shadowy past : Those kings who ruled with iron hand O'er many a broad and fertile land, Those crested chiefs, whose dauntless might Turned the fierce tide of many a fight, Those poets, who, untaught by art. Could rouse, or soothe, or melt the heart, Sleep half remembered and alone — Their deeds, their names, are almost gone; And o'er their fame gray Time has flung His mantle, as he passed along. Yet still some glorious deeds remain Of Norseman bold and fiery Dane ; Those wild, fierce rovers, proud and free, Those daring wanderers of the sea. Well earned the name their Sagas gave Of Vikings, monarchs of the wave. Long ere Columbus dared to brave The dangers of the Western wave, Their keels had grated on the strand That binds New England's rocky land; Red Erik's hardy sons had seen Her broad blue streams and forests green ; And where the Pilgrim city stands, Bold Thorwald and his fearless band Shook with their rugged oars the brine, Plucked the thick clusters of the vine. 84 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. And laid their huge, strong limbs to rest Beneath the wild woods of the West. No shore to which the Northmen came But kept some token of their fame ; On the rough surface of a rock, Unmoved by time or tempest's shock, In Runic letters, Thorwald drew A record of his gallant crew; And those rude letters still are shown, Deep chiseled in the flinty stone. But also with the east had the Northmen connection. The same age which saw the bearded Yikings, the Grrim-visaged Sea-Kings of the North discovering Iceland and America in the far West, beheld them also in the East, and with extraordinary energy. Summoned thither from the Scandinavian North, the old Russian historian, Nestor^ assures us, that under the name of Yariago-E-ussians thev established the Russian Empire in 862, and for more than a century exercised great influence on its affairs, both internal and external. The correctness of this statement by Nestor, and the important part played by the Scandinavian Russians, in the first period of that power, becomes evident at once from the names borne by the historical actors themselves, almost all of which belong to the Old-Danish or Old-Northern language, and are recognized in the Northern Sagas and Runographic monuments. The men " of the Russian nation" sent by Oleg in 907 and 911, as embassadors to Constantinople, were all Northmen ; and Lmtprand^ Bishop of Cremona, who, in 968, visited Constantinople, expressly asserts fflSTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 85 that the people whom the Greeks called Russians, were the same nation as those named Northmen. These Northmen, Danes, Swedes, Norwegians, and some Eng- lish, flocked, usually, there by land, through the Rus- sian territory, and took service in Constantinople in the Imperial life-guard, under the name of Yarangers. A remarkable confirmation of the statement made by Nestor, would be afforded, if we could, says Prof. Rafn, venture to assume that the name Igvar^ occurring on several Swedish Runic stones, is the Russian crown- prince Igor. Sixty Runic monuments have been care- fully examined ; twelve of these inscriptions speak of an Igvar, and are carved in memory of men who had taken part in his expedition (i faru med Igvari), some of them even as ship-commanders. To return to Canute the Grreat. "While he tarried in Rome, Olaf the Pious, of Norway, and Anund Jacob, ol Sweden, availed themselves of Canute's absence to fall upon Denmark, both of them fearing liis increasing power, and being angry because Norwegian mutineers had found an asylum at the Danish Court. The united kings making great progress, Ulf Jarl, v^ho was mar- ried to Estrith, a sister to Canute, and appointed lieu- tenant-governor under the king's absence, deemed it necessary for the country to have a head, and prevailed upon the people to elect the crown prince, Hardi Canute, king. Canute informed of this, in his opinion, arbitrary conduct, hastened home, but though highly HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. angered with TJlf, he delayed his vengeance till the A. D., enemies were driven away. A battle was fought 1027. "by Helgebrook in Skane, where Canute himself would have perished, had it not been for TJlf 's aid. But even this could not appease the exasperated king, who, under pretence of friendship, invited him to a drinking- bout in Roeskilde. They played at chess together. The king making a wrong move, would undo it, but Ulf Jarl being angry, upset the chess-board, and left, ''Dost thou now fly, thou cowardly Ulf?" cried the king. " Thou didst not call me cowardly," answered Ulf, " when the Danes, by Helgebrook, like dogs, betook to their heels, and I saved thy life." The king, yet more irritated at this answer, caused Ulf to be killed in the cathedral of Roeskilde, to which he thereafter gave a whole county as a propitiatory sacrifice for his crime. Canute now put himself at the head of a brave body of men, sailed with a mighty fleet to Norway, and com- pelled Olaf the Pious to fly to Grarderige (Russia). Olaf, however, shortly after reappearing, attempted to regain his kingdom, but fell in the battle at a. d., Stiklestad^ close by Trondhjem. Canute the i^^^- Grreat was now the most formidable potentate perhaps in Europe. Denmark, England, Norway, South Scot- land, and a great part of Yenden were tributary to him, and his alliance was courted by the greatest monarchs, Canute, who had three sons, now appointed his son Swen viceroy of Norway, but he despised the Nor HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 87 wegians to such a degree, that they dethroned him, and placed Magnus the Good, a son of Olaf the Pious, upon his father's throne. Thus Canute's mighty realm a. d., began already to be dissolved, when death sud- i^^^- denly terminated his, in many respects, so glorious life History has surnamed him the Great. He was success- ful in his wars, and bore the sceptre with prudence and judiciousness, but not ahvays with justice. He was very much dazzled by ambition, vanity being his be- setting sin, so that he even threatened a Skald with death for not having magnified him sufficiently in a poem. The poor Skald had to compose another one, in which he then told that Canute ruled the world with the same omnipotence as God does heaven, and with this flattery he was pleased. Undeniably, in direct op- position to this vain glory, is the well known tale of his rebuking the adulation of his courtiers by ordering his chair of state to be carried below high-water mark, on the English coast, and showing them that the flowing tide would not recede at his royal behest. Canute the Great died, only forty years old, in. Shaftesbury, England, liovember 11th, 1035, after having for some time suffered from an incurable dis- ease. Though a Dane, both by birth and education, and a son of Swen, whom the tutelar saint of England, according to the legends, had killed, the English people would by no means consent to his corpse being sent to Denmark for interment ; but, from a feeling 88 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. of esteem for his greatness, and of gratitude for his many beneficent acts, they wished to give his earthly remains a resting-place in England. Accordingly, the corpse was, with great solemnity, interred in the very heart of Wessex, a province formerly so hostile to the Danes, in the city of Winchester^ in the monastery of St. Peter. Hence it was afterwards brought to the Cathedral, where the old Saxon kings had their mausoleum. The lid of the coffin is adorned by a gilded crown and a brief Latin inscription, still to be seen. All eyes of the Danish people were now bent upon Hardi-Canute^ the eldest son of Canute the Great, and the crown was placed on his head, while Harold Hare- foot (nimble-footed as a hare) ascended the throne of England. Hardi-Canute has obtained the appellation Hardy, from the valorous actions he performed in Eussia, when his father sent him thither in pursuit of Olaf, king of ]^orway. After his accession to the Danish throne, he immediately prepared to regain Norway, and met Magnus the Good by Gota-Elf, where A. D., hoth armies were ready for battle, when the 1038. difference unexpectedly was composed by a com- pact, that each should keep his kingdom until his death, but the survivor inherit both kingdoms. After a short reign, died Harold Harefoot, in Oxford, March 2Tth, 1039, and was buried in Westminster, London, and Hardi-Canute, by his mother Emma acquainted with HISTORY OF SCANDINAYIA. 89 his brother's death, now united England with Den- A. D., mark without any opposition. Exasperated ^^^2- upon his defunct brother, because he had so long prevented him from ascending the throne, he began his reign with taking vengeance upon his corpse, which he caused to be dug up of the sepulchre, in Westminster, and to be cast into the river Thames. However, it was again found, recognized bj some fishermen, and solemnly brought to the church in London, called St. Clemens Danes [Ecclesia sancti dementis Danorum.] After a violent administration of three years he died, to the great comfort of his Eng- lish subjects, who now seized the opportunity of shak- ing off the Danish yoke. Hardi-Canute was greatly addicted to sensual enjoyments, and partook too freely of intoxicating liquors, which was the cause of his early death. At a wedding between Gyda, a daugh- ter of the renowned Danish chieftain, Osgod Clapa, and the mighty Dane, Tovi Pruda, he emptied so many horns in honor of the bride, that he suddenly fell on the floor, and breathed out his last gasp. He was buried in Winchester, in the same cathedral where Canute the Great, his illustrious father, rests. The union of Denmark and England was broken, England electing Edward Confessor^ son of Ethelred, as king, and the Danes making no attempt to resist the voice of the nation. Since that time the kings of Denmark have never ruled England, although several attempts were afterwards made. 90 inSTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. IL 1042—1157. Magnus the Good — Swen Estrithson — Expedition to England — ^Ecclesiastical Affairs — Canute the Pious — Expedition again against England — Eric the Good — Expedition to Venden — Canonization of Canute the Pious — Canute Lavard — Nicholas — Civil war between Swen Giathe, Canute Magnusson and Waldemar — ^Frederick Barbarossa— Battle on Grathe-heath, m Jut- land. On the death of Hardi-Canute, Denmark and Norway- were, according to the agreement of Gota-Elf, united under Magnus the Good. The male lineage of the royal family of Denmark was extinct, hut a descendant in the female line, Swen Estrithson, a son of Ulf Jarl and Estrith, sister to Canute the Grreat, was yet alive. He put in his claim to the throne, and had the address to gain over a great numher of the Danish nobility to his interest. The Danes, who lately had ruled so many people, would reluctantly be subject to Norway, and Swen Estrithson, therefore, found no difficulty in being elected king of Denmark, and consequently a war broke out between him and Magnus the Grood. Swen equipped a fleet in Jutland, gave battle to Magnus, but was routed, being forced to take shelter in the island of Fjunen. Here he refitted, and ventured upon another engagement, which terminated as unsuccessfully as the former. His whole fleet was dispersed, and he himself obliged to flee to Anund Jacob, of Sweden, for refuge. Of these disburbances the Venders took advantage, mSTORY OP SCANDINAVIA. 91 making desolating invasions, overrunning the coasts of Jutland, and laying vi^aste all the country through which they passed. But Magnus, neither wearied nor daunted, raised an army, gave them battle by Lyrskow^ in Schleswig, and conquered these barbarians, though su- perior in numbers. After this memorable combat, the war between Magnus and Swen was renewed, and the latter was about to give up all hope of the crown of A. D., Denmark, just as Magnus the Good died. The 1047. Norwegians separated now from Denmark, elect- ing Harald the Hardy ^ a half-brother of Olaf the Pious, their king ; and the Danes called Swen Estrithson to the Danish throne, to which he by blood was the nearest heir. Upon the whole, highly beloved for his pleasing =\ddress, and captivating manners, and very much es- teemed for his learning, his re-appearance in Denmark was hailed with general joy. But, far from finding the throne a bed of roses, he had for seventeen years to stand up for his kingdom against the warlike Nor- wegian king, Harald the Hardy ^ who had lived a great number of years in exile, been hardened by military service in Constantinople, and was of a most invincible courage. He now laid claim to Denmark. Siven A.D., Estrithson^ though often totally defeated, and 1062. even, in the bloody battle at Nisaa, in Halland, in danger of life, kept up an unshaken spirit, and when he had no reason to expect it, Providence wrought a happy change in his situation. The civil divisions in 92 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. England had roused Harald the Hardy's amhition to sxtend his conquests and influence, and he resolved upon an expedition to England in order to assist Teste against his brother Harald Grodvinson, v^ho had ascended the throne of England, by the title of Harold H. A battle was fought at Standford-brid^e^ where both Teste and the Norwegian king, Harald the Hardy, were killed, by which means Swen Estrithson recovered the peaceable possession of all his Danish dominions. But the death of Harold H., of England, who was a. D., slain in the memorable battle at Hastings, fought i^^e. with William of Normandy, called the Conqueror, furnished Swen Estrithson with an opportunity of put- ting in his claim to the crown of England, as the only remaining descendant of Canute the Grreat. He made two expeditions to England, but both of them fell short of success, and "William the Conqueror brought all England under his control. Besides his many excellent qualities, which entitled him to honor, Swen Estrithson merits, particularly by his care for ecclesiastical affairs, the greatest gratitude of the whole Danish nation. To the five bishoprics already established, he added four : Wiborg and Borg- lum in Jutland, and Lund and Dalby in Skane, in order the more easily to prevail upon the Pope to erect an archbishopric in Denmark, and tlius make the north- ern church free from any dependence on the foreign archbishopric of Hamburg, the pressure of which Swen HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 93 himself had felt to such a degree, that the Hamburgish archhishop, Adelbert, under the menace of excommu- nication, constrained him to part with his queen, Jutta, because she was a step-daughter to his first wife. Negotiating with several Popes concerning this important matter, he died before it was settled. The number of churches was, under his reign, considerably increased. There were three hundred in Skane, one hundred and fifty in Sjelland, and one hundred in Fjunen. The authority of the Church, to which the king in the case above mentioned had to submit, was, however, often of great weight in restraining rudeness, cruelty and transgression of law. Thus, for instance, when the king had ordered some of his guests, who at a merry compotation had used abusive language about him, to be killed the next morning in the cathedral of Eoeskilde, and he thereafter would enter the church to attend his devotion, the entrance was forbidden him by Bishop William, who excommunicated him, (the very first case of ban in the North) ; and after he had first, as a contrite sinner, put on sack-cloth and asked remis- sion of his crime, the absolution was pronounced by the bishop. A few years before Swen Estrithson's death, the Venders occupying the coast of the Baltic right from Denmark up to the Grulf of Finland, called Vagrers in Holstein, Obotriters in Mecklenburg, Wilzers as far as Oder River, Curlanders, Liflanders and Esthonians, had again revolted, leveled all the churches with the 94 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. ground, pillaged the City of Schleswig, and, in derision, broken the crucifixes which mistaken piety had erected. But the greatest insult to the king was the manner in which they treated his sister, Syrith.^ whom they stripped naked, and in that condition sent to Denmark. - He immediately raised an army to revenge these in- juries, hut had to drop his resolution, the Venders being too superior in numbers ; and for upwards of one hun- dred and fifty years the desolating piracies of these barbarians continued, till at length the great Waldemar learned how to bring them under due subjection. Swen Estrithson was a man of letters ; he loved the cultivation of the mind and the conversation of the wise, and corresponded in Latin with the enlightened Pope Grregorius YII. (Hildebrand) ; and he was so well versed in the history of the North, as to be able to communi- cate to the learned Adam of 'Bremen important informa- tion, which he used in his description of Denmark. (Descriptio Adami Bremensis.) The clergy, in whom Swen Estrithson had taken so great interest, have ex- tolled the character of the king as the most pious and merciful monarch that ever filled the throne of Den- mark, although his incontinence was so great, that of thirteen sons he left behind him not one was legitimate, and, what is more, he had polluted the house of Grod by the cruel murder of several of his nobility. On his death, in Jutland, his son, Canute, was employed a. d., in quelling a rebellion, which appeared in Es- ^o^^- HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 95 thonia, while Harald Hein^ his eldest son, was elected king, after warm disputes about the succession. The election of the king always took place, at that time, at a general diet (Danehof ), usually held in Sjelland hy lise Fjord, or in Wiborg in Jutland. The king elected here traveled thereafter round to receive a special homage in the provincial courts, in Skane on Sliparehog near Lund, in Jutland close by Wiborg^ in Sjelland by Ringsted, and in South Jutland (Schleswig) on Urne- head. Five of Swen Estrithson's children successively arrived at the dignity of the crown : an instance, per- haps, not to be equaled in history. Harald Hein, the eldest one, reigned with clemency, unengaged in any hostilities ; but being somewhat unprincipled and weak, he was surnamed Hein (i. e., a soft stone). His short reign, however, is remarKaoie m reference to an im- portant alteration in the legal procedure. Formerly, persons who were accused of crime had to prove their innocence either by duel or fi7'e ordeal, the latter of which being considered an immediate judgment from God, and consisting in that he who was charged with a crime had to take in his hand a piece of red-hot iron, or to walk barefoot and blindfold over nine red-hot plow- shares. If the person escaped unhurt, he was declared innocent, otherwise he was condemned as guilty. But Harald Hein passed a law, by which criminals, where positive evidence was wanting, should be allowed to 111 ear themselves by an oath, when certain impartial persons, called arbitrators* swore that they felt convinced * This was the beginning of the jury system, for it is from Scandinavia that trial by jury entirely unknown to the Saxons, was introduced into England. yO HISTOR :' OF SCANDINAVIi that the acou3ed had told the truth This law was received with universal approbation. But, before proceeding farther, I must give a brief explanation of trial by ordeal, which so long prevailed among the Scandinavians and Saxons. The word ordeal is from the Anglo-Saxon : Ordeal, signifying magnum judicium, i. e.^ great judgment. The Ger- man word urtheil^ i. ^., judgment, is apparently the same word. Purgation by ordeal, of some one kind or other, is very ancient, and that it was very universal in the times of superstitious barbarity, admits not of a doubt. It was known to the ancient Greeks ; for in the tragedy of Sophodes, entitled Antigone^ verse 270, a person suspected by Creon of a misdemeanor de- clares himself ready to handle hot iron and to walk over fire, in order to manifest his innocence. The ordeal, or appeal to the judgment of God, was a solemn ceremony, but open to a great deal of trickery and misuse, and to a great deal of priestly corruption. Although adopted by Christians, it has never been proved that it received papal authority. The only mention of any approach toward ecclesiastical sanc- tion of this superstitious and blasphemous practice occurs in the ninth century, when the Council of Mentz enjoined the ordeal of the ploughshare on sus- pected slaves. Stephen V., the Pope, however, wrote to the bishop of Mentz, and condemned it ; and the Pope, Alexmider II., absolutely forbade it, quoting the words of Christ: '^ ]Vo?i tentabis Dominum Deurn tuum^'' i. e., Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. HISTOEY OF SCANDINAVIA. 97 A criminalj who wished to avail himself of this method of purgation, had to give three days' notice to the priest, during which time he was to attend Mass, and to live only on bread, water and herbs. On the day of trial he received the Eucharist, and swore upon the four Gospels, that he was innocent. In the case of carrying hot iron, a space was measured out nine times the length of the party's foot ; then, when the required heat had been reached, two outsiders were admitted, one for the accuser, and one for the accused, as witnesses to the fact ; then twelve others, as spectators of the ceremony. Holy water was sprinkled upon all of them, and a short service read. The iron was then removed from the fire, and placed upon a supporter at the end of the distance measured out. The hand of the accused was then sprinkled with holy water, when he walked to the spot, took up the hot iron, carried it one-third of the distance, threw it down, ran up to the altar, where the priest bound up the scorched limb and sealed it. On the third day after this ceremony the bandage was removed, and if the hand was healed, the accused was acquitted of the charge; if not, he was pronounced guilty. There were, however, many forms of ordeal. The accused might be required to remove a heavy substance, with his naked arm, from boiling water, or to walk, bare- footed, over red-hot ploughshares ; but, in all cases, the ceremony was conducted with the same solemnity. This detestable trial by ordeal Harald Hein abolished in Denmark. In England it lingered long after it had 98 HISTORY OF SCAJSTDINAVIA. disappeared from the judicial systems of most other European nations. On the death of Harald Hein, Canute the Pious, his brother, was recalled from Esthonia, and ap- a. d., pointed his successor. He was, at this time of i^^^^- ignorance and selfishness, highly eminent for the honest}? and glory of his actions ; pious in peace, brave in battle, an able ruler, and above the usual temptations of lust, luxury, and avarice, except the thirst of sove- reign power and of extending his territories ; which, after he had quelled the rebellion in Esthonia, led him to embark once more in war, and attempt the recovery of England, the great jewel in the eyes of the Danish kings. Taking measures to ingratiate himself with his father-in-law, Robert, Earl of Flanders, and with his brother-in-law, Olaf Kyrre^ King of Norway, he equipped by their aid a great fleet of a thousand ships in the Lymfiord, and raised an army with all possible expedition. But while the fleet and army were waiting at the appointed rendezvous, until Canute had appointed regents to govern the kingdom in his absence, William the Conqueror, anxious to turn ofl" this imminent danger, had bribed the commanders-in-chief, and Olaf, the king's own brother, joined the bribery. The fleet separated, and Canute the Pious had to postpone his expedition to England. Olaf was brought, bound in chains, to the king. Canute, not wishing to pollute his * Kyrre, the Peaceable, because he loyed peace, and waged no wai during the twenty-one years of his reign. HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 9g hand with his brother's blood, sent him to his father-in- law, the Earl of Flanders, requesting him to watch Ola I so narrowly as to prevent his return to Denmark. On the bribed commanders-in-chief heavy penalties were inflicted ; which, however, being called in too arbitrarily and despotically, occasioned a sedition in Vendsyssel (a county in Northern Jutland), which soon spread over the whole of Jutland. Canute the Pious, who, moreover, from the time he had granted the tithe to the clergy, had wholly alienated the minds of the people from him, had to escape to the Island of Fjunen, whither the rebels A. D., pursued him, and killed him in St. Alban's 1086. church of Odensee, while kneeling before tho altar. His queen, Edela, fled with her little son, Charles, afterwards called Charles the Dane, to her father, in Flanders (Belgium). Both he and his grand- father were concerned in the great Crusades. Canute the Pious was not only pious, but also keen and active, and a gi-ave and vigorous king. He punished with inflexible severity, and without respect of persons, every transgression of law, and employed all his efforts to root out all residue of rudeness of antiquity, espe- cially the horrible piracy. Egil Rag'narson, a chief on Bornholm, an island in the Baltic, who was found guilty of this crime, was hung without mercy. To promote the culture of the country, he showed foreigners who settled in Denmark all possible benevolence and protec- tion. He took a particular care to diminish the vast 100 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. gulf that hitherto had existed between freemen and slaves, and aided the clergy in their efforts for this important matter. Nevertheless, it took a long time before the spirit of Christianity could master this evil, traces of it being found even up to the fourteenth cen- tury. The wealth, privileges, and possessions of the clergy, had so efficient a promoter in Canute the Pious, that the clergymen could place themselves on terms of equality with the freeholders of land. He made the clergy the most eminent order of the kingdom, placed the bishops in the same rank with princes and dukes, and liberated the clergy from subjection to the general tribunal, establishing a special court, consisting only of clergymen. He also granted, as above mentioned, the Danish clergy tithe, which Charlemagne already, in the year 812, had introduced into Germany. This tithe, however, was not paid during the reign of Canute the Pious, the people regarding it as the very worst kind of servitude. Canute's death was no sooner known than a sum of money was raised by the friends of Olaf for his ransom ; and his brother Nicholas sent to the Earl of Flanders to conduct him to Denmark, where he was raised to the throne. The glory that Canute the Pious, in many respects, had shed upon the country, was soon obscured by his brother and successor, Olaf the Hungry, a sur- name given him on account of a dreadful famine which, in consequence of a bad harvest, prevailed so much HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 101 under his reign, that the richest people in Denmark were forced to supply the want of bread with roots and other vegetables, while the poor perished in the streets and highways. It had long been customary with the nobility to dine with the king on Christmas Day, and they were accordingly invited. When dinner was served up, the king called for bread, but was told that there was not a morsel in ..the whole kingdom. The clergy declared that it was a punishment sent by heaven for the murder committed on Canute the Pious, and the Bishop of Roeskilde made a pilgrimage to the Ho]y Land, thereby to appease the Almighty, and atone for the crimes of the people. After an inglorious reign of A. D., nine years, Olaf the Hungry expired, and the 1095. crown was transferred to his noble brother, Erik, who deservedly has been called Erik the Good. Under this excellent prince Denmark began to retrieve her ancient power. He was brave, humane, and kind, liberal to the distressed and poor, eloquent and public spirited ; and he preferred the arts of peaceful industry to destructive wars, wherefore he by right has got his fair surname. Nevertheless he could not avoid makinsr several expeditions to Yenden, to protect his country against those cruel pirates, whom he pursued into all the different parts of the Baltic, and punished severely those who fell into his hands, in order to terrify others by these examples. A dispute with Liemar^ the Arcli- bishop of Bremen, concerning some temporalities, in- 102 fflSTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. duoed him to renew his father's efforts to procure for the North an archbishopric ; he also wished to get his murdered brother, Canute the Pious, canonized, or enrolled in the calendar of saints. To supplicate the Pope, Urbanus II., for it, he went in person to Rome. His petition was willingly granted by his Holiness. After the king's return from Eome, Ca-nute the Pious was accordingly taken up from the grave, and with great solemnity enshrined in the splendid St. Canute's Church of Odensee. By this Denmark got a national saint ; to whose grave pilgrims traveled for many cen- turies, from all northern lands, in order to pay their devotion to his remains, hoping aid thereby for spiritual and bodily affliction. Some time after he vowed a pil- grimage to the Holy Land, to do penance and expiate a murder he, most likely in a state of intoxication, had committed. His people, who loved him dearly, unani- mously remonstrated against his design ; they embraced his feet, and bathed them with their tears, begging that he would stay at home and rule his kingdom, and not expose to danger a life upon which depended the felicity of a whole kingdom, and laid it before him that it was more acceptable in the sight of G-od to remain and dis- charge his royal duties. But a mighty enthusiasm had taken possession of his mind, and crying out, "It is the will of God !" he accordingly set out. Passing through G-reece, the king was magnificently entertained in Con- stantinople by Alexius Commenus, where he spoke with HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 103 the Yarangers, the imperial life-guard, consisting of northern people, chiefly of Danes. From thence he took ship for Cyprus, an island in the Mediterranean, where A. D., shortly after his arrival he died, without reaoh- 1103. ing i}^Q sepulchre of the Redeemer ; but Bothil- dis, his devout queen, and faithful companion of his pilgrimage, reached Jerusalem, where she died and lies buried. The canonization of Canute the Pious, which had been granted by the Pope, became of so great consequence that in his honor several clubs or fraternities (Danish, Gilder), were instituted, the object of which was mutual protec- tion against violence and outrage, and mutual aid in case of sickness, shipwreck, fire, and other calamities. When a member of such a fraternity was charged with any crime, the others were bound to assist him by oath and witness. Likewise, when a member had been murdered, the others should gather the fine, or if refused to be paid, demand vengeance of blood on the slayer. These fraternities had, like all institutions in the Middle Age, an ecclesiastical stanip. They were dedicated to some saint, whose name they adopted. Donations were given to the church and the poor, and requiems sung for the dead. Some fraternities, that enjoyed a greater reputation than others, were called roi/al, because dedi- cated to Canute the Pious, Canute Lavard and Erik Ploughpence. Others were established by merchants and mechanics. But when, in course of time, the laws 104: mSTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. and institutions of the State obtained more solidity and strength, such private associations became superfluous, ceasing, at length, altogether, by the introduction of the Reformation. By means of these fraternities, which promoted harmony, fellowship and industry among the inhabitants of the same city, the power and importance of the burgher class were considerably raised and ex- tended, commerce developed, and prosperity produced, while, on the other hand, the peasantry remained in a state of deep dependence. Not till the spring of next year the intelligence of the death of Erick the Grood reached Denmark, where now Nicholas^ his brother, was elected king by the people, and their choice confirmed by the Diet. They were urged the more to do this by the severity of Harald Kesia^ a son of Erik the Grood, who had ruled the king- dom during the absence of his father, and who they fore- saw would render them unhappy if they raised him to the throne. The Papal bull respecting the erection of a national archbishopric did not arrive in Denmark till after Erik's departure for Palestine, and the first arch- bishop in the North, Adzer, who resided in Lund, in Skane, was, therefore, not appointed before Jhe be- ginning of the reign of King Nicholas, when a Papal legate was sent for that purpose. By this alteration the Church, the power of which Canute the Great and Swen Estrithson had founded, and Canute the Pious widely extended, obtained internal strength and position, HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 105 while the State was yet too weak to maintam the civil affairs. But frequent collisions arose hereby between the Lords spiritual and temporal ; and the archbishops of Lund, on account of their large real estates and great revenues, often made head against the kings, and raised seditions and civil wars, in which the kings very often got the worst, till at length the civil government ob- tained sufficient moral strength, and the power of the Church had to yield to that of the State. The separa- tion of the Church from the State was consummated by A. D., introducing celibacy, the first papal bull ordering 1123. -vyJiich was issued to the Danish church shortly after the creation of the Lundish archbishopric, but met with a long and obstinate opposition from the Danish clergy, and a hundred years after two hundred priests in Jutland protested decidedly against it. But in vain. The unmarried life became a rule for the clergy in the North as well as in other Christian countries, and had there, as everywhere, the corruptive consequence, that the priests cohabited with concubines, and what is worse, often gave loose to appetites, that not only were sordid, but inhuman. At first, King Nicholas wielded his sceptre with great applause, but falling off in his character, he fell intc the utmost contempt, and involved himself and his country in a variety of misfortunes. The breach of the public tranquillity took its rise from the Yendish prince Hpmry. Entering into an alliance with the Nordalbingi, 106 fflSTORY OF SCANDINAVL\. properly the Holsteiners, he soon subdued the whole country "between the Elbe and Schleswig. Nicholas gave battle to Henry, whose "horse broke through and put in confusion the Danish cavalry. Nicholas was de- feated, and forced to retreat with precipitation into Denmark. The peace of the interior parts of the country was disturbed by the two turbulent sons of Erik the G-ood — Harald Kesia and Erik Emun— who had a bloody dispute over their patrimony. Fortunately for the country, Canute Lavard^ their brother, was a prince of a noble mind, and inspired with patriotic feelings and love of freedom, which somehow supplied the king's inability. Constraining his brothers to keep quiet, chastising the rapacious Tenders, and perceiving the misery to which the Duchy of Schleswig was re- duced by the Tenders and Obotriters, he requested the government of Schleswig, which he at length obtained. His first measure was to subdue the haughty Yendish prince, Henry, above nientioned. With a body of troops he marched in the middle of the night directly to a castle on the frontiers of Schleswig, where Henry kept his head-quarters, and was fortunate enough to surround the place, before the Yendish prince received any int« mation of his approach. In this situation, Henry, per- ceiving that resistance would be fruitless, mounted his horse and escaped, after which he sued for peace, promising to submit to any terms which the conqueror should think fit to impose. Thus the valor of Canute mSTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 107 Tiavard not only secured the Duchy of Schleswig to the crown of Denmark, but procured to himself the dignit}/ of a Duke. After the Obotritish royal family was extinct, he became, through the instrumentality of his admirer, Lothar of Saxony, (G-erman Emperor,) King of the Obotriters. He encouraged agriculture, planted new kinds of corn, built mills, invited Grerman mechanics to settle in Roeskilde and Schleswig, and accustomed the warlike people to the arts of peace. But the great esteem he enjoyed, and the kindness and predilection the people bestowed upon him, procured him enemies, who increased in proportion to his virtue. They easily found means to persuade the weak King, Nicholas, and his son Magnus, who was very envious of Canute, that ambition was the spring of all Canute's actions ; that, far from being satisfied with the crown he wore and with the Duchy of Schleswig, he aspired at a still higher dignity, and that his popularity was paving an easy way for his ascending the throne of Denmark. The plot was ready to break out, when a sudden revolt in Pomerania and Mecklenburg (Obotrit) called him to his own country, and for a time postponed his fate. He quickly subdued the rebels, and returned to Denmark Having no suspicion of treachery, he was attacked in a A. D., little wood close by Ringsted, in the island of 1121- Sjelland, by Magnus and Henry Skate, his cousins, and slain. Thus fell the generous, the great Canute Lavard, *:he ornament and support of Denmark, 108 fflSTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. and the greatest hero of his age in the North. But he hves still in the legends and heroic songs. He was privately interred in the church of Ringsted, without any other monument than what he had established in the hearts of the Danes, who to this very day adore his memory. The news of his death soon reached Roes- kilde, the residence of the court, and the king him- self could not help shedding tears at the loss of this great man, though he was privy to the plot. The mur- der committed on Canute Lavard was about to raise a sedition, which was only prevented by King Nicho- las sentencing his son, Magnus, to perpetual banish- ment, who went to Sweden, where he was elected king of the Vestrigoths. But, however, he soon returned. Upon the news of his return, Erik Emun, a brother of Canute Lavard, took up arms to avenge his memory. Both parties now prepared for war, and king Nicholas drew to his side all the bishops of Jutland, and several of the principal nobility of the kingdom, besides the conspirators in the murder of Canute Lavard, who were all strongly attached to the interest of the king and his son Magnus. An obstinate battle was fought by Fode- vig, in Skane, where the mean Magnus fell, a. d., together with five bishops and sixty priests, and ^i^^- king Nicholas escaped by an ignominious flight to the city of Schleswig, where the members of the fraternity of St. Canute, the surveyor of which Canute Lavard had been, assassinated him and his train, dispatching HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 109 the king with twenty stabs. Such was the merited death of king Nicholas, after a miserable reign of thirty years. When his friends represented to him the danger of his fleeing to Schleswig, so strongly attached to Canute, he told them that majesty had nothing to fear from shoemakers and tailors. Nevertheless, he fell by the hands of those very citizens he affected to despise With Nicholas ended the reign of Swen Estrithson's fifth son, according to the promise Swen had on his death-bed exacted from the nobility. Agreeably to a former election in a full assembly of the nobility and commons of Sjelland and Skane, Erik Emun was now proclaimed king, and administered the government for three years, but in a very miserable and wicked way, his capricious cruelty reigning un- controlled. He caused his brother, Harald Kesia, and his nine sons to be put to death, without remorse or pity, believing, as he said, that neither his own authority nor the public tranquillity could be sufficiently es- tablished while his brother and nephews lived. As for the youngest son of Harald Kesia, he made his escape in a peasant's dress to Sweden. Meanwhile the Ven ders made a sudden irruption into Holstein, and laid waste with terrible desolation every place through which they passed. To repress their insolence, Erik Emun assembled a fleet, embarking in each vessel four horse- men, (the very first time that cavalry was carried over the sea,) besides foot, with which armament he passed ^^^ HISTORY OP SCANDINAVIA. over into their country, and soon reduced it. From thence he went to the Isle of Rygen to punish the inhabitants, who had not only assisted the Venders, hut exercised the most desperate piracy on the high sea. Having subdued them, he compelled the whole island to swear allegiance to the crown of Denmark. They did not, however, long continue in this state of submis- sion, for no sooner had Erik Emun returned to Den- mark, than they revolted again, and assisted the Ten- ders. Some disturbances arose now in Norway be- tween Harald Grille and Magnus Sigurdson. Harald solicited Erik Emun's aid, who made no scruple ot promising it as soon as he had put an end to the affairs in which the revolt of the Isle of Hygen and its capi- tal, Arcona, now involved him. Against these islanders he set out a second time, and so totally subjected them that he apprehended no other rebellion. He thereafter applied himself to the perform- ance of his promise to Harald G-ille, passed over to Nor- way with his army, and, in a decisive action with Magnus, defeated him and took him prisoner. His victory he disgraced by his cruelty ; for, to prevent all attempts to reinstate the unfortunate king, he put out his eyes, emasculated him, and enclosed him for life in a monastery, raising Harald Grille to the throne of Nor- way. While his mind was thus cruelly employed, an unfortunate dispute arose among the bishops about the archbishopric of Lund, then vacant. Eskild, bishop of mSTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. HI Roeskilde, supported by the people, raised an army and obliged the cruel king to retire to Jutland, where his oeople, weary of bearing his cruelty, caused Black- A. D., plogus, a nobleman, to kill him, while adminis- 1137. tering justice in full court. As none of the three princes, who because of their birth were most entitled to the crown, to wit : Siven, son of Erik Emun, Walde- mar, son of Canute Lavard, and Canute, son of Nicho- las, had yet reached the maturity of age, Erik Lamb, a nephew of Erik the G-ood, surnamed the Lamb, from the mildness of his disposition, was chosen king. He had scarce ascended the throne when the divisions among the clergy broke out afresh. Eskild went over to Skane, and assumed the title and authority of primate, without obtaining, or indeed asking, the permission of the new king, who, observing the obstinacy with which the whole province of Skane espoused his cause, had to drop all resistance. The dispute about this archbishopric of Lund, was the first occasion the kings of Denmark had to repent of their having invested their prelates with temporal authority, and elevated them to such a pitch of power as rendered them dangerous to their sovereigns. Erik Lamb also made an expedition against the Ven- ders, who had resumed their old trade of piracy, but he came off unsuccessfully ; after which he fell into an inactivity and indolence that greatly impaired his repu- tation, and at length he embraced the resolution of renouncing his throne, and of passing the remainder of 112 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. his days in quiet retirement and monastic penance, in the convent of St. Canute, in Odensee, where he lived a short time, busied with the practices of religion a. d., and pious contemplation. . ii^7 Upon the death of Erik Lamh, a civil war of ten years broke out between the three princes above men- tioned, and the frequent and destructive invasions of the Venders reduced Denmark to great straits. An agreement was, however, made between the three pre- tenders, who shared the countries of Denmark with one another ; but the agreement was not sincerely meant, for Swend and "Waldemar soon after turned Canute out of the country, who had to flee to the G-erman emperor, Frederick Barbarossa^ for refuge. The empe- a. D., ror, anxious to get a proper opportunity to renew 1153. the old pretension to superiority over Denmark, was fain to meddle with this affair, and invited Swen and Waldemar to the Diet of Merseburg, where Swen had to acknowledge himself a vassal of the emperor, and grant Canute a share of Denmark. After returning, he would not, however, acknowledge his vassalage ; and by assuming Grerman manners and customs, he lost the love of his people. An insurrection broke out in Skane, and he maintained only a few years a precarious power, though assisted by the treacherous archbishop Eskild, of Lund, and by G-erman auxiliaries from Henry Lion, of Saxony, and at length he had to share the realm with his competitors Swen now mused on treason, fflSTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 113 and he and Eskild agreed to kill Canute and Waldemar, who were treacherously invited to a drinking-bout in Roeskilde. Canute was murdered, hut Waldemar put out the candles, and perceiving the door standing ajar, he pushed it open and escaped to Jutland, where he met his friend, the martial Ahsalon, afterward hishop of Roeskilde and archbishop of Lund, who also had fled away from the slaughter. A battle was fought on Grathelieath by "Wiborg, where Swen, later called Siven A. D., Grathe^ lost battle and life, his corpse being cast ^^^'^- into a stone-quarry. Thus ended all the plots and machinations of the treacherous Swen. Seldom were victorious news more joyfully received than tho tidings of the victory over Swen. The people cried out for a ruler to lead the troops to conquest and reinforce the whole army ; and the Danish crown devolved now on Waldemar, the glorious son of Canute Lavard, for many years a model for kings. 114 HIS»TORY OF SCANDINAVIA. III. 1157—1241. Waldemar I. the Great — Absalon — Canute VI — Bugislaw, of Pomerania-^ Waldemar II. the Conqueror — Conquests along the Baltic — Esthonia— The Captivity of the King — Science and the Arts. Waldemar I. was joyfully received as king, and began his reign with the practice of every virtue that became a sovereign. He owed much of his success to his manners as well as to the uncommon energy of his mind. His composure of countenance and firmness of manner, says Saxo Grrammaticus, were so great, that whatever resolution he had formed, he would adhere to. His first step towards gaining the esteem and affection of his subjects, was the conquering of the lands along the Baltic, and the putting a stop to the destructive piracies of the Venders. He made, therefore, several expeditions; but Henry Lion, of Saxony, above named, also keeping a strict eye upon Venden, and having already subdued several of these lands, endeavored to enlarge his dominion over the whole. "Waldemar, there- fore, judged it wise to be on friendly terms with the emperor Frederick Barbarossa. To obtain his alliance v/as not difficult for Waldemar, the more as the empe- /or considered the power of the Danish king a useful bulwark against the ambitious Henry Lion, who contin- ually went too far By his affability and elo- a. d., quence, he won the emperor's affection and confi- ^i^^. mSTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 115 dence so much as to promise Denmark energetic assist- ance to conquer Yenden. Waldemar the Grreat, brave himself, and skilled in war, and assisted by such a hero as bishop Absalon (also called Axel), continued inde- fatigably his endeavors for subduing Yenden, to which he made twenty expeditions. Absalon fitted out a large fleet and army, which, cruising round the Yendish coasts, landed at various places, plundered the towns, which were unprotected by the inhabitants, conquered Arcona, the fortified capital of the island of Rygen, and destroyed their idol, Svantevit, on which they firmly relied, the pagan priests telling that this idol every night rode a white horse and persecuted the foes of the Yenders. This horse, therefore, was every morning exposed, covered with sweat, to the view of the people, to confirm their belief, and consequently they were astonished at seeing Svantevit, without any resistance, dashed to pieces by the Danes. The feeling between Waldemar and Henry Lion, varied very often, but was never very good, though a marriage was agreed upon between G-ertrude, the duke's daughter, and Canute, the king's son. While all this was passing, an embassy came from Norway, requesting Waldemar to assist the "Norwegian king,.Erling Skakke, and his son Magnus Erlingsen, against Sverre, h competitor for the crown Crossing over with an army, he was joyfully received, the campaign resulting in the Norwegian province Vigen's yielding to Waldemar. Having thus rendered 116 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. himself master of the whole of Yenden, converted the inhabitants to Christianity, and conquered a part of Norway, Waldemar had duties, in his opinion, para- mount to all other considerations, namely, to preserve his kingdom from civil war. He caused therefore, his son, Canute, to be elected his successor, anointed and crowned. But the many princes aspiring to the crown, were very much displeased with this action of Walde- mar, one of whom, Buris^ a nephew of Swen Estrithson, mused upon treason, but was caught, maimed, and incarcerated. The archbishop Eskild, of Lund, who already, as bishop of Roeskilde, had stirred up a sedi- tion against Erik Emun, and shared in the civil war after the death of Erik Lamb, dared also to defy Waldemar ; but the king's rapid progress obliged the proud Eskild to ask peace in the most submissive terms, and to restore to the king all the possessions which the former kings had given to the see of Lund. Eskild was so chagrined with this humiliation, that he resigned his mitre and retired to a private convent in France, where he stayed for seven years. But after his return to Denmark, his position became yet more slippery, his two nephews engaging themselves in a con- a. d., spiracy against the king. Suspected and hated, i^"^"^- he soon after repaired to Paris, where he died. Absalon was elected his successor to the archbishopric of Lund. It was shortly before these affairs with the rebellious Eskild that Waldemar laid the foundation of the city HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 117 of Danfzic, in "Western Prussia, so famed for its trade and opulence. At first it was composed of the huts of poor fishermen, but Waldemar conferring upon the inhabitants certain privileges and immunities, it soon became a flourishing place of commerce. Thereafter he founded in Denmark the cities of Nyborg, Corsor, and Callundborg. About the same time Absalon built the castle of Stegelburg, afterwards called AxeUmsia, then Hafnia, and now the celebrated port and city of Copenhagen. The intention of this castle was to over- awe the pirates, and afford a safe protection to the Danish merchantmen. Towards the close of Waldemar's life a revolt hap- pened in Skane, to appease which the king immediately dispatched Absalon. The inhabitants, displeased with the oppressions of the royal bailiffs, and with the institution of tithe allotted to the clergy for their support, raised a great sedition, refused to pay the usual taxes, and particularly the bishop's tithe, and restored to the infe- rior clergy their ancient privilege of marriage. They insisted that the superior clergy were an unnecessary load upon the people, fattening upon the spoils of the land, while their flocks were left to find heaven in their own way. "Waldemar, however, being more favored by the peasantry than Absalon, was prosperous in quelling this sedition by fair means ; but when the imperious Absa- lon would by no means desist from claiming his tithe, which circumstance contributed in no slight degree to 118 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. heighten their animosity, they rehelled anew, but were totally defeated by Absalon at Dysiaa^ in Skane, a. d., and reduced to the necessity of yielding to the ii^^- terms of the king. Soon after "Waldemar the Grreat expired, after a glorious reign of twenty-five a. d., years. The respect in which he was held was ii82. strikingly exhibited at his death. The peasants drew the hearse, and his remains were interred in the church of Ringsted, and it was ordained by the citizens that his memory should be held in reverence. Canute F7., his son, already chosen to succeed liim to the throne, began his reign with pursuing the same course as his great father, guided and assisted by the same faithful counselors and brave warriors, archbishop Absalon and his brother, Esbern Snare, to whom was soon added the king's own brother, the victorious Waldemar. His reign was uni- versally acceptable to the people, as he appeared equally remarkable for his firmness, clemency, liberality, acti- vity, and justice. The first business he was engaged in, after his ascending the throne, was to answer the Ger- man emperor, Frederick Barbarossa, who, through an embassy sent to Denmark, had enjoined on the young king the duty of acknowledging himself a vassal of the Roman empire. His answer, in this emergency, shows the energy of Canute's character. " Please to inform your emperor," he said, " that the king of Denmark is just as independent in his kingdom as the Grerman or Roman emperor in his empire, and that it were better HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 119 for me to resign my crown, than to subnit myself to him, even if he should declare w^ar against mt ^r reject- ing his impudent enjoinment. I am ready to put my army in motion, and thus decide the fate of my king- dom." This answer highly exasperated the haughty emperor, who now stimulated Bugislaw^ Duke of Pome- rania, to attack Denmark. The Duke prepared himself to attack the isle of Rygen with five hundred men of war, hut Absalon, informed of it, and seeing that no moment was to he lost, fitted out a fleet and overtook the surprised Venders, who lost four hundred and sixty- A. D., five ships, threw down their arms and sued for 1184. quarter, and the proud spirit of the duke began to give way. After this glorious victory, Pomerania and the Obotritic Venden had to submit to Denmark, Canute VI. now taking the title, King of the Slavi and Venders. Afterwards Canute made several expeditions to the eastern coasts of the Baltic, made conquests in Esthonia, and forced the inhabitants to embrace Christianity, but the Danes no sooner left, than they returned to heathen- ism and piracy. The war being ended between Den- mark and Venden, a profound peace ensued for some years ; the Danes thus having an opportunity of turning to the arts of peace. But while they were thus cultiva- ting peaceful occupations, the vigilant king was not unmindful of making fresh preparations for war, well knowing that these intervals of ease would not fail to give his enemies fresh vigor for new designs. Adolph^ Count 120 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. of Holstein, the archbishop of Bremen, the Margrave of Brandenburg, and several princes of Northern Grermany, happened to make depredations on the Danish coasts, v^ishing to arrest the strongly rising power of Denmark. This mighty alliance became the more dangerous, as bishop Waldemar, of Schleswrig, an illegitimate son of Canute Magnusson, above mentioned, was meditating treacherous plans, and intended to take part with the Grerman enemies of Denmark, and with king Sverre of Norway. But nothing was capable of subduing the courage of the king and of his undaunted brother, Wal- demar, Duke of Schleswig, who captured and imprisoned the rebellious bishop, and defeated the other foes. The bishop was put into a gloomy prison, where he was compelled to pine for many years. Adolph had to yield himself prisoner of war ; Holstein, Liibeck, Hamburg, and Lauenburg to submit to Denmark, and the Count of Schwerin to acknowledge liimself a vassal of the Danish king ;' Denmark thus now being invested with a greater power than ever before. But towards the close of the reign of Canute YI., a marriage between Inge- borg, a sister to Canute, and Philip Augustus of France, occasioned a vehement dispute, Philip repudi- ating the princess, and not till a papal edict from Inno- cent HI. had compelled him to join her again, was the dispute abated, and a threatening war avoided. After an active reign of twenty years, Canute VI. died, a. d., xmiversally lamented. A year before, Absalon, ^202. HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 121 his friend and wise counselor, had been stricken by the hand of death. This extraordinary man — the greatest man the North had produced in the Middle Ages — was possessed of the greatest courage in opposing danger, and the greatest presence of mind in retiring from it. No fatigue was able to subdue his body, nor any misfor- tune to break his spirit ; and moreover, he was a wise counselor in public and ecclesiastical concerns, and a great friend of science and the arts. Under the power- ful direction of such influential archbishops as Eskild, Absalon, and his successor, Andrew Suneson, the eccle- siastical affairs gained a fu'm footing, Eskild composing a canon law for Skane, and Absalon one for Denmark ; both of which were admitted of by the people and con- firmed by the king. But, unfortunately, the power of the clergy was now increasing too much. In exclusive possession of the learning of the time, and from the Pope invested with the power of deciding the salvation of men's souls, the clergy acquired very easily a. vast authority over the illiterate people of the Middle Ages ; and the superior clergy, besides their ecclesiastical dignities, were frequently in possession of the most influential and lucrative offices of the state, and the archbishoprics, bishoprics, and abbacies, gradually ob- tained great possessions, so as to be nearly raised to an equality with principalities. The archbishops and bishops had fortified castles, kept soldiers, and were ready at a moment's notice, to make head against the 122 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. kings. As the church increased in intrinsic strength, so she grew in riches and external power. Both kings and private people endowed her with an immense deal of real estates ; and by the immunity conferred by the kings upon the church, she attained a degree of opulence and splendor nearly unrivaled, unless in Italy, during the Middle Ages ; while unfortunately the augmentation of the wealth of the church brought with it a detrimental appetite for expensive and demoralizing pleasures amongst the clergy. At the period under con- sideration, the nohility^ equal in rank to the clergy, but above the burgher class and the peasantry, commenced to be a peculiar class, with peculiar privileges ; the whole population of Denmark thus being divided into nobility, clergy, burghers, and peasantry. The nobles possessed considerable estates in land, and were dis- tinguished from the rest of the people, not by know- ledge and cultivation of mind, but only by their superior luxury, and they often ruled the public affairs by the weight of an authority gained from riches and merce- nary dependents. In short, the kingdom came now for many centuries under the tyranny of a hateful aristo- cracy, which the kings themselves often could hardly master, afterwards bitterly repenting of having raised such dregs of society. At first the nobility was only personal^ but became in the period following hereditary^ the obligations being few, but the prerogatives and pri« vileges not to be numbered HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 123 Cotemporary with Canute YI. of Denmark was Sverre^ A. D., Norway's estimable and memorable king. He was 1161. born 1151, and a son of king Sigurd Haroldson and queen Gunbild. After the death of king Sigurd, the queen married a plain comber or hair-dresser, and, hearing that the mighty earl Erling Skakke meditated the extinction of the whole royal Norwegian family, she represented the young prince Sverre to be the son of the hair-dresser. However, not believing herself safe in Norway, she went with her husband and the prince to the Faroe Isles, where her brother-in-law was bishop. The bishop adopted Sverre, caused him to study theo- logy, and ordained him a priest. But he was soon in- formed of his royal extraction; for his mother had, on a pilgrimage to Rome, disclosed this secret to a priest in the confessional, who compelled her to relate it to Sverre. The life of an ecclesiastic now became distaste- ful to nim, and he returned to Norway to claim his an- cestral throne. After being exposed for many years to continual vicissitudes of fortune, and after the death of the mighty and crafty Erling Skakke, Sverre at length A. D., succeeded in being proclaimed King of Norway. 11^^- He was, however, far from finding his throne a bed of roses. Throughout the whole course of his reign he had to struggle against internal foes, often baffling his best designs. In the first place, he had to fight with the expelled king, Magnus Erlingson, a son of Erling Skakke, who returned from Denmark with a mighty fleet; but, fortunately for Sverre, Magnus was, after 124 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. much shedding of blood, drowned, when, after a lost nava^ battle, he was trying to save himself by swim- a. D., ming. Afterwards a legion of spurious princes ^i^^- arose, all of whom, with fictitious and ill-founded preten- sions to the crown, knew how to raise factious parties, the worst of whom were the rebellious Baglers^ who fre- quently eluded his vigilance. But, under perilous cir- cumstances, Sverre. was never irresolute. With fresh and undismayed troops, and with large and well-built men-of- war, he fought battle after battle, till finally the rebels were entirely routed and had to flee to Denmark. Yet the peace which the subjugation of the Baglers gave him was only of short duration; for no sooner had Sverre gained the ascendency over all those pretenders and factious parties than he had to endure a long and weari- some contest with the clergy, whose enormous preroga- tives, which the expelled king, Magnus Erlingson, had conferred on them, he tried to restrict. The archbishop Erik exceeded all bounds in impudence and unyielding obstinacy. He taxed the people without the consent of the king, cursed him from the pulpit because he had, w:ithout the pope's permission, left the clerical order, and prevailed upon the pope to interdict the king and the whole kingdom. However, this interdict, or ban,-— the very first in Norway, — did not produce the eifect intended : the people did not know its meaning ; the clergy did not venture to carry it into efiect ; and the sagacious king delivered an eloquent speech, in which he proved from holy writ that the pope had no author- HISTORY OF SCA.NDINAV1A. 125 ity to interfere with his mode of ruling. Afterwards a cardinal came to Norway. He was cordially received, And promised to crown the king, — a ceremony in those days of great importance to establish a king's authority. But the rebellious bishops persuaded the cardinal to break his promise, under the pretext that the king was hostile to the whole clergy. On hearing that the car- dinal had violated his promise, Sverre became provoked to rage, summoned the clerical knave before him, and said, "I understand that thy errand to my country is like that of other impostors : thou wilt enrich thyself at my expense, thereafter to deride me. Begone, I bid thee, and nevermore venture to set thy foot on the soil of my country." But, in spite of the many difficulties with which Sverre had continually to contend, he did not neglect to provide for the internal welfare of his kingdom. He restrained the prevailing drunkenness by forbidding German mer- chants to import wine and liquor ; he improved the public 'oads and promoted literature. Being a man of letters himself, and well versed in Latin, theology, and the old saga-literature, Sverre caused the celebrated work called the Royal Mirror (Kongespeilet) to be published, written in the old Norse language and containing most valuable information of the manners, morals, and history of that age. This noble, gallant, and magnanimous king died in the city of Bergen. On his death-bed he for- a. d., gave all his enemies, and, to prevent new coiitro- 1202. versies about the succession to the throne, he solemnly 126 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. declared that he had but one son alive, who was elected king under the name of Hakon III. ; but after a peace- ful reign of two years he departed life, and Norway was again, for thirty -three years, harassed by civil wars, which brought her to the very verge of ruin. Finally, however, a deliverer was raised up, in the person of king Hakon Hahonson^ or Sahon IV., a grandson of Sverre. Only sixteen years old, he was proclaimed a. d., king. For more than twenty years the young 1217. king had to battle with factious parties, with the whole clergy, and with his own father-in-law, the mighty duke Skule. At length he succeeded in subduing all of them, and in finishing the disastrous internal wars that for more than a century had ravaged and desolated Norway. In activity and ability Hakon Hakonson holds perhaps the foremost rank of all the kings of old Norway on record. He improved agriculture, enacted judicious laws, erected churches and cloisters for the promulgation of Christianity, surrounded the cities of Bergen and Tons- berg with stronger fortifications, and kept a fleet of three hundred ships of war. He enlarged his dominions by ai nexing the island of Iceland to Norway; and the Greei landers swore allegiance to him. Even abroad Hakon enjoyed such respect that Pope Innocent IV. court^jd his friendship, and promised him the imperial crown of Germany if he would help him to subdue the haughty Frederick the Second of Hohenstaufen. But Hakon refused to intermeddle with the pope's private affairs. Louis the Holy of France invited him to par- HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 127 ticipate in a crusade for the recovery of the Holy Land, and offered him the chief command of the united French and Norwegian fleet. But Hakon declined accepting the glorious offer, believing it preferable to remain and dis- charge his royal duties. Even the King of Tunis did not consider it below his dignity to receive embassadors and presents from the king of this remote quarter of the globe ; and Philip, a brother of King Alphonso of Cas- tile in Spain, considered Norway important enough for him to come to her for a bride, Hakon's lovely daug^hter Christina. Of literature he was a munificent patron. The celebrated Icelandic historian, Snorre Sturlason^ enjoyed his intimate friendship, and was even appointed the king's court-marshal and invested with a fee or cor- poreal hereditament. After a glorious, useful, and vic- A. D., torious career, Hakon Hakonson, also called 1263. Eahon the Old, died, A. D. 1263, and was suc- ceeded by his son Magnus Lagaheter, — i,e. the im- prover of laws, because he revised and improved the ancient laws of Norway. But, however much good he did in this respect, he cannot claim any part of the great honor which deservedly invests the name of his father ; for under his administration Norway's prosperity de- clined, the nobility and the clergy usurped all civil and political privileges, while the burgher class and the pea- santry were treated with no marks of respect, the navy decreased, and the Norwegian commerce came under the entire control of the mighty Hanse league. But we re- sume the history of Denmark. 128 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA Canute VI. "being childless, his brother, "Waldemar II., the Conqueror, ascended the throne, receiving in Liibeck homage from the subjugated lands and princes. Hol- stein, which Count Adolph, to regain his liberty, resigned, was given to Waidemar's nephew, Albert of Oiiamiinde. Waldemar II. prosecuted the conquests of his father and grandfather. The affau's in Germany were very favorable for Waldemar in carrying out his designs. Philip of Schwaben, Otto lY. a son of Henry Lion of Saxony, and Frederick II. of Hohenstaufen, who disputed for the dominion, all attempted to gain the friendship and protection of Waldemar II. Wal demar resolved to assist Frederick II., who returned to the Danish king, as a sign of gratitude, an imperial letter of confirmation in his G-erman and Vendish conquests. Saxony, Bremen, Brandenburg, and several A. D., countries in Northern Grermany joined together 1214. to oppose this monarch's power and progress, and raised a strong army, ready to act wherever its services should be required, which was, however, too weak to re- sist his victorious arms. Waldemar had long been bent upon humbling the rebellious bishop Waldemar of Schleswig, who, after being set at liberty, had again taken . part with the enemies of his fatherland, and got himself appointed archbishop of Bremen. But Wal- demar the Conqueror understood how to teach him obedience, and at length he was obliged to have re. course to a cloister, where, showing a very bad moral HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 129 conduct, and sinking even to the level of vulgar men, he terminated his dishonorable life. No sooner had the German affairs permitted Waldemar to breathe a little /reely, than he undertook several expeditions to the remoter . coasts of the Baltic, conquering considerable tracts of Prussia ; but most remarkable is his great expedition to Esthonia (called the Northern Crusade) under the command of the archbishop Andrew Suneson Neither Denmark nor the other Scandinavian a. d., countries having taken any share in the great ^219. European crusades for the recovery of the Holy Land, Waldemar the Conqueror considered himself greatly indebted to the Christian Church. He v^ent, therefore, to Esthonia, to christen the heathen inhabitants. The Esthlanders, at first pretending subjection, fell suddenly upon the Danish army, near to Reval, and a great confusion ensued ; but the archbishop inspired the Danes with courage, persuading them that a flag, with a white cross interwoven on a red ground (later called Dannebrog),- which the Pope had sent, had fallen down from heaven ; to which statement, and the effect pro- duced by it, the successful issue of the battle, and the conquest of the whole of Esthonia, are chiefly to be ascribed. The kingdom of Denmark now included Denmark, Holstein, Ditmarsh, Lauenburg, Schwerin, Mecklenburg, Rygen, Pomerania, Esthonia, Oesel (an island close by Russia), and several tracts of Prussia and Curland. But "Waldemar the Conqueror was form- 130 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. ing still more gigantic plans, love of dominion being the chief passion of his heart, when one disastrous night annihilated the fruits of the toils of three kings and of the victories of sixty years. "Whilst engaged in the chase on a little island, Lyo, by Fjunen, the king A. D., and his son fell into the power of Count Henry, 1223. of Schwerin, were gagged, put on boara a ship and carried to Grermany, where they were kept priso- ners for three years in the castle of Daneberg. A general confusion arose, the princes who were his vas- sals revolted from him, Hamburg and Liibeck fell away and became free cities, establishing, in conjunction with other maritime towns, a mighty alliance, called the Hanseatic League^ and the emperor, Frederick H. of Hohenstaufen, formerly Waldemar's confederate, re- joiced now at seeing his disaster and calamity. Under such circumstances Waldemar had to subscribe to the hard conditions his enemies exacted for his release. The terms were severe, but were the best that could be procured. He should lay down to Count Henry forty-five thousand ounces of silver, resign Holstein to Count Adolph, quit his other German and Vendish possessions, except Esthonia and Rygen, and never make war again. Promising inviolably to observe these A. D , severe conditions, he came back to his kingdom 1226. on Christmas-eve, disconsolate and enraged, but .more than ever beloved by his subjects, who now be« HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 131 came better acquainted with the sublimity of his virtues by this trial of adversity. But Waldemar's patriotism, swallowed up in one great ruling affection, the love of his country, could not allow him to keep his promise. He applied to the Pope, was absolved from his engagements, made preparations for war, raised at length a great army, and entered Holstein, with all the resentment of a prince highly injured. Multitudes were flocking to his standard, and in the beginning, he was crowned with success. But leading his army back from Itzeho, which he had con- quered, he was met by the bishop of Liibeck, the arch- bishop of Bremen, the duke of Saxony, the duke of Holstein, the Ditmarshers, the earls of Schwerin, Olden- burg and Mecklenburg, at the head of a prodigious army. A battle was fought at Bornhdved in a. d., Holstein, with incredible fury on both sides ; but ^227. here "Waldemar was totally defeated, and lost one eye. Being very much blamed for the perfidious breaking of his promise, he answered that a dispensation given him from the Pope, Honorius HI., should be a sufficient excuse. After this transaction the king had the soul- rending misfortune to lose his eldest son, Waldemar, who was shot accidentally at a hunting-party, and from that time Waldemar the Conqueror dropped all intention of pursuing revenge. " Now," he said, " if Grod con- tinues li^e and health, I will have nothing more to do with warfaring life, but for the remainder of ray days 132 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. employ all my efforts to promote the internal welfare of my kingdom." And so he did. His very first care wag to give wise and heneficial laws, amongst which were the Skanisli and the Jutlandish law, which he, shortly before his death, laid before the people, at a diet in Vordingborg, the Jutlandish law, even to this day, being valid in Sohleswig, and not before 1685 abrogated in Denmark. Waldemar the Conqueror was twice married : first to the Bohemian princess, Dagmar^ and next to Beren- garia, from Portugal, who became mother to Erik, Abel, and Christopher, one by one succeeding to the throne. Dagmar was highly beloved, but Berengaria much hated on account of her pride ; and it became a proverb among the peasantry : " Blessed be Dagmar, cursed be Berengaria the old hag, the Lord be with the king." "Waldemar had now attained to an ad- vanced age. He had seen his kingdom raised to the highest pitch of glory and power, he had seen it sink A. D., into the deepest distress, and now he saw it 12*1- again restored to peace and felicity, when death claimed him. The means by which the inhabitants got their liveli- hood in this period were, agriculture, breeding of cattle, fishing and commerce, but all as yet on a small scale. The fishing was an important means of subsistence, and the Lymfjord and Earsound (Oeresund) were known for their abundant herring grounds. The trade was driven HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 133 with Northern Grermany and England; and between Jutland and Norway was a lively intercourse. Fish, cattle and horses were the most important articles of exportation. The most ancient coins of the North are from the time of Swen Splitheard. Not only the kings, but also the bishops were permitted to coin. Learned literature Avas cultivated exclusively by the clergy. Nevertheless the arts of poetry passed at an early period into the hands of the nobles, chiefly because love (fiiinne) and devotion to the ladies were the soul and essence of the latter. In general they were called Minnesong'ers, or the Nightingales of the Middle Ages, considering the whole female sex as a sacred virgin. But on the whole, neither science nor the arts had reached a very high point, and young people being desirous of a deeper knowledge than they could acquke at home, had to go to the celebrated University of Paris, and at the close of the twelfth century a special college for Danish students was founded in Paris. Here, for instance, Absalon and Andrew Suneson completed their studies. Absalon, a man of letters himself, favored learned literature, and encouraged the renowned Saxo Grammaticas to compose a history of Scandinavia, which he did, in elegant Latin, he, therefore, being sur- named Grrammaticus. Cotemporaneously with Saxo, the Icelandic writer, Snorre Sturlason, lived : a man of rare talents, who has made himself famous by composing Heimskringlay or "The Sagas of the Norwegian Kings," 134: HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. down to Magnus Erlingson, A. D. 1162 : a work that meritoriously has styled him the " Herodotus of Northern ^ J) history." At the age of sixty-three this eminent 1241. man was assassinated by his own relatives on his manor, Reykiaholt, in Iceland. The celebrated work called the J3dda (the word Edda betokening the great- grandmother of jooetrt/), where we see, amidst many absurdities, the traces of a luminous and rational sys- tem of religion, and which therefore long was con- sidered the sacred book of the Scandinavians, is often ascribed to Snorre Sturlason, while it more probably was composed by jSaeonund, a clergyman in Iceland, who died A. D. . 1133. The whole doctrines of the ancient religion and mythology are unfolded in this celebrated specimen of national poetry. The Udda consists of two parts : — the Younger Edda in prose, and the Elder Edda in verse. The Younget Edda, generally ascribed to S^^orre Sturlason, and called Snorre s Edda, consists of three divisions : — 1. A complete synopsis of Scandinavian mythology. 2. A catalogue of deities and kings, and a collection of poetic expressions, together with an explanation; for instance : the wagons of the waves and the horses of Neptune are ships ; the daughters of calamity are arrows ; the hand of the homicide is the battle-axe ; the lamp of the face and the diamond of the head is the eye ; the ferocious lion who attacks houses and ships is the hurricane ; and so forth. 3. A treatise on poesy and prosody, and an account of the Icelandic art of poetry. HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 135 The Elder Edda, called the Poetic^ consists of thirt j- nine poems, collected by the above-named Saemund, most probably from oral tradition, and is the motit ancient work in the old Northern language, most of it being written before the discovery of Iceland. The two most remarkable poems herein are : — 1. The Vo~ luspa, i.e. the song or foretelling of the old Northern prophetess Vala. This is, properly speaking, a cos- mogonic poem describing chaos, the creation of the world, the different races on earth, — ^jetters or giants, men and dwarfs, — and concluding by a prophecy of the destruction and renovation of the Universe, and by a glowing description of the eternal bliss^ awaiting the brave and honest in Gfimli, — the highest heaven, — and of the eternal misery awaiting murderers, per- jurers, and seducers, in Nastrond, — the subterranean region where the fire is never quenched. 2. The Hava- mal^ an ethic poem, signifying the song or speech of the sublime, i.e. Odin. It contains a rather complete code of moral precepts, as : — " He who travels stands in need of wisdom ; nothing is more detrimental to human beings than drunkenness ; it is appointed unto all men once to die: one thing alone never dies, and that is the verdict which posterity pronounces upon the dead; praise the ice when once you have crossed it, and the liquor after it is drunk," &c. For a deeper and more comprehensive insight into the Eddaic literature, I must refer the inquisitive reader to the celebrated critical productions of the great phi- lologers and antiquaries of Copenhagen, Bash, Rafn, and P. E. MuUer, Jacob Gfrimm of Berlin, and to the English Bishop Percy's excellent translation of Mallet's Northern Antiquities. SECOND PERIOD. ?ROM THE DEATH OF WALDEMAR THE CONQUEROR, AND THE BE- UNTIL THE 1241—1319. Erik Ploughpenning — Expedition to Esthonia — Abel — Christopher I. — Conflict with the Clergy — Archbishop Jacob Erlandson — Interdict — Erik Glipping — Battle on Loheath — War with Norway — Erik Menved — The Eegicides— John Grand — Peace with Norway — Expedition to Pomerania and Meck- lenburg — The Hanseatic League. Erik, later surnamed Ploughpenning, some years before chosen successor, took upon him the title of king after the deatli of Waldemar the Conqueror, his father. A great error ascribed to him is the dividing of the kingdom among his brothers: Schleswigwasgivento J-5e?, and Laaland and Falster to Christopher. This division contributed very much to the declension of the king- dom, and to the diminishing of the royal power ; and especially in reference to Schleswig, this system of division had ruinous consequences ; for Abel and his sue- HISTORY OF SCAKDINAVIA. 137 cessors tried now to make Schleswig an hereditary and independent possession in their family, all of which re- sulted in a series of destructive internal wars, Schleswig thereby more and more being alienated from the king- dom. Under these circumstances, Abel soon assumed a hostile position towards Erik, the more as he claimed the Duchy of Schleswig as an independent sovereignty. A A. D., war broke out, in which, however, the king got ^249- the better, Abel being obliged to submit. Next year a Diet was held in Roeskilde, in which the king ex- pressed his eager desire to reclaim all the former posses- sions of Esthonia and Livonia, which had been lost amidst the late civil commotions. The Diet giving its assent to his proposal of undertaking an expedition thither, he then laid before them the necessity of raising the proper supplies by an additional tax of a certain sum to be paid by each plough, under the name of ploughpenning^ by which term the king was afterwards surnamed. After returning from Esthonia, the king marched his army against the counts of Holstein, who had laid siege to the fortress of Rendsburg. On his arrival at the Danevirke, that strong wall above mentioned, he bethought him of a visit to his brother Abel in Schleswig, who had taken no part in this quarrel. He entered, however, into an A. D., altercation with Abel, who caused the king to be 1250. killed in a boat, and his body thrown into the river Sley. Abel endeavored to screen his shocking crime by promulgating a report, that the king had 138 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. perished in the river by the boat's foundering, but shortly after all was discovered by the mangled body of the king, vv^hich was thrown by the waves on the shore, and taken up by some monks. Erilj: Ploughpenning falling without male issue, the states, though they detested Abel^ on account of the unnatural crime he had committed, chose him king to avoid a civil war, which would certainly have ensued on setting him aside. By these means they also indispu- tably re-united the duchy of Schleswig to the crown. After a reign of two years, neither active nor a. d., useful, he was killed in an expedition he under- 1252. took against the Friesers, leaving the state in a most declining condition. If the royalty had remained in Abel's family, Schleswig would have been re-united with the kingdom, and all future contests prevented ; but Christopher I., the third son of Waldemar the Con- queror, was happy enough immediately to be acknow- ledged king, although the throne was promised to Abel's sons, Waldemar and Erik. Both parties exerted all their power to gain the ascendancy. The king encom- passed Schleswig with his army, and claimed, as uncle, the guardianship of Abel's children, but these were sup- ported by the counts of Holstein. Seasonably for the king, some of the German princes offered their medi- ation, and a peace was concluded on these terms : that Christopher should have the guardianship, but restore the duchy of Schleswig as a fief to Waldemar, the eldest HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 139 son of Abel, when he had attained to his majority. About the same time Christopher was entangled in a sharp contest with the clergy. The imperious Jacob Erlandson^ 'without the king's consent or knowledge, was chosen archbishon of Lund. Descended from a 1. conspicuous family, and very well versed in the ecclesiastical laws, he was, on account of his long stay in foreign lands, strictly acquainted with the condition of the Church everywhere. Secure of the Pope's pro- tection, he not only disregarded all forms, but totally changed the ecclesiastical laws and statutes of Skane, and took the liberty, of his own accord, to substitute some new ones of his own. He consecrated other bishops without asking the royal consent, brought secular affairs under the ecclesiastical jurisdiction, and usurped fines and other perquisites belonging only to the king. He forbade the peasantry of his archbishopric to perform military service ; and when the king had summoned a diet of the people at Nyborg, the archbishop, as a mark A. D., of disrespect, convoked at the same time a synod 1256. at Weile, Jutland, called the Weile Constitution; where it was decided that, when a bishop was impri- soned, or in any way molested by the king, an interdict should be laid upon the kingdom, and all divine service cease. Christopher I., highly incensed at this haughty conduct, would now confiscate all the fiefs formerly given to the archbishopric of Lund, but a violent riot arose amongst the archiepiscopal peasants, who ravaged 140 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. the country with unheard-of cruelty ; and as now the archbishop also declined crowning Erik, the king's son, and threatened to ban the bishops who might do so, the king caused him to be imprisoned. Agreeably to the resolution of the synod of "Weile, the whole kingdom was immediately interdicted. The king now wrote to the Pope, representing to him the haughty conduct of the archbishop, the injustice and absurdity of a prelate's assuming to himself a share in the royal prerogative, and the hardship, that he should have it in his power to lay a whole people under interdiction. These remon- strances were no sooner dispatched to Eome, than the Pope commanded that the ban should be intermitted, and all the priests within the kingdom should administer the communion, under the penalty of losing their tithes and stipends. At the same time the king fell a victim to the plot of a canon by the name of Arnfast, who poisoned him, and as a reward, was promoted by the rebellious archbishop to the bishopric of a. d., Aarhuus, in Jutland. Christopher I. had found 1259. the treasury exhausted on his accession ; at his death he left things in much the same situation — ^the treasury exhausted, and the nation split into two powerful fac- tions. In the doubt and dismay which followed the death of Christopher I., a few voices saluted his son, Erik Glipping, with the title of king, but the majority would not ratify the choice, as he had not yet attained to full age, and the queen dowager, the manly Marga* HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 141 rethe of Pomerania^ called Sorte Grethe (Black Gretlie) on account of her dark complexion, had to assume the reins of government. She commenced her guardianship with a signal instance of clemency, on pardoning the haughty Jacob Erlandsen ; who, nevertheless, after being set at liberty, treacherously joined the duke of Schleswig, avowing his intention to dethrone the king and replace the duke. Shortly after a new faction arose, headed by count Jarimar^ of Rygen, who, gathering multitudes of robbers and murderers, and making an inroad into Sjelland, defeated, at Nestved in Sjelland, the peasantry, which the queen dowager had raised, where ten thousand peasants lost their lives. Thereupon Jarimar went to Skane, where he, fortunately for Den- mark, was killed by a country-woman. The country was soon after alarmed by a dangerous irruption of Erik^ a son of Abel, who, because the queen dowager would not comply with giving him Schleswig as an hereditary fief, but only as a personal^ joined the counts of Holstein, and commenced a war, in which the royal A. D., troops were totally defeated at Loheath^ close by 1261. the city of Schleswig. The queen dowager and her son, the minor king, were taken prisoners, she being sent to Hamburg, and he closely confined on Alsen, an island in the Baltic. The queen dowager was, however, soon released, but the young king not till the expiration of three years, during which time the queen dowager governed the kingdom, assisted by the duke Albert of 142 HISTORY OF SCANllINAVIA. Brunswick^ to whom the prefectship had been entrusted. The young king, now past minority, was scarcely settled on the throne, when his kingdom was again alarmed by the rebellious Jacob Erlandson rejecting repeated pro- posals of agreement, and even bidding defiance to the commands of the Pope ; and not till the queen dowager herself determined on going to Eome, was a reconcilia- tion made, according to which the king had to pay the archbishop the sum of fifteen thousand ounces of a. d., silver, and replace him in his ecclesiastical dig- ^274. nities. When Jacob Erlandson was returning home from Rome, he died by the way before reaching Den- mark, the king rejoicing very much at having got rid of this spiritual tyrant. But, unfortunately, the king had, both within his own land and abroad, other foes not less to be feared. With Magnus Lagaboeter, King of Nor- way, married to Ingeborg, a daughter of Erik Plough- penning, a dispute arose, Erik Glipping, in the con- fused condition of the kingdom, not being capable of paying the dowry. The Norwegian king arriving with a great fleet in Skane, was, however, defeated by the Danish army ; but under the sons of Magnus a destruc- tive war commenced, during the course of which the defenceless Danish coasts and maritime towns w^ere grievously vexed by the piracies and formidable pillages of the Norwegians. Nevertheless, Erik G-lipping en- gaged himself in the civil disturbances of Sweden, where the brothers Waldemar and Magnus Ladelaas were fflSTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 143 disputing for the throne ; hut he reaped neither honor nor profit hy his interference, and the power of the state hegan to decline. Magnus defeated Waldemar at Hove^ A. D., in Westrigothland, and was acknowledged King 1275. of Sweden, the agriculture of which he vigor- ously promoted; the peasantry, therefore, surnaming him Ladelaas, i. e. the protector of the harns. With these disturbances in Sweden, in which Erik (Hipping involved himself, came a war with Erik^ Duke of Schleswig, who continued to sow the seeds of dissen- sion ; but the king entering the duchy with a powerful army, and seizing upon the fortress of Tonder, which he razed, the duke was constrained to submit, and lost his duchy a short time before his death ; after which Schles- wig, for thirteen years, remained united with the king- dom, until unfortunately again Waldemar, called Duke "Waldemar IV., a son of Erik, above named, was invested with Schleswig as a fief. But not content with it, he now also laid claim to Aro, Alsen, and Femern, three islands in the Baltic. He fell, however, into the hands of the king, had humbly to throw himself at his feet, resign his claim, and make a confession in writing of his want of loyalty to his sovereign. Besides these in- cessant contests and disputes, Erik Grlipping was fre- quently at variance with the noblemen, because of his A. D., violence and want of candor, and he was, at a 1282. diet of Ni/borg, compelled to promise, in writing, to rule more justly, and in accordance with the laws of 144: HI«TORY OF SCANDINAVIA. the state. The same year a pestilential disea»-^e occur- red, by which great numbers of men and cattle were swept oif ; terrible fires also happened in different parts of the kingdom ; and, to crown the misfortunes of this year, Margarethe, the queen dowager, died, after hav- ing, with great discretion and policy, governed the king- dom and her son for the space of twenty-three years. Erik G-lipping now comforted himself with the pleasing hope of enjoying the remainder of his life in tranquillity, but his subjects growing more and more weary of him and his transgressing the limits of his authority, and disgusted at his debauching several wives and daughters of the nobility, formed a conspiracy against the king, privy to which were James, count of Halland, and Stig Anderson, who ran him through the body with a sword He fell beneath the blow at Finderup, by Wi- a. d., borg, in Jutland, where he was diverting himself 1286. with hunting for a few days. Thus, in less than fifty years, four Danish kings were dispatched by assassi- nation. These events having occurred, the situation of the kingdom became yet more gloomy, Erik Menved* likewise surnamed the Pious, being only twelve years of age at his father's death. In want of a leader, the affairs of government fell into the hands of the queen- dowager, Agnes of Brandenburg, whose respectable qualities were universally esteemed. Being, however, without that firmness of mind which perseveres in fflSTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 1±0 difficult times and cases, she imprudently made duke Waldemar lY. of Sclileswig, joint guardian, even re- signing to him the disputed islands, Aro, Alsen, and Femern, so that he acquired a power in the state which properly belonged to better men. A formal sentence of death was pronounced against the regicides, who, escap- ing to Norway, appealed to the king, Erik Prcestehader (i. e., the hater of the priests), to whom they swore allegiance, and received from him the fortress of Kongs* hel, strong by nature and art. Besides that, they brought into their occupancy several fortified places of the Danish coasts and islands, whence they, for a space of nine years, ravaged their native country with fire and sword, breathing vengeance wherever they went, and seeming to threaten to depopulate the kingdom by a continual drain of its forces. One of the conspirators, however, was, some years after, taken in Roeskilde, and broken upon the wheel. About the same time a new contest with the clergy ensued. John Grand^ a kinsman of Jacob Erlandson, and related to the regi- cides, had been appointed archbishop of Lund, although highly against the consent of the king and the queen- dowager. No sooner had he reached this dignity, than he joined the regicides and the Norwegians, doing all within his power to injure the king and blast his credit. But at last the king caused him to be appre- hended and imprisoned in Soborg', a castle in North Sjelland, where he was placed in a subterranean dun- 146 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. geon and treated with the utmost severity. He was, however, fortunate enough to escape to Boinholm, a remote island in the Baltic, from whence he repaired to Rome, to appeal to the Pope himself, at that time the imperious and domineering Bonifacius VIII. By his coloring the facts, he incensed his Holiness violently against the king, and was acquitted of all guilt, while a penalty of forty-nine thousand ounces of silver was inflicted upon the king, which he, however, decidedly declined paying. Erik Menved, rightly imagining the Pope had been deceived by a false representation of the nature of the dispute, remitted to Rome an appeal, and heavy complaints of the archbishop. But without avail. The whole kingdom was, by the papal a. d., legate, Isarnus, laid under a new interdict of 1298. five years. After a lapse of some years the king, in order to be reconciled with the Pope, sent a most suppli- cating letter, entreating that he would be pleased to remove the heavy curse, and receive himself and his sub- jects again into the bosom of the church. His Holiness granted the request ; the interdict was taken off, the payment of forty-nine thousand ounces of silver reduced to ten thousand, and John G-rand was transferred to an archbishopric in France. The duke of Schleswig, Waldemar lY., sided for a while with Norway and the regicides, but being totally defeated in Greensound, he was obliged to conclude peace, and give back Aro, Alsen and Femern. AVith HISTORY OP SCANDINAVIA. 147 A. D, Norway, the long war was finished by the treaty 1309. of Copenhagen, hy which the province of Hal- land was ceded to the Norwegian king, Hakon V., and made over to him in perpetuity. But it was only a short time that Denmark enjoyed the blessings of peace, which were soon interrupted by her restless Swedish neighbors. The dukes AValdemar and Erik, brothers to Btrger, king of Sweden, occasioned great disturbances. Erik, a crafty and ambitious young prince, who, on account of his being married to Ingeborg, a daughter of Hakon Y., had expectations of ascending the throne of Norway, was anxious to dethrone Birger, and thus also become king of Sweden. Erik Menved, the Danish king, married to a sister of king Birger, took part in the Swedish disturbances, and made several expensive expe- ditions to Sweden, to defend his brother-in-law and preserve to him his throne. The rebellious dukes had surprised Birger in his castle Hatima, and imprisoned him. Erik Menved raised an army, and led his troops to the frontiers of "West Gothland, where he was met by the enemy. Both armies encamped within sight of A. D., each other for some days, and at length a peace 1^10- was agreed to, in Helsingborg, in consequence of which king Birger was restored to a part of his dominions, and the dukes received the remainder, on oath of fidelity and homage, as vassals of the crown. But Birger, breathing vengeance, invited his brothers to ft drinking-bout in Nykdping. After having treated 148 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. them with magnificence, he suddenly ordered a. d., his people to break into their apartments while i^^^. they were asleep, to seize them, to strip them, and fetter their necks and heels with iron chains. They were tlii'own into a dark, dungeon, where they died of hunger But a sedition now arose against Birger, who had to flee from his kingdom, and died a fugitive in Denmark. To regain the great territories in Grermany which Waldemar I. and Waldemar the Conqueror had con- quered, was a favorite thought of Erik Menved ; where- fore he, through a series of years, made frequent expe- ditions to bring the cities and princes of Pomerania and Mecklenburg under subjection, but without avail. Towards the close of his reign, he had a new dispute with the clergy, in which, however, he got the better, the rebellious archbishop of Lund, Esg-er Juel, being compelled to refrain from war and leave the country But soon the kingdom was distracted with internal dissensions, which had broken out amongst the stirring noblemen, who formed a conspiracy against the king's life, and caused a great insurrection in North Jutland where the people refused payment of the taxes imposed by the king and the diet, of which Christopher, the king's own brother, dishonoring himself by treacherous connections with the insurgents, was the ringleader. Not being capable of realizing what he had expected, he went over to Sweden, where he lived in exile till the year 131S, A. D. Upon his death-bed the king wished^ HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 14:9 however, to be reconciled to his brother, and accordingly granted him a free pardon, without stipulating any terms. Though having fourteen children by his queen, A. D., Ingeborg, Erik Menved died childless, after a 1319. reign of thirty-three years, leaving his kingdom in a most declining condition, on account of the many external and internal wars, and of the general abandon- ment of all the virtues by which, under the two great Waldemars, it had risen to power and greatness. To procure money to defray the charges of these wars, a great deal of the royal fiefs and other revenues had been mortgaged to native and foreign magnates, by all of which the kingdom had become weakened. Contempo- raneously with this, a mighty league was formed in the northern part of G-ermany, called the German League of the Hanse-towns^ which, in process of time, became extremely dangerous to the northern countries. It arose in the middle of the thirteenth century, when several seaport towns joined together to defend their mercantile neutrality. By degrees this league increased its mili- tary resources, and after the middle of the fourteenth century it comes clearly into view as a domineering policy in the North, acquiring a great superiority in the Baltic, and gaining a permanent footing in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Russia, where the league, com- prising the important commercial cities, Hamburg, Liibeck, Bremen, Kostock, "Wismar, Stralsund, and Novgorod, mastered all mercantile affairs; a^d theii 150 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA, power increased so rapidly, that five hundred men-of^ war could soon be mustered from these cities ; and the imprudent Danish kings, Abel, Erik Grlipping and Erik Menved, during whose internal and external wars the star of the League was in the ascendant, had often to have recourse to the assistance of the Hanseatio towns, which understood how to fish in foul water. Upon the whole, the superiority of the Hanse-league was the chief cause that Denmark's cities and burgher class in the Middle Ages never rose to any power or impor- tance, the G-erman merchants importing almost aU articles manufactured. II. 1319—1397. Christopher II. — Charter — War with Geert, Count of Holstein — Battle on Tap- heath — Niels Ebbeson — Waldemar IV., Atterdag — Insurrection in Jutlarid — Magnus Smek of Sweden — War with the Hanseatic-towns — Rebellion — Waldemar leaves the country — Olaf — Queen Margarethe (the Semiramis of the North)— King Albrecht of Sweden— The Battle at Falkoping — The Union of Calmar. Upon the death oi Erik Menved, Christopher II., his brother, was elected and declared king, although Erik, even while lymg in his last gasp, had, knowing by ex- perience his brother's mean and base disposition, tried to dissuade the people from electing him. His reign Bookbinder to surrender the capital to Chris- 1536. tian III. Albrecht of Mecklenburg and Count Chris- topher of Oldenburg were forced to throw themselves at the king's feet to obtain pardon. A few of the most stubborn ringleaders were beheaded, but the great body of the revolters were conciliated by an act of amnesty. The intellectual excitement occasioned by the intro- duction of the Reformation, exercised a useful influence upon the improvement of the Scandinavian literature, which, as well as all progress of literature, was highly favored by the spirit of free inquiry fostered by the Reformation. In the last centuries of the Middle Ages there was less scientific activity than before ; historians, as Saxo Grammaticus, Snorro Sturleson, and Andrew Suneson, appeared no more, and the fatherland's his- tory was only told in brief chronicles and dry annals, HISTORY OF SCANDmAVIA. 237 mostly written by monks in corrupt Latin. At the foreign imiversities — Paris, Bologna, Cologne, and Loven — where young men pursued their studies even after the erection of the universities of Copenhagen and Upsala, only the canon law and scholastic philoso- phy were taught. But the Keformation, rightly called the great genius of all genuine liberty, emancipated the human mind from the thraldom which ages of spiritual despotism had imposed upon it, discarded the subtleties of the schools, and sent science and the arts forth into the wide world of humanity. Only a few ecclesiastics cultivated medicine. Henry Harjpestreng ^ canon in Roeskilde, composed in the thirteenth century a remarkable medical work in Danish, yet extant. Danish writings were also very rare, everything being recorded in Latin. King Olaf^ Margarethe's son, highly disliking this putting aside the mother tongue, enjoined that public documents should be issued in the Danish language ; but, however, Latin continued to prevail. German merchants and mechanics settled in almost all cities of the country ; German noblemen emigrated in multitudes from Holstein and other German countries, and except king Hans and Christian II., all the kings of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries were Germans, not so much as able to speak Danish with their subjects. Under these circumstances, the Danish language was more and more depraved ; German words and phrases crept into it, and the original phrases and forms of ex- pression disappeared. 238 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. But the Reformation, that great principle of Christian liberty which restored to every mother tongue its rights, and the progress of the art of printing, which now also had become known in Scandinavia, arrested the ap- proaching dissolution of the Danish language. The Bible was now translated into Danish, and Danish books were published. John Snell^ a traveling printer, was the very first who in Denmark printed a Latin book, published in Odensee, in'^he year 1482. The very first printing office was established by Gotfred of Ghemen in Copenhagen, where, in the year 1495, the first Danish book was printed and published, by the name of The Danish Rhyme Ghronide^ i. e.. The Danish History put into Rhyme ; which, during the reign of Christian I., was composed by the Abbot of Soro^ ITicolaus. But none has rendered himself more eminent in regenerat- ing the language than Christen Petersen^ above men- tioned, who not only during his exile published a trans- lation of the New Testament and of the Psalms of David, but even upon his return to Denmark continued to enrich the literature with several literary works, all excelling in a pure and elegant style. Peter Lolle, also, who collected the heroic songs of the Middle Ag^s and the old Danish sayings, has distinguished himself by the purity and splendor of his style. The morality of the Middle Ages could not but suffer by the degeneracy of religion and by the increasing corruption. The scandal of the crimes committed by many of the ecclesiastics, was increased by the facility HISTOET OF SCANDINAVIA. 239 with which such as committed them obtained pardon. A bishop, for instance, might assassinate for a small sum of money. Any clergyman might violate his vows of chastity likewise for a little money ; and it is, on the whole, easier to conceive than to describe the gross immorality which such a system introduced into society at large. The kings often had the mortification to see all their laws overthrown by insurrections of the peas- ants, goaded to madness by the oppressions of their lords. Murders, and other dreadful crimes, therefore, occurred frequently, private vengeance often supplying the impotency of the laws. Scarcely any institutions existing for the instruction of the commonalty, the greatest number of the people were growing up in the deepest ignorance. Through all classes of society gross superstition was prevailing, especially appearing in belief in witchcraft and enchant- ment. Sorceresses were tried by an ecclesiastical tri- bunal, condemned and burnt. Christian II. forbade, indeed, that superstitious cruelty ; but, however, long after his time, it continued, and even as late as 1675, two sorceresses were burnt alive in Kjoge^ a few miles from Copenhagen. Intemperance and gluttony, and, among the higher classes of society, an excessive luxury in dress and equipage, were characteristics of the four- teenth and fifteenth centuries. Dmnkenness was here, as in other northern countries, a prevailing vice, both among the higher and lower classes, among clergy and laity. Mead and strong beer were the usual drinks to 240 HISTOEY OF SCANDDTAVIA. be taken, either for qnenching thirst or for medicinal purposes ; mead being prepared in the country itself, beer imported from Germany. Beer was taken so ex- cessively, that a man daily consumed twelve pints, and to a nun in a nunnery ^ve hundred and four gallons were annually allotted. Brandy, in the north of Europe, a spirit obtained from grain, was only known as a medicine ; and coffee, tea, and chocolate were unknown in Scandinavia before the seventeenth century. Yege- tables were, comparatively speaking, used very little, whereas fish and meat formed the principal food, strongly seasoned with spices. Luxury in entertain- ments was very much in use ; Christian II., therefore, enacted a law that a wedding-party must not last more than two days. The extravagance of the rich nobility in dress and ornaments exceeded all bounds. Immense amounts of money were squandered away on ornaments of gold and silver, gems, dresses embroidered with pearls, silk, velvet, damask, brocade variegated with gold, and furs of ermine and sable ; even the servants of the nobility being sometimes dressed gorgeously, and their horses, on festival occasions, covered with costly cloth and ornaments of gold and silver. The general dwell- ings in the towns were plain, usually built of timber- work, and thatched, wherefore destructive conflagrations frequently happened. Panes of glass were yet, in the fifteenth century, rare and expensive ; skin and horn being, therefore, used instead of glass. The opulent fflSTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 241 noblemen erected castles, fortified with towers, ram- parts and moats, where they lived in princely magnifi- cence. But the Reformation, rightly called the principle of equality, compelled the nobility to renounce a great many prerogatives which they had hitherto exercised over the poor and ignorant population, and to use a more temporizing policy. THIED PEKIOD. FEOM THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF LUTHERANISM AS THE ESTAB- LISHED RELIGION OP DENMARK UNTIL THE INTRODUCTION OF THE ABSOLUTE SOVEREIGNTY. 1536 — 1660. 1536—1596. Christian III.— Diet of Copenhagen— Charter— Bugenhagen— The Re- formation introduced into Iceland— Intolerance— University and School Affairs— Alliance with Sweden— New Division of the Duchies —JVe(Zeric7(.'JJ.— Conquest of Ditmarsh— Three Crowns— The North- ern Seven Years' War— Daniel Ranzau— Peace concluded in Stettin —Peter Oxen— Foundation of Kronhorg— The Sound Dues— Liibeck Hamburg— Science and Arts — Henrik Ranzau— Tycho Brahe — Christian 7F.— Queen-Dowage Sophia of Mecklenburg— Guardian- ship— Peasantry— Nobility. The war now being at an end and Copenhagen surrendered, the king Christian IIL^ came to an agree- ment with the senators about abrogating the power and authority the bishops hitherto possessed, thereby facilitating the introduction of the Reformation, and completing the religious revolution. The bishops of the whole kingdom, therefore, were imprisoned, but soon again set at liberty, after, by oath, having promised neither to act nor to speak against the new doctrine. Only Joachim Eonnov^ bishop of Roeskilde, proving HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 243 very refractory, was confined in prison till his death. A. D., Thereafter, in a general assembly ot the states ^^^^' in Copenhagen, at which all the nobility and deputies of the burgher class and peasantry met to- gether, the noble king procured the suppression of the Romish worship, and the abrogation of episcopacy and the episcopal hierarchy; the titles, however, of the bishops being retained, which more easily reconciled the clergy to it. The castles, fortresses, and vast domains of the bishops were now reunited to the crown, and the rest of their revenues applied to the maintenance of Lutheran ministers, the purposes of general education, and charitable institutions. From Denmark the revolution extended to l!^orway, where the Reformation was introduced without any opposition ; but about the same time this kingdom, for having, as we have seen, supported the deposed Chris- tian II., was deprived of its independence, and reduced to a Danish province ; the king of Denmark, however, continuing to call himself king of ^Norway, but being no more crowned in Trondhjem, only in Copenhagen, the crowning there giving validity to both kingdoms. At that important general assembly, or Diet of Copenhagen, the aristocracy lost the vicious supremacy over the pre- rogatives of the crown and the rights of the people which they had established ; the senate was no more to be composed entirely of nobles; national assemblies should be convoked, and the elections of the kings should 244 HISTOET OF SCANDINAVIA. not alone be confined to the aristocratic order. Never- theless the nobility continued to keep a good deal of that ascendancy which they had too long maintained ; and the royal power, a long time after, was restricted by charters and capitulations, which the nobility pre- scribed to the kings on their accession to the throne, the burgher class and the peasantry being very little noticed. Before closing the Diet, where the papal hierarchy in Denmark and Norway was entirely overthrown, Chris- tian III. sealed and signed a charter, containing nearly the same clauses and articles as the earlier ; yet with the exception that the subjects were not permitted to rebel, even if the king might not rule in conformity with the charter. For the restj the power of the crown was very much limited by this charter, containing very little to support the dignity of the king, but too much to gratify the nobility and secure to it the chief powers of the state ; the whole reign of Christian III., there- fore, being a continued struggle against the encroach- ments of the aristocracy, which had taken too deep root to be eradicated at one blow. The Lutheran or Evangelical doctrine which, accord- ing to the Decree of the Diet of Copenhagen, had become the established religion in Denmark and ITorway, was, as we have seen, introduced without considerable oppo- sition in both kingdoms ; only in Icelcmd^ an island in the northern part of the Atlantic ocean, noted for its vol- canic mountain, HeTda^ the Catholic party fell with the HISTORY OF SCANDmAVIA, 245 sword in their hands ; John Areson, bishop of Holum^ and Ogmund^ bishop of Skalholt, who withstood the introduction of the Reformation into Iceland, falling by the stroke of an executioner; whereafter the new doc- trine got a firm footing and Iceland fell into complete dependence upon the Danish government, promising never to carry resistance so far as to employ the sword against the king of Denmark. Popery had now been overthrown in Scandinavia, but the Protestantism erected in its stead was for a long time just as bigoted and intolerant as the Catholic creed had been in the worst of times, several severe laws being passed against other Protestant sects, which only in a few points dissented from the established church. There was a division between the Calvinists and Lutherans, and an unhappy animosty of one party against the other, which the Form of Concord, a confession of faith that was sub- scribed on the 28th of May, 1577, had not been able to compose ; and it was in vain that some exiled Calvinists, headed by a Polish nobleman, Johji a Lasco^ who had been cruelly persecuted in England, took refuge in Den- mark, hoping to induce the else kind-hearted king, Christian III., to show them protection and toleration. But all in vain ; and although only disagreeing about a few points concerning the Lord's Supper, and the doc- trine of predestination, they were mercilessly banished from Denmark, and, in the midst of the sternest winter, forced, with infants and sick women, to emigrate to U6 fflSTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. (iermany. Flatterers extolled the king as the extermi' nator of heresy, but sincere and true Christians held Christ's words before him : " Be ye merciful, as your father also is merciful." In order to regulate the ecclesiastical affairs and com- pose a liturgy according to the doctrines of the Refor- mation, Christian III. induced Luther's friend, John Bug'enhagen, theological professor at Wittemberg, to come to Copenhagen. He crowned and anointed a. d., the king, inaugurated the new Protestant bishops, 1^37. and made himself highly famous by composing a liturgy and ritual conformed to the Lutheran system of refor- mation. Regarding a strict observance of the Sabbath as a safeguard of public order and virtue, and deeply con- vinced that Grod, who is the Giver of all time, never has surrendered to ordinary use this His own reserved sea- son, but appointed it for collective prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings, and considering the Sabbath Day a season when labor may wipe off its grime, Bugenhagen prevailed upon the king to enact a Sabbath law adapted to the wants of the people, the king himself promising to enforce by his own example the observance of the Lord's Day. For the rest, the meek and pious Bugen- hagen advised against persecution of those who proved themselves good and quiet subjects, whatever were their opinions on controverted points of theology ; a warning, however, very little listened to in Scandinavia. The ecclesiastical affairs having now been regulated HISTORY OP SCANDINAVIA. 247 and the laws having given their countenance to the established mode of worship, the king abolished the cloisters of the mendicant monks, the Dominicans and Franciscans, applying the revenues of their large estates to the maintenance of literary men, Protestant minis- ters, and school afFahs, and teaching those idle, rebel- lious, and licentious friars how to submit themselves to his decision with unconditional compliance. Also, the prebends granted to the cathedral churches of Lund, Roeskilde, Ribe, Aarhuus and Wiborg, were confiscated, and applied to literary purposes, especially to the advancement of the University of Copenhagen, which, during the civil disturbances, had sunk into nothing; Christian III., therefore, in all reason, being considered A, D., the proper founder of the University, which now 1539. fjom this period slowly advanced for about two centuries, till it was brought to great perfection in the age of Christian YI. He appointed a greater number of professors than before, and applied the estates of the cathedral churches to pay the salaries of the professors, and to exempt meritorious and suitably qualified young students, whose circumstances required it, from charge for tuition. The efforts of Christian II. for improving the school affairs being broken off by his banishment, it was re- served to Christian III. to give the Latin schools a better regulation by proposing more proper school-books and a better method of instruction. But it was a pity *^^^ BiSrORY OF SCANDINAVIA. that in these schools, of which one was erected in each commercial town, the Latin language continued, almost exclusively, to be cultivated, the other branches being neglected altogether. In this manner the Latin lan- guage was strained to the highest pitch, and a classical Latin style became the distinguishing mark of profound scholarship : an opinion which, although somewhat modi- fied, has been maintained in the Scandinavian countries. Of erecting country schools, no mention was made in this period. But civilization and religious enlightenment received a mighty impulse in Denmark during the sixteenth century by that translation of the Bible, which a. d., Christian III. ordered, and which Palladius, i^^^- theological professor at the University of Copenhagen, performed in a masterly manner ; it being thus the first Danish translation of the Bible, which, hitherto, had been a book unknown to the commonalty and the burgher class. Although Christian III. had not been involved in any war since the civil war had terminated, yet the peace of the kingdom had a long time been threatened by Duke Franz of Lothringen, and Frederick, Elector of Saxony, sons-in-law of the imprisoned king, both laytag claim to the throne, and both having a powerful support in the emperor, Charles Y., brother-in-law of Christian II. To strengthen himself against these pretenders, Christian III. entered into an alliance with Francis I HISTORY OP SCANDINAVIA. 249 of France, an enemy of the emperor, and with Grustavus Vasa of Sweden, with whom he, of late, had had some discord concerning the possession of G-ulland. These contests, however, were soon composed, a strict alliance A. D., was made between Denmark and Sweden, in 1541. Bromsebro, and the plans of the two pretenders did not conduce to the desired result. This alliance, so promising for the strength and harmony of the North, and affording so just expectations of a permanent peace, soon losi its effect, the Danish king assuming three crowns in his coat of arms, thereby indicating his pretensions to all three kingdoms. The inveterate jealousy anew broke out, and although the peace of Bromsebro had put an end to the open contest between the two monarchs, the hereditary animosity between the royal houses of Denmark and Sweden was not extinguished, but, after a few decennaries, broke out in a destructive seven years' war, exhausting the re- sources of both kingdoms, and at last forcing Denmark to recognize the independence of Sweden by the treaty of Stettin. The emperor, Charles Y., at length withdrawing from A. D., all fellowship with his brother-in-law. Christian 151*- II., made peace with Denmark, in Spire, where Christian III. had to promise to mitigate the rigid A. D., imprisonment of Christian II., in the gloomy 1549. tower in Sonderburg, where he already had pined away for seventeen years. He was now brought to 250 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. # Kallundhorg^ in Sjelland, where he ended his a. d. days after he had attained nis seventy-eighth i^^^- year. Christian III. was a member of the League of SmaU calcC^ which the Protestant princes had formed for their mutual defence, in case any of them should be attacked for the Word of God's sake ; but as the war of Smalcald broke out between Charles Y. and the Protestant princes, the situation of the Danish king, who had lately made peace with the emperor, became very critical. He sent, therefore, no troops to Grermany, but instead, a sum of money, which yet the royal embassador wisely withheld, the war being ended in the battle of Milhlberg', a. d., where the elector of Saxony, John Frederick, an i^*'^- intimate friend of the Danish king, was taken prisonei after a brave defence. Christian HI. purchased for the crown the two dioceses, Oesel and Curland ; but to avoid offending the Russian Czar, Ivan Vasilievitch, declined accepting the large city of Reval, which voluntarily offered to submit to Denmark. That division of the duchies, Schleswig and Holstein, which had taken place during the reign of king Hans, was again annulled, at the accession of Frederick I., to the Danish crown ; but Christian III. undertook a new division between his brethren, although the old and expert general and statesman, John Ranzau, strongly advised against this imprudent step. Adolph, obtaining the Gottorp part, became founder "sf the house of HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 251 Holstein-Grottorp, the dukes of which so often waged war with Denmark ; Hans the Elder got the Haderslev part, and the king himself the Sonderburg part. To the fourth brother, Frederick^ was only given the diocese of Schleswig, and later, that of Hildesheim. Owing to these divisions and parties, the aifairs in Schleswig- Holstein have often taken a disastrous turn for Den- mark, and occasioned sanguinary national wars, the kings often not knowing how to keep the rebellious dukes within due bounds ; and I grieve to say, that Christian' III., in many other respects so invaluable a king, by that division of the duchies between his brethren, has sown the seeds of that spirit of resistance and discord, which, though it did not break out in his time into acts of violence, afterwards proved fatal to his successors, and became the principal cause of the violent revolutionary storms and convulsions in the years 1848, '49 and '50. The commercial industry in Denmark was roused considerably in every quarter of the country during the reign of Christian III., and not only foreign trade, but domestic manufactures made a rapid progress. Copen- hagen, Aalborg, and Kjoge, hitherto having manifested very little of the spirit of commerce, began to be remarkably distinguished for their trade and manufac- tures ; and the international trade between Denmark and Norway was considerably increasing, the favorable location of Denmark and Norway at the Baltic and the 252 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. North sea, giving them every advantage in mercantile respects. The herring-fishery in the Lymfjord, and the salmon in G-uden river, at Randers, were sources of riches for Denmark, as iron, copper, lead and potashes were for Norway. The Hanseatio League, which had begun to decline from the year 1428, and was now fast sinking into decay, transferred to Denmark and Norway a great part of their trade, and the declension of the Hanseatio Confederacy, the unwise attempt of which to enforce monopoly proved fatal to their privileges and their power, was the commencement of the splendor of Copenhagen, that for a long series of years rivaled the most eminent commercial cities of Europe, and speedily attained to a very high degree of wealth and elegance. A general commercial intercourse began between the North and other countries, and Denmark and Norway found London, Antwerp and Amsterdam the most convenient entrepots in transmitting their productions. Christian III. encouraged, also, domestic manufactures by many excellent laws, and it became of great conse- quence for the increase and growth of commercial affairs, that he caused good money to be coined, and made weights and measures uniform for both kingdoms. It may not be improper to conclude this sketch of the reign of Christian III. with a few observations on his character and private life. During his whole reign he proved intent or projects of real utility, and distin- guished himself by rectitude of mind and conduct, by HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 253 unfeigned piety to Grod and love to men, and by care- fulness for the prosperity and well-being of his king- dom ; he loved the arts and sciences, and promoted them ; his habits were economical, and his manners plain and familiar ; he was a decided hater of false- hood and low flatteries, which he on taking the Lord's Supper strikingly exemplified. The court chaplain ad- dressed the king while kneeling before the altar : " Most high and mighty Prince, most gracious King;" but Christian, rising, reprimanded him directly, saying, " I have knelt down here as a poor sinner ; here I am neither high nor mighty. Don't address me in such a manner ; call me here plainly Christian." He exhibited himself often to his people, conversed with them, and shared in their innocent tastes and amusements. His queen, Dorothea^ exercised perhaps a greater influence over him than was desirable, the king's severity against the exiled Calvinists, who had taken refuge in Den mark, being mainly ascribed to her. Being jealous ol the great consideration and honor conferred upon the A, D., eminent financier and statesman, Peter Oxen, 1559. g]^e prevailed also with the king to bani&h him. On new-year's day Christian HI. died in Copenhagen, after having borne the agonies of protracted sickness with Christian patience and resignation. He is buried in the Cathedral of Roeskilde, where a splendid vaulted mar- ble repository is erected to receive the earthly remains of the kings and queens of the house of Oldenburg. 254 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. The crown of Denmark and Norway was now con- ferred upon his son, who was elected and crowned by the name of Frederick II., after having subscribed to a charter not very different from that of his father. Having as crown-prince always been on the best terms with the Danish and Norwegian people, his accession gave great satisfaction. He was soon crowned, and commenced his reign by liberal promises, and showed a wise policy in weakening the powers of the nobility and reuniting the great fiefs to the crown ; the nobility, however, understanding how to turn something to theii advantage. Anxious to relieve Denmark from the ignominy it had undergone in Ditmarsh at Hemmingsted under king Hans, and at the same time desirous to subdue that rebellious little republic, the king, in conjunction with his uncles, Hans and Adolph, made the most vigorous military preparations for washing out the ig- nominy and subjugating the unmanageable inhabitants. The warlike duke, Adolph, had already often tried to influence Christian HI. to make an expedition against Ditmarsh, but this peaceable king could not be induced to take any part in the contest ; after his death, Adolph proposed to make himself master of the re- public ; but Frederick II. being seasonably informed of :t, resolved to lead the undertaking himself, and go in front of his army. War was declared, of which the object and prize was the sovereignty of Ditmarsh- HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 255 Though alarmed at the prospect of their- destruction^ the valiant Ditmarshians would listen to neither reasons nor suggestions, hut with desperate hravery defended A. D., their liherty against the superior royal army, 1^60. headed hy the old John Ranzau. After a most heroic resistance at Heide, where women fought as well as men, they were forced to succumh to overwhelming numhers, and with white staffs in their hands to implore the king's mercy ; after which peace was soon concluded on terms advantageous to the king and the dukes, who now divided the country between themselves. The tal- ented historian. Professor Molbech, of Copenhagen, has eloquently described and particularized that heroic de- fence of the little people, who had determined either to conquer or to die ; and he has properly compared their heroism with that of the immortal three hundred, who at Thermopylae, under Leonidas, gloriously fell, op- posing the countless hosts of Xerxes. A marble column, as we know, was erected in honor of Leonidas and his brave Lacedaemonians, but no monument has pointed out to the traveler the spot where the heroic band of the Ditmarshians fell. About the same time as the war against Ditmarsh was ended, A. D., 1560, the noble-minded Grustavus Erikson Yasa, of Sweden, died, sixty-four years of age having established Sweden's prosperity by wise laws and founded the hereditary succession of the crown which afterwards was extended to females. His son, 256 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. the passionate, cruel, and at last almost insane Erik XIV., ascended the throne, during whose reign a. D., the horrible Danish Seven Yearns War broke 1563-70. out. A dispute about the use of the three crowns in the Danish coat of arms was the main motive of the war ; to which may be added, that the Swedish king would usurp feudal rights over the dioceses of Oesel and Curland, which the Danish king, Frederick II., had re- signed to his brother, Magnus, who in return renounced all claim to the duchies. Besides that, Erik XIV. had personally offended Magnus. The Seven Year's a. d., War now breaking out between Denmark and i^^^. Sweden, was waged both on land and sea. At sea the Danes were led by the great sea heroes, Peter Skram, Herluf Trolle, and Otto Rud ; but the first one being ninety years of age, soon resigned the staff of command. In a naval engagement at eland the Danes, indeed, cap- tured the Swedish admiral's ship, called the Matchless, having three benches of oars, an equipment of 1,800 ma- rines and 120 pieces of ordnance, but Herluf Trolle was soon after mortally wounded on the Pomeranian coast, and Otto Rud was made prisoner in a battle by Bornholm, and carried to Sweden, where the enraged and cruel king, Erik XI Y., would have killed him with his sword, had not Otto Hud undauntedly addressed him, saying : *' Be not wholly guided by your passionate temper, but remember, I pray your royal Majesty, what you owe to a warrior, who has discharged his duty to hi3 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 257 king and fatherland." Afterwards the Danish fleet was destroyed by a violent hurricane, not far from Grulland. In consequence of all these misfortunes, the Swedes were, beyond doubt, superior to the Danes at sea. The land force performed nothing as long as it was conducted by the inefficient general. Count Gilnther of Schwarzburg ; the command was therefore given to Otto Krumpen^ who, forty years before, during the reign of Christian II., had conquered Stockholm, but on account of old age he soon retired to private life, where- upon the chief command was entrusted to the brave and A. D., magnanimous Daniel RanzaU, who immortalized 1565. iiis name in the battle of Svarteraa, in Sweden, where he, with five thousand Danes, totally defeated the Swedish army, consisting of twenty-five thousand well disciplined soldiers. Notwithstanding this pro- digious inequality, Daniel Eanzau resolved to indulge the ardor of his few troops, but before commencing the battle he tried to inspire them with still more courage, by addressing them as follows : " Soldiers ! The enemy, whose cruel hands are reeking with the blood of your brethren, is impending over your heads. You must either battle as heroes or fight as poltroons. On the one hand is honor and a clear conscience ; on the other, in- famy and remorse. It concerns your king and your fatherland. Therefore, join together in the bravest defence, keep your eyes undauntedly fixed on tha "•^^ HISTORY OP SCANDINAVIA. enemy, and have a watch upon all his evolutions. In me you vi^ill find both the soldier and the general. 1 shall conduct myself in such a manner that I may be accountable for my conduct, here to my king, and in heaven to my G-od. Now, soldiers, forward ; let the ememy see the v^hite of your eyes ; rush straightway on him. The Lord of Hosts will be with us !" The Danish soldiers, animated by these words, fought like lions, and gained a complete victory ; and the celebrated Swedish historian. Dr. Gejer, says, that the Danish infantry wrought miracles. Within three hours four thousand Swedish bodies covered the battle-field. Having thus triumphed over that gTcat superiority, Daniel Ranzau, together with . Franzis Brockenhuus, another famous Danish commander, made an inroad into Smaland, a province of Sweden ; and, having passed into the interior of the country, he defeated, after sanguinary engagements, two Swedish armies ; where- after both those generals undertook a most difficult retreat, in the heart of the winter, through regions filled with mountains, forests, and hollows ; a retreat often compared by historians with that of the Ten Thousand from Cunaxa to Colchis, on the ^uxine, and thence along the Euxine to the Hellespont, about the year 400 B. C. Unfortunately for Denmark, both Daniel Ranzau and Francis Brockenhuus fell at the close of the war in the siege of Varberg^ in the province of Hal- a. D., land, in Sweden ; but the successful issue of the ^^^^- HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 259 war was chiefly owing to their skillful tactics. Erik XIY.j of Sweden, having reigned very imprudently and cruelly, and even having with his own hand murdered the young Niels Sture, a grandson of Steno Sture the Younger, before mentioned, and having caused all the nobles to tremble in anticipation of a similar fate, was placed in confinement by his brothers, John and Charles^ and sentenced to suffer death. The only favor shown him was to choose the manner of it, and he chose A. D., to empty the cup of poison. On his confinement i^^'^- John III. had ascended the Swedish throne in the year 1569. He wished to make peace with Den- mark, and after one year of negotiations the seven years' A. D., war ended in the peace of Stettin. Sweden had ^^'^^ to pay down to Denmark one hundred and fifty thousand rixdollars ; each kingdom should be entitled to use three crowns in its coat-of-arms, and the preten- sions which both kingdoms, since the Union of Calmar had been irreparably broken, had still mutually made to each other, should cease : Denmark recognizing the inde- pendence of Sweden, and Sweden, in return, disclaim- ing every pretension to Norway, Skane, Halland, Ble- king, and the island of Grulland. The happy issue of the war was owing, in a great measure, to the wisdom, firmness, and prudence of the skillful statesman, Peter Oxen., who had been recalled from his exile, and now, by his judicious management of finances and taxes, procured means of defraying the 260 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. great charges of the war. He also made himself well known by introducing several fruit trees, as also the carp, the pike, and the craw-fish. The little sconce or fortification called Krogen, at Earsound, (the small Sound between Denmark and Swe- den), having proved insufficient to command the naviga- tion through the Sound, Frederic IT. built the strong fortress called Kronborg, close by the city of Elsenore. The origin of the tax known as the Sound Dues of Ear- sound, goes back upwards of six hundred years, and is founded in that ascendency which the kings of Denmark, from time out of mind, ha,ve exercised over the narrow and small sounds and belts streaming through their lands ; an ascendency which the principal maritime powers, through a series of treaties, have acknowledged, and the tolls levied by the Danish Grovernment on all ships passing through the Sound, were considered an equitable compensation for the expenses which Denmark incurred in the erection and maintenance of light-houses, buoys, and landmarks, to protect the navigation of the different sounds ; and this compensation has been paid to Denmark by the several nations interested, according to a graduated scale, but always, however, considered a thorn in the side of the commercial nations of Europe. During the reign of king Hans it was decided, by a commercial treaty made with England, that the ships only in cases of utmost necessity could pass through the Danish sounds and belts, and should then pay tolls in HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 261 NyTx>rg, situated on the large belt. From the time of Christian II. the sound dues were paid down in pure silver, while in earlier times goods were taken. The enhancing of the Sound Dues in the following age occasioned many complaints, and as Frederick II. raise(.l it considerably, the Liibeckers made a complaint to the Grerman emperor, which, however, resulted in its enhancement particularly for the Liibeckers, who had to submit, their political influence being now almost undone. But Hamburg commencing again to occupy an influential rank amongst the commercial towns, had already, during the reign of Christian III., arrogated a right, called the compulsive right, in pursuance of which Hamburg would compel the Holsteinish towns situated on the Elbe to carry tneir grain and other merchandises to this city. But Frederic II. forced Hamburg to give up that usurped right, and pay ten thousand risdollars, and afterwards one hundred thousand rixdoUars. Yet older than the sound dues at Blsenore is the Stade toll levied by the Hanoverian Grovernment on all ships passing up the river Elbe. Stade is a small town situ ated on the Elbe. It originally belonged to the king of Sweden, but was subsequently seized by Denmark and sold to the elector of Hanover (Greorge I. of England) in 1715. In the time of Conrad II., emperor of Grermany (1040), permission was given to the archbishop of Ham- burg to establish a market in Stade, and to levy a tax on all goods offered for sale there, with the understand- 262 msTORY OF Scandinavia. ing that the revenae of the tax should be devoted to the use of the Roman Catholic Church in Hamburg. But the toll thus established as a market tax for religious purposes, has been enforced by the successive owners of Stade down to the present day, and has been converted into a transit duty on all vessels bound for the large cities of Hamburg and Altona, which yields the king- dom of Hanover an enormous annual income, for which it returns no compensation of any sort. But Hanover's pretended right to exact a tax for the navigation of the Elbe, is not entitled even to the consideration extended to Denmark ; because Hanover does not contribute a single dollar towards keeping the river in a navigable condition, or maintaining light-houses and buoys, the free city of Hamburg having for centuries borne all such expenses. The fatal division of the two southern duchies of Denmark, was continued under Frederick II., he granting to his brother, Hans the Younger^ who a. d., became the founder of the Sonderburg lineage, i^<^*- the counties of Sonderburg, Nordburg, and Aro, a small island in the Baltic. Upon the death of this Hans the Younger, this house was divided even into four others : Sonderburg, Nordburg, Ploen and Glucksburg ; the first of which was afterwards divided into five new lines, all, however, now extinct, with the exception of the Sonderburg (Augustenburg), and the Glucksburg (Beck), the possessions of the extinct lineages sucoes- HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 263 sively Leing reunited to the crown. Nevertheless, Hans the Younger and his successors took no share in ruHng the duchies, but were only considered proprietors of the allodial estates. The protracted disputes between the king and his uncles, concerning the enfeoffment A. D., of Sohleswig, were ended at an agreement in 1579. Odensee, after which the dukes, Adolph and Hans the Elder, took the oath of allegiance, thirty-six years after they had received their fiefs. Upon the death of Hans the Elder, his possessions were, after some variance, divided between the king himself and Adolph : A. D., Hans the Younger obtained nothing but, in com- 1580. pensation, some scattered possessions of the royal part of the duchies. It is easy to see of what vast detriment this division was to the solid interests of the Danish body. Frederick II. was, like his father, liberally disposed to encourage science and art, and, by his own example, to promote a fashionable relish for literary productions. He founded a cloister, also called the Community, a massive building, where a hundred students received free house and board ; and in SorOy a town forty English miles from Copenhagen, he established an academy for thirty children of noble descent and for thirty descended from the burgher class. The Academy of Herlufsholm, the environs of which are celebrated for their beauty, was founded by the great sea hero, Herluf Trolle, who liberally spent all his great riches 264: HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. to establish this yet celebrated institution. At this time lived also several men eminent in the various departments of literature, sciences, and the arts ; as Henry Ranzau, Tycho Brake, Niels Hemmingson and Anders Sorenson Vedel, the latter of whom has deserved well hy an excellent translation of the Latin original of Saxo G-rammaticus. Henrik Ranzau, surnamed the Learned, a son of the celebrated com- mander, John Ranzau, rendered himself known, both by his extensive learning and immense riches, which he applied to promote and encourage science and the arts, and to bring about undertakings of general usefulness. The great astronomer, Tycho Brahe, has gained the most unlimited reputation abroad, his name being known to the whole civilized world. In the thirteenth year of his age he entered the University of Copenhagen, and after there having passed his examination highly satisfactorily to his examiners, whose attention he at- tracted, particularly by his deep knowledge in the classics and mathematics, he visited several foreign Universities. Upon his return, the king, Frederic II., presented him with Hwen, a beautiful little rock-island, in the sound between Denmark and Sweden, where Tycho Brahe erected a castle named Uraniaburg, and an observatory called Stjerneburg (star-burg). He occu- pied these for twenty-one years in profound studies concerning the motions of the planets and the form of the heavens. This great man, whose genius far out- HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 265 shone all who had gone before him in the path of astronomy, so as not to leave to posterity the possibility of eclipsing his fame, discovered that the planets moved in a circular orbit round the sun ; and he discovered, likewise, the analogy between the distances of the several planets from the sun and their periodical revo- lutions, thus paving the way for the immortal Newton. He not only influenced his contemporaries by astro- nomical works, but instructed, also, many young men ; and he enjoyed so high a reputation, that even foreign potentates visited him on his astronomical island, amongst others, James VI. of Scotland, who had come to Denmark to celebrate his marriage with princess Anna, daughter of Frederick II. The Scottish king requested Tycho Brahe to ask a favor of him, and Tycho begged two English dogs, which became the innocent cause of his ruin. The lord high chancellor, Christopher Walkendorph, visiting him, the dogs, lying at the door, barked at the chancellor, who kicked them. Tycho Brahe, in general easily provoked, was so exasperated, that he severely rebuked Walken- dorph, who, greatly offended by this harsh language, tried to disgrace him with the young king. Christian lY. At "Walkendorph's request, the king sent Thomas Finche^ professor of mathematics at the University ol Copenhagen, to Hwen, to examine Brahe's astronomical instruments. The Professor, jealous of all the honor and esteem conferred upon Brahe, declared that the^ ^^^ HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. were too expensive and superfluous ; all which mortified the latter so much as to make him weary of his father- land, which he left in the month of April, 1597. He Qow repaired to Bohemia, where the emperor, Rudolph 11. , highly instructed in learning and science, cordially received hrm, and gave him a large yearly salary, and a palace called Benach^ close hy Prague, where he lived till his death, 1601. His cotemporary, the great as- tronomer, John Kepler, lodged in Brahe's house in Benach, hoth applying themselves to the deepest astro- nomical speculations. The emperor caused him to be buried with great pomp, in the principal church of Prague, called Church am Thein^ where a marble monument is erected, on which his image is engraven, as also his usual motto : " Non videri, sed esse" Dr. lessen delivered the funeral sermon, explaining in classical Latin, how his great genius had proceeded, step by step, from the simplest principles to the most sublime conclusions. The emperor, Rudolph II., bought his astronomical instruments. Notwithstanding his high genius and deep erudition, he wanted very much of that which is consistent with real greatness of soul. He was, for instance, very superstitious, considering certain days of the year pregnant with misfortune; wherefore it has become a proverb in the Scandinavian countries, when an unliappy accident happens, " This day is a Tycho Brahe's day." Niels Hemming'son (Hemmingius), one, for his age, HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 267 of the most learned and talented divines, renowned, both in his fatherland and foreign lands, met with the same bitter fate, with the same disappointments and neglect of merit, as Tycho Brahe. Suspected of being inclined to adopt the Calvinistic meaning ahout the Lord's Supper in the sense of " This represents my body," and of not asserting, as Luther, the bodily presence of Christ in the Sacrament, and arraigned by August, elector of Saxony, and brother-in-law to the Danish king Frederic II., for this crime, the generous and learned Mels Hemmingson was suddenly, in the sixty-third year of his age, without proof and passing of any sentence, deposed from his professorship at the university, it being the reward with which Denmark, both now and afterwards, has often distinguished Ht3- rary genius. Upon the whole, intolerance was a prominent feature of this period. The Form of Concord [Formula Con- cordice), a book in which the Lutheran doctrines, to- gether with some new subtle additions, were explained, which James Andrea, professor at the University in Tiibingen, Wirtemberg, tried to introduce into Denmark, was not only not introduced, but the king himself, with his own royal hand throwing a copy of that book into the fire, even commanded that clergymen, in whose houses it was found, should be deposed from the ministry, and booksellers attempting to sell it should suffer death without mercy. Already Christian III. had passed a law 268 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. forbidding any foreigner to settle in the country before he was examined in the Creed, and Frederick II issued twen- ty-five articles, which every foreigner intending to settle in Denmark should affirm by oath ; whosoever might de- cline doing so, had to leave the country within three days, and for apostacy capital punishment was to be inflicted. Frederick II. was married \o SojpJiia of Mecklenburg a daughter of Ulrich of Schwerin ; a wise, pious, and intelligent queen, by whom he became father of the famous king of Denmark, Christian lY.* He died in Cogenhagen, fifty-three years of age, his son a, d., Christian yet being a minor, only ten years of ^^^^' age. Upon the whole, Frederick II. ruled his kingdoms with justice vigor, and vigilance. In his private life he was fi'ugal without avarice, enterprising without teme- rity, and of an active and pious temper. The king drawing his last breath, and the court physician who came to feel his pulse remarking, " The beating of the pulse is weak," he answered, " Be it as it may, but we know the mercy of God shall not fail;" and when he had said this he fell asleep. But it was his misfortune, that with his many good qualities, and a large share of mental endowments, he wanted that toleration towards other religious denominations, which should have taught him moderation; and it was his misfortune, too, that in his latter days he indulged in the frequent use of strong spirituous liquors, which abridged his life and undermined his naturally healthy constitution. * And of the Princess Anna, in Danisli Ane, the Queen of James I. of England, and the mother of the much lamented Charles I. Stuart. See Livts of Qmem of England, by Agnes Strickland. HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 269 Christian IV. now mounted the tlirone, witli the en- tire approbation and even aftection of his subjects ; hut, being a minor, a guardianship was appointed, consisting of Niels Kaas^ counsellor of state, Peter Munk, admi- ral, Christopher Walkendorph, superintendent of finance, and baron George Rosenkranz, lord high chancellor ; all ruling the kingdoms carefully, and taking the utmost interest in educating the young king, and inspiring him with good and fu'm principles. He was not only taught Latin, Grerman, French, Italian, and Spanish, but also mathematics, in which he made great proficiency. EaTly manifesting a great propensity to naval affairs, he exercised himself in them on Lake Skander- burg, in Jutland, where a ship was built for that pur- pose ; thu<« in his youthful years acquiring no little insight into the science of naval affairs. He was often charged, under his minority, to consider and make answer to embassies, and give audience to the foreign ofiicers who came to Denmark ; and he often sat in council to profit by what passed. After having attainted the legal age prescribed by the Danish law (eighteen) A. D., Christian IV. assumed the government ; the old, 1596. dignified counsellor of state, Niels Kaas, address- ing him in the following soul- moving words : " By vir- tue of my office, I hereby deliver to your Majesty the key to that vault, where the royal crown, the imperial globe, and the golden sceptre have been preserved since the death of your royal father of glorious memory. Let 270 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. the crown never fall from your head, grasp the globe with genius and circumspection, wield the sceptre with wisdom and justice, and impair no man's well won privileges. May our Grod, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords enlighten you, and fill you with wisdom to promote the welfare of your two kingdoms, and may you never forget the great account you have to make in the last day. May your Majesty be crowned abundantly with all the blessings of this life !" Christian IV. now commenced his reign, after having sealed and subscribed a charter corresponding altogether with that of his father, and has distinguished himself among the sovereigns of the North by the superiority of his talents, and the zeal that he showed in reforming the different branches of the administration. He is often compared by histo- rians with his cotemporary, the magnanimous G-ustavus Adolphus, who raised Sweden to the summit of its great- ness, and whose very name has awakened in generous hearts the liveliest emotions of respect and admiration. Christian lY. was a remarkable linguist, illustrious commander, and an indomitable, fearless soldier ; but whether he was, as G-ustavus Adolphus, an exemplary Christian, we are permitted to entertain some doubts ; and when, therefore, a Danish historian, Frederick Sne- dorph, says : "I boldly, in every respect, compare him with G-ustavus Adolphus," we believe he asserts too much. After having assumed the government himself, he married the Prussian princess, Anna Gatharina^ HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 27l whereafter his mother, the noble-minded queen-dowager Sophia, repaired to Nykjobing palace, on the island of Falster, with which the king, her son, had presented ner, and where she lived in the exercise of secrel charity till her death, in 1631. II. 1596—1660. Christian IV. — Care and interest for Norway — Variance with Sweden — Calmax War — Peace at Knocrbd — He encourages Science and the Arts — Commer- cial Affairs — Discoveries — Regulation of the Post Affairs — Manufactures- Buildings — Participation in the Thirty Years' War — Battle by Lutter, near the Barenberg — Peace of Liibeck — Dissatisfaction amongst the Peasantry and Burgher Class with the Aristocracy — Dispute with Hamburg — Sound Dues at Elsenore — War with Sweden — Inroad of the Swedish General, Torstenson — Battle at Colberg — Peace of Bromsebro — Frederick III, — Election of King — The Charter — Alliance with Holland — Corfitz Ulfeldt- - Rupture with Sweden — Peace of Roeskilde — ^Renewal of the War — Siege of Copenhagen — Admiral Opdam — Battle at Nyborg — Peace of Copenhagen. After having taken his seat at the helm of govern- ment. Christian lY. commenced to act with great dili- gence and vigor, paying a particular attention to the many complaints that in Norway had been put up against the oppressive treatment of the royal bailiffs, who, when found guilty, were punished and deposed. Upon the whole, there was a prepossession of mind about him in favor of this kingdom, which he during his reign visited fifty times. Under the title of Cap- a. d., tain, he sailed straight to Kola^ in Uussia, and ^^^^- 272 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA^ at Yardo ran the risk even of his life, his ship run- ning aground and losing the keel; but he succeeded in getting off, without receiving any injury. Sweden for some time having disagreed with Denmark concerning the northern bounds of Norway, Christian lY., for getting an exact knowledge about this important matter, sailed himself by North Cape and along the coast of Finn- mark, where the Norwegian, Swedish, and Russian borders are adjoining to each other. The misunder- standing increased, when Charles JX, a son of Grus- tavus Erikson Yasa, having received the Swedish crown, which he had long been striving for, assumed the title, '' King of the Norwegian Laplanders," and even levied taxes in Finnmark, and posted placards on the custom- house of Elsenore, forbidding the Danish vessels to trade in Lifland and Curland. The dignity of th^ Danish crown being hereby highly offended,, a. d., Christian lY. declared war against Sweden, and i^ii. marched a powerful army against the strong fortress, Calmar, which after a terrible siege of three months had to surrender, although the old and brave Swedish king, Charles IX., spared no labor, and even hazarded his own person, in rescuing this principal Swedish place of arms. The taking of Calmar, which has given this war the name of the Calmar War, exasperated the old Charles IX. to such a degree, that he wrote a very unpolite letter to Christian lY., in which he even challenged the Danish king to fight a duel. In reply to HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 273 this letter, Christian told him, that it would be much better for him, being now so far advanced in years, to sit like an old woman behind a warm stove, than to risk a blow with a vigorous man, even abusing him in calling him a crafty old knave. Shortly after, October 30th, 1611, died Charles IX., his son, the great Grus- tavus Adolphus now assuming the Swedish government on the 26th of December, 1611. Quitting now the council board for the scene of battle, Grustavus Adolphus stormed Christianopel^ the principal depot of arms in Skane, and re-conquered Oeland. Nevertheless, the war continued successful for Denmark, Christian lY. taking by storm the Swedish fortresses, Guldborg and Elfsborg^ and demolishing the large city, Gothenborg, which Charles IX. had erected ; also at sea the Danes had the preponderancy in this war. The king of Swe- den had now levied 1,400 Scottish soldiers, as auxiliary troops, who, headed by Colonel Sinclair^ from Caithness- shire, Scotland, landed in Norway, devastating whereso- ever they went, and rushing forth like madmen. The Norwegian peasants, highly provoked at their plunder- ings and cruelties, took up whatsoever arms they could lay hold of, boldly encountering the Colonel and his ^ J) Scotsmen in Guldhrandsdalen (the Guldbrand 1612. valley), in a mountainous pass called Kringelen^ south of the mountain Bovrefield, where the Scottish chief and his 1,400 soldiers, save two, in the most horrible massacre were formally butchered. The one went home to Scotland to tell his countrymen of the desperate 274: HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. bravery with which the people of the North had de- fended their national rights ; the other remained in Norway, Vv"here he founded a glass furnace. In memory of that heroic exploit, a monument has been erected with the following plain inscription : " Here was Colo- nel Sinclair shot on the 26th of August, 1612." A Norse ballad, composed by the Norwegian poet Storm, has immortalized this ill-fated Sinclair expedi- tion, and it still resounds up to this very day from the lips of the peasants throughout old Norway, of which a free English translation, from the pen of a poet whose name I have not been able to ascertain, well deserves to be quoted : "To Norway Sinclair steered his course Across the salt sea-wave. But in Kringelen's mountain-pass He found an early grave. To fight for Swedish gold he sailed, He and his hireling band : Help, God ! and nerve the peasant's arm To wield the patriot brand. 'Neath the pale moon, the billowy surge Around the tall ship broke, When from the deep the mermaid rose, And thus to Sinclair spoke : — • ' Speed back, speed back, thou Scottish youUk. My warning do not spurn ; For if thou touchest Norway's strand, Thou never shalt return.' ' Vile wretch,' the angry chief replied, ♦ Thou ever bodest ill. If I but had thee in my power, Thy heart's blood I would spill.' Three days he sailed the stormy sea ; The fourth day saw him land, HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 375 With twice seven hundred stalwart men, Equipped with spear and brand He flung his banner to the breeze, " Laid many a hamlet low, And marked his route with blood and spoii^ — The mercenary foe. The warriors of the land are far, They and their kingly lord ; But shall her peasant sons not rise. And draw the avenging sword ? On rock and hill the beacons blazed, * Up, Norsemen !' was the cry ; And at the summons, mustering strong, They met, to do or die. In ambush close, 'mong Gulbrand's cliflFs, Five hundred rifles lay ; The vulture smelt the game afar. And hastened to his prey. The fated band are in the pass ; Up rose the peasants round. And poured on them a storm of fire, When Sinclair bit the ground. Woe to his hapless followers now ! By hundreds dropping fast, — They fell as thick as autumn leaves ' Before the polar blast. In slaughtered heaps their bodies lay By Lougen's darksome flood. While the ravens from a thousand hills Gorged in the feast of blood. They lay unburied where they fell, 4i sad and ghastly show, Until the storm-king pity took, And shrouded them in snow. Oh ! many a maid and mother wept, And father's cheek grew pale. When from the two survivors' lips Was heard the startling tale. A monument yet marks the spot, Which points to Sinclair's bier, And tells how fourteen hundred men Sunk in that pass of fear." 276 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. As commonly stated and generally believed, tlie num- ber of Sinclair's men was 1,400. However, this is most likely an exaggeration, as, from the best historic sources, the real number was only 900. The learned Scotsman Mr. Laing, so well versed in Northern antiquities, even thinks that the number did not exceed 150 men. Upon the intelligence of that frightful defeat, Grustavus a. d., Adolphus made peace with Denmark in kncerod, ^^i^- in the province of Halland, on the following terms, so advantageous for Denmark : both kingdoms were per- mitted to use three crowns in their coat of arms ; the king of Sweden was not to call himself king of the Laplanders, nor to exact tribute in the Norwegian Finn- mark ; Sweden had to pay to Denmark one million of rix-dollars. But Christian IV. was not so successful in the Thirty Year's War, during which he undertook the defence of the Protestant party against the German emperoi Ferdinand of Steiermark, who was a zealous Catholic ; and the Protestants of Bohemia, who had suffered under the government of his predecessor, Matthias, were appre- hensive of still greater restraint under Ferdinand. The religious dissensions continued daily to increase in ac- rimony and animosity, and at length the Catholic and Protestant leagues plunged Grermany into a civil war of thirty year's continuance (1618-1648), the horrors of which make the very flesh quiver. The Bohemians de- posed Ferdinand XL, and 3hose Frederick Y., of Pfalz, fflSTORY OF SCANDINAVLA.. 277 the elector Palatine, son-in-law of the English king^ James I., for their sovereign ; but Frederick soon lost the battle of "White Hill, near Prague, 7th November, 1620, where the imperialists determined the fate of Pro- testantism in Bohemia, the emperor compelling Fred- erick to seek refuge in Holland, and banishing the Protestant clergy from the country. Thirty thousand families were driven out, and had to flee to the Pro- testant states of Saxony and Brandenburg. The Pro- testant party now seeing its future shrouded in the darkest gloom of an impending tempest, and almost overpowered by the imperialists, formed a new Pro- testant union, of which Christian IV. was chosen the head, and the war burst forth with fresh violence. Eng- land, Holland and France also encouraged the gallant Danish king to defend the oppressed Protestants, promis- ing him support of money and troops. Relying on these promises, and actuated by compassion toward the un- A.D., happy Protestants, the Danish king was made 1625. captain-general of Lower Saxony, and crossed the Elbe with an army of 25,000 men, joined by 7,000 Saxons ; but, after some successes, the king fell head- long with his horse from the high ramparts of the fortress, Hameln, in Hanover, which accident for a time disabled him from leading his army, and shortly after he A. D., was defeated by the imperial general, Tillf/, near 1626. Lutter-am-Barenberg, (August 26, 1626,) with the loss of 4,000 men, the imperial general being far 278 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. superior to his Protestant adversaries. Nevertheless it deserves to be remarked, that the Danish army fought with the most undaunted bravery, the king himself setting forth a glorious example. By the two imperial commanders, Tilly and Wallenstein, the Danes were in the following year driven from Grermany, and the imperial troops, consisting of 100,000 men, overflowed the whole of Holstein, Schleswig and Jutland, so that Christian IV., threatened with the loss of his own a. d., dominions, was forced to purchase peace in Ltl- 1^29. oeck by renouncing all right to interfere in the affairs of Germany, and on the condition of abandoning his Grerman allies, especially the Duke of Mecklenburg. Furthermore, Christian had to resign his pretensions to the dioceses of Bremen, Verden, and Schwerin, which he had acquired for his sons, Frederick and Ulrik. Thus ended the Danish period of the thirty years' war, which undoubtedly would have been more successful for the brave Danish king had he been assisted by his allies according to their promise ; but the Duke of Lunehurg treacherously fell off, and Charles J., of Eng- land, who in 162^ had ascended the British throne, was almost immediately involved in a contest with his parliament, which diverted his attention from foreign affairs. But to Gustavus Adolphus, king of Sweden, perhaps the greatest and noblest warrior the world has seen, often called the Lion of the North and the bul- wark of the Protestant faith — ^to him it was reserved to HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 279 be the deliverer of the Protestants. He taught the haughty emperor, whose general, Wallenstein, m deri- sion called him the Snow-King, that the snow does not easily thaw in the North, defeating his mighty armies in almost every engagement, until at Liitzen, a small town of the present Prussian Saxony, on the 16th of November, 1632, he was shot through the left arm, body and head, and wounded in four other places before he died. But even in death he conquered, and for about sixteen years after, his spirit led his country's hosts to victory, until the emperor, tired of an unsuccessful war, concluded the remarkable peace of Westphalia, in the year 1648, the religious dissensions being finally put an end to. The three religions, the Catholic, the Lutheran, and the Reformed, were equally established. Although the terms of peace were not severe for Den- mark, yet this war of four years' continuance, made with great efforts and enormous expenses, had desolated the Danish countries and destroyed some of the most opu- lent and flourishing towTis. Industry was at a stand, agriculture neglected, commerce and manufactures to- tally annihilated. Hamburg had arrogated to itself a right called 72^5 restringendi ; that is, that all the inhabi- tants along the Elbe should carry their merchandises to Hamburg and there sell them for such a price as the Hamburg merchants thought proper to prescribe. To this despotic act the vigilant and active king Christian sought to put a stop by erecting the fortress GVuckstadt^ 280 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. where he levied toll on all the vessels which trafficked with Hamhurg, which now, after its fleet was a.d., defeated on the Elbe, had to submit, and even 1^43 pay down an indemnity of two hundred and eighty thousand rix-dollars. Denmark, at length, gradually recovering from her wounds and misfortunes, became again a powerful and wealthy nation, so much the more as Christian lY., for remedying the evils of the war and the scarcity of money, through several years had raised the sound dues at Elsenore. But Holland and Sweden, highly displeased with this, watched eagerly for a proper opportunity to deprive Denmark of the Eastern Sound provinces, and a most formidable combination seemed now ready to overwhelm Christian lY., under which a monarch of less spirit and ability than himself must certainly have succumbed at once. Axel Oxenstjern, chancellor of the kingdom of Sweden, and during the minority of queen Christina, daughter of Gustavus Adolphus, commissioned governor of the Swedish realm, a statesman whom posterity considers a man second to none, resolved to weaken the power of Denmark by a sudden invasion, commanding the famous Swedish general, Lennert Torstenson^ to leave G-ermany, and, without any declaration of hostilities, to carry the torch of war, into the very heart of Denmark. Christian lY. had, indeed, long dreaded Sweden's hostile intentions, but the careless senate and nobility, having placed too many restrictions on his power, would not grant him the HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 281 necessary pecuniary means to put the kingdom into a due posture of defence. Torstenson, therefore, meeting with no ohstacles, burst with the rapidity of lightning into Holstein, Schleswig and Jutland, another division of the Swedish army making an inroad into the Danish provinces in Sweden, Skane, Halland and Bleking; and had these two mighty armies jointly come over to the Danish islands, which, however, the insecure state of the ice and the activity of the Danish fleet prevented, it had been all over with Denmark. But all the towns and castles in the two duchies of Holstein and Schles- wig, except Grluckstadt, had to surrender to the advancing Swedes ; and Rendsburg, on the Eider, one of the strongest Danish fortresses, opened its gates to the enemy, and in the month of January, 1644, Torstenson stood on the Middlefartssound, a point of the island of Funen. Under all these perilous cir- cumstances the old king, Christian, did not relax in any of his royal duties, but evinced the most indefatigable activity, making everywhere in the provinces the most needful defensive preparations, and despite his advanced age, now almost seventy years old, going on board his fleet to command in person, and keeping a sti'ict eye upon the movements of the enemy. But everything seemed to look very gloomy for Denmark. On the other side of the Kattegat, in the Swedish peninsula, Gustavus Horn, field-marshal of Sweden, and genera] Lars Kagge, with an army of fourteen thousand horso 282 . HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. and foot, had made an irruption into Skane, in the beginning of the year 1644. Horn occupied Helsing-- borg, situated on the sound, across from Elsenore, and after having defeated the Danish troops Vi^ho ventured into the field, he took Landscrona, a seaport in Skane, whence he advanced to the siege of Malmo, a very strong fortress, defended on the land side with walls, ditches and bastions, and on the seaside by a strong castle, whither the brave old Danish king, with numerous forces, had repaired, which enabled the garrison to defy the utmost efforts of the Swedes. But in the mean- time a fleet arrived from Holland to assist the Swedes, obliging the Danes to raise the blockade of Grothenburg, which king Christian had commenced ; but the Danish fleet encountering it ofl" the coast of Jutland, prevented it from transporting Swedish troops into the island of Funen, and compelled the Hollanders to take refuge under the island of St/U, on the west coast of Schleswig, where they were cannonaded by the gallant Danish king. Meanwhile the Swedish fleet, numbering forty men-of-war, put to sea, under the command of Admiral Claus Flemming, a tried naval officer,, and having arrived on the coast of Holstein, near the island of Femern^ met the Danish fleet, numbering thirty a. d., men-of-war. On the 6th of July a terrible i^**- engagement took place, king Christian, despite his old age, commanding in person. The king himself, stand- .ing at the foot of the mast of his admiral ship, and mSTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 283 encouraging his mariners to persevere manfully to the end, was dangerously wounded, losing an eye and two teeth, a splinter from the ship having killed twelve men immediately around him. The king, however, con- tinued to command until the enemy was put to flight. This glorious victory has given rise to the magnificent Danish war-song, composed hy the Danish poet, Ewald, of which the following is a translation, made by Prof. Longfellow : KONG CHRISTIAN STOD YED HOIEN MAST. {King Christian stood ly the High Mast.) King Christian stood by the high mast, I 'Mid smoke and spray ; j His fierce artillery flashed so fast ; That Swedish wrecks were round him cast, ; And lost each hostile stern and mast \ 'Mid smoke and spray. ;! Fly, Swedes, fly! No hope to win Where Christian dauntless mingles in \ The fray! \ Niels Juul beheld the tempest grow. J " The day is right !" j Aloft he bade the red flag glow, . And shot for shot he dealt the foe. They shout, whilst fiercest perils grow, ! "The day is right!" i Fly, Swedes, in safest refuge hide ; i What arm shall stand 'gainst Christian's pride | In fight? i O North Sea! Vessel's thunders Kght j Thy murky sky ! j 284 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. His foemen shrunk with strange affright, For death and terror round him fight; Sad Gothland hears the bolts that light Thy murky sky ! He gleams, proud Denmark's shaft of war. The foe must own his brightest star : They fly ! Thou road for Danes to power and praise, Dark heaving wave! Eeceive thy friend, by valor's rays Led through thy wild and boisterous ways ! Guide the bold youth to power and praise, Dark heaving wave ; And free, through storm and tempest, through Dangers and glory, waft him to His grave! It affords me much pleasure to quote this excellent translation, in which the Danish original has not lost more of its power than is the case with every transla- tion. But, as previously stated, everything seemed to look dark lor Denmark, and the victory gained by Femern was only a momentary blaze. After being defeated, the Swedish high admiral, Flemming, repaired to Christiansprus, now called Fredericksort, to repair damages, where he, in the bay of Kiel, was immediately blockaded by the Danish fleet, whence the Swedes could not escape on account of the adverse wind. King Christian opened a fierce cannonade upon the Swedish fleet in the harbor, in which bloody engagement the valiant Swedish admiral, Flemming, fell, turning over the command, before he expired, into the hands of Charles Gustavus Wrangel, who had acquitted himself in the most satisfactory manner in the battle of Lutzen, HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 285 1632, where his master, the great and noble Gustavus Adolphus, breathed out his illustrious life. It being, of course, of the greatest consequence to keep the Swedish fleet enclosed in the bay of Kiel, to prevent it from uni- ting with the Hollandish fleet, commanded by Martin Thysen^ Christian lY. entrusted this important matter tc the charge of admiral Peter Galt^ and had he acted with due vigilance, the Swedish fleet would have been irretrievably lost. But an unpardonable negligence of Gralt, for which king Christian immediately ordered the admiral, although seventy-two years of age, to be be- headed, united the Swedish naval forces with the Dutch squadron. The combined fleet, consisting of sixty-four men-of-war in all, met that of Denmark, numbering seventeen ships-of-war, between the islands of Femern and Laaland, on the 13th of October, 1644, and obtained over it so complete a victory that only two men-of-war escaped, and the heroic Danish admiral, Prosmund^ fell, after having given the most extraordinary proofs of dauntless spirit. The combined fleet then sailed for Kieler harbor to refit, after which the Hollanders returned home. At length the emperor, Ferdinand III., envious and jealous of the progress of the Swedes in Denmark, ordered his general, Matthias Gallas, to collect all his available forces in Bohemia, and move towards Holstein. He entered Kiel, and obtained some few other unimpor- tant advantages, but the Swedish general, Torstenson, offered him battle, which he did not dare to accept; 286 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. and Gallas, says a Grerman historian, made his way out of Holstein, having actually been of more detriment than benefit to the Danes, whom he had been sent to assist. The misery of Denmark increasing day by day, and the Swedish general, Wr angel ^ in the spring of 1645, as soon as the season would permit, taking the island of Bornholm, and disputing successfully the sovereignty of the Danish seas, while Torstenson, on the land, kept most of the Danish islands blockaded, the gallant Danish monarch. Christian lY., was compelled to make^^^ -^^^^ a disadvantageous peace at Bromsebro, on the A. D., following terms : Sweden should be exempted ^^^^' from paying Sound Dues ; Denmark should forevei renounce her claims to Herjedalen and Jemteland^ (two provinces in the Swedish district, Northland, Nor- landia)^ also to the two islands in the Baltic, Oeland and Gulland. In the same year the Danish king was also compelled to adjust a pacification with Holland in Christianopelj where the Sound Dues for the Dutch merchantmen were considerably abated. When the sanguinary and expensive wars, mainly arising out of the thirty years' war, terminated, the Danish and Norwegian kingdoms were so enfeebled and harassed, that they, during the last three years of the reign of Christian IV., sunk into inactive repose. Such a complete change in all commercial transactions had taken place, that credit was shaken, trade injured, manufactures cheeked, the public treasury exhausted, HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 287 and thousands reduced to beggary. Several energetic measures for remedying the evils of the war, and bring- ing the countries into a better condition, were taken by the active old king; but meeting with opposition and obstinacy on the part of the senate and the nobility, which had been invested with undue power and influ- ence, they all sunk into nothing. The nobility were displeased with the king for bestowing the highest ofiices alone on his sons-in-law, who were married to daughters of his concubine, Christine Munck, with whom the king, upon the death of his queen, Anna Catharina^ had contracted a morganatic marriage. Thus, for instance. Count Pentz was governor of Holstein, Hannibal Sehestedt governor of Norway, and Corfitz Ulfeldt^ married to the king's dearest daughter, Eleonora Christina, was lord high chancellor, exer- cising an all-powerful influence upon state affairs. Although the nobility might have some reason for com- plaining of the favor shown to the king's bastards, yet it is not to be denied, that the sad condition of the kingdoms was owing rather to the many restrictions which the nobility had placed on his power, than to any want of talent in the king himself; the nobility continu- ally trying to restrict the royal authority, to secure the chief powers of the state to the aristocracy, and destroy even the best plans of the king. The noblemen had brought their influence even to that point that neither the clergy nor the burgher class and peasantry could 288 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. write any application to the king unless signed by a nobleman. George Dybvad^ theological professor at the University of Copenhagen, published a v^^ork about this unjust tyranny, but the nobility convinced the king that Dybvad's modus operandi was not in accord- ance with the spirit of the times, and that it was repug- nant to their privileges, and the king, had to depose him from his office. Christopher Dybvad, not intimi- dated by his father's fate, spoke of the nobility in the bitterest terms, and composed a work in which he con- demned the prerogatives of the nobility as destructive to the kingdom ; but he was imprisoned for life. Even the best efforts of the king for the improvement of his country were opposed by the nobility. He tried to improve the circumstances of the peasantry, but met with so much opposition, that he was forced to give it up ; and his anger was often wound up to such a pitch as to exercise despotic authority against some noblemen. Thus, for instance, baron Christopher Rosenkrantz was beheaded for having committed only a trifling fraud. Besides all these disagreeable terms on which he was with the nobility, and which often darkened his days, he had, in his old age, the heart-rending grief a. D., to lose his eldest son, crown-prince Christian^ i^*"^- his long elected successor to the throne. "We have next to examine the king's conspicuous abilities in leading the internal affairs of his kingdom. In peace he was as unceasingly active as in war and HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 289 military preparations. Having enjoyed, himself, a care- ful education, and being well versed in languages, both the ancient and modern, he had a high appreciation of learning, and was, therefore, a judicious and munificent patron of science and literature. He appointed more professors at the University of Copenhagen than before, furnished the University with new incomes taken from the ecclesiastical estates, which were vacant from the time of the Reformation, enlarged the University library, and built a spacious building called Regentsen {domus regia), for indigent students. The Royal Observatory of Copenhagen, called the round tower ^ was; built at the king's expense, and a botanic garden and an anatomical theatre were founded. In order to give the young noblemen that education at home which they fre- quently sought at foreign Universities, Christian IV. erected in the town of ^oro an Academy [Academia Sorana)^ exclusively for noblemen, commanding that for the future no nobleman should go abroad before reaching the nineteenth year of his age. Among the learned men who lived during the reign of Christian lY., we ought not to forget to name Ole Worm, distin- guished both as physician and antiquarian ; Caspar Bartholin, a famous anatomist, has become progenitor of a whole generation of learned men ; Tycho Brahe^ above mentioned, acquired an immortal renown by his astronomical researches and discoveries. Longoman^ tanus, a disciple of Tycho Brahe, gained reputation as a 290 mSTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. great mathematician. Hans Paulson Resen and Broch man^ bishops in Denmark, have signalized themselves by deep theological learning, of whom the first trans- lated the Bible out of the original tongues ; the learned Icelandic clergyman, Arngrim Jonson, commenced fun damentally to explain the remarkable Icelandic Edda, composed by Snorro Sturleson, A. D. 1218, and con- taining the system of the Scandinavian mythology, and specimens of the poetry of the ancient Northern Skalds. Of consequence for the history of the fatherland was the Chronicle of Denmark, composed and published by Arild Hvitfeld, a short time lord high chancellor of the kingdom. Also royal historiographers were appointed ; but it is remarkable that it was incumbent on them, as a duty, to write in Latin, and several of them, as Meursius and Pontanus, were foreigners. The mother tongue as yet enjoyed very little esteem, nearly all books being written in Latin. Christian lY. being also a promoter of fine arts, prevailed upon Charles van Mandern, the famous Dutch painter, to visit Denmark, to whom the church of Soro owes its greatest beauty. He left many scholars of great reputation, who distin- guished themselves by a graceful and correct design, and several, that, in one single department, may be found to surpass even Charles van Mandern. The active king also invited foreign enterprising merchants and mechanics to Denmark, and established salt and saltpetre manufactories, paper mills, sugar houses, pow- HISTORY OP SCANDINAVIA, 291 der mills, and several copper works in "Norway. Under A. D., him? also, were the important silver mines near 1623. Kongsberg in Norway discovered. In his reign, also, the Danes first directed their attention to the Asiatic trade, and founded an East India Company, and tried to procure possessions in the East Indies, the king dispatching, for that purpose, the Admiral Ove Gjedde, to the island of Ceylon^ situated in the Indian ocean. This attempt, however, proving abor- tive, the admiral formed a commercial establishment at Tranquebar, on the coast of Coromandel, which was ceded to the company by the rajah of Tanjore. The king also attempting all means possible for renewing the navigation to Greenland^ which already in the tenth century was discovered and peopled by Norwegians from Iceland, the navigation to it, however, being inter- rupted by the frightful disease called the Black Plague, under "Waldemar lY., dispatched the captain, Jens Munk, to Grreenland, where he established the Company of Grreenland, which carried on a profitable whale fishery in those regions. That Denmark's own inhabitants might profit by the Icelandic trade, which the greedy Hanse towns and the English had almost exclusively appropriated. Chris- tian IV. founded the Icelandic Company. Also, many public buildings, cities, and fortresses were founded by this wise monarch : as the Merchants'' Exchange^ the Church of the Trinity^ the Church for Seamen, the 292 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. Palace of Rosenborgs and the splendid palace of Frede- ricksborg, sixteen English miles from Copenhagen, which his father, Frederick II., had commenced. He founded, in Norway, Christiania, the present capital of Norway, Christiansand, and Kongsberg ; and the fol- lowing fortresses : Gliickstadt, on the Elbe, Christians- pries, now called Fredericksort, at the hay of Kiel, ChriS' tianopel, in Bleking, and Christianstad, in Skane ; for the greater number of which the king himself made the plans. He established a school for the art of navigation, and raised a standing army, consisting of five thousand foot, steadily trained in military exercises. The king himself, very skillful in the art of ship-building, modeled many of his men-of-war, which were considered the most beautiful and the best in Europe ; and the Danish navy was in an excellent condition, and the strongest bulwark of both kingdoms. He also distinguished him- self by his zeal for the propagation of the Christian religion, and notwithstanding his limited means, he succeeded in diffusing the Christian principles through a considerable portion of the East Indies ; and if the Danish East India Company had not been injured by the pertinacious jealousy of the Dutch, who excluded them from the most profitable branches of trade, he would have been able to do much more. It may not be without interest to learn that Christian lY. was a warm advocate of colonial enterprise, and considering America a gold mine, the idea of planting a colony in the new HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 2^3 world held a conspicuous place in the mind of tha Danish monarch ; and the State of New Jersey was first settled by the Danes, about the year 1624, making their abode in the town of Bergen ; but as Peter Stuyvesant^ the Dutch Grovernor of New- York, conquered New Jersey in 1655, most of the Danes left the country. The great Grustavus Adolphus, of Sweden, conceived the same idea, and a Swedish colony was planted in 1627 in the State of Delaware ; but the Dutch disputing the possession of it with them, the Swedes, after the Dutch conquest, 1655, returned to Sweden. He was a great hater of superstition and deceitful dealing, and the years 1572-1648 were signalized in the annals of Denmark by vehement and severe trials for witchcraft. This fanatic and shameful delusion went on increasing until, in the city of Rihe^ in Jutland, not less than twelve women were burned alive. After a memorable reign of sixty years, and after having him- self governed his kingdoms through half a century, A. D., Christian lY. died on the 28th of February, 1648, 1648. aged seventy-one years, an object of the love and affection of his subjects, and of the honor and regard of the whole of Europe, the policy of which he often had powerfully influenced. Frederick III. After an interregnum of three months Christian lY.'s second son succeeded his father to the throne of both kingdoms, by the name of Frederick III. ; during which interval the state affairs were controlled 294: mSTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. by Corfitz Ulfeldt, lord high chancellor, Christian Se hested, lord high treasurer, Ove Gjedde, ord high admi- ral, and Anders Bilde, commander-in-chief; and having first sealed and subscribed a very severe charter, restrict- ing the royal authority much more than before, and increasing the power of the nobility, which charter has mainly been ascribed to Ulfeldt, Frederick III. ascended the throne. The events of the last time having shown how dangerous the enmity of Holland was, the king wisely sought to persuade that realm to join his party ; the more since Sweden, because of her triumphs in the thirty year's war, and last successful war with Den- mark, almost became the arbiter of the European destiny, and was elevated to a pinnacle of glory and power which proved dangerous to Denmark's peace and secm-ity. The learned and intelligent Corfitz Ulfeldt, therefore, was sent to Holland to negotiate an alliance of mutual defence against every enemy. The alliance made, a Treaty of Redemption was concluded, accord- ing to which Holland, instead of Sound Dues yearly, had to pay one hundred and fifty thousand florins. Corfitz Ulfeldt, towards the close of the reign of Christian lY., having often given the king reason to be displeased with him, and lost very much of his affection, occupied a position yet more dangerous and slippery during Frede- rick ni. The great power his high office gave him, his immense riches and high connections, struck with fear ana jealousy both the king and his proud queen, Sophia fflSTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 295 Amalia, a princess of Brunswick Luneburgj who ail the time was cherishing a personal aversion and dislike to Ulfeldt's lady, Eleonora Christina^ the virtuous, handsome, and ingenuous daughter of Christian IV. A. D., Upon his return from his embassy, with the re- i^^9- suit of which the king on the whole was dis- pleased, an action at law was entered against him, as he had, during his administration of the finances, been iuspected of embezzlement and peculation ; both of which, together with other humiliations, induced him to leave the court entirely, and retire to private life. About the same time a lascivious girl, Dina Winhofer, being in an unbecoming intimacy with Colonel Waltery in- formed the king, that Ulfeldt and his lady had prepared a subtle draught for his Majesty. This, however, being proved false, Dina, on the 11th of July, 1651, was pub- licly beheaded, and Walter banished ; but Corfitz Ulfeldt continued to be suspected and disliked, wherefore he, with his wife and four sons, suddenly left Denmark for Holland. King Frederick, highly exasperated at his leaving without permission, deposed him from his digni- ties and deprived him of his estates of Hirchholm. Cor- fitz Ulfeldt, however, not thinking himself safe in Hol- land, fled for shelter to Sweden, where queen Christina^ fondly attached to learned and talented men, receivea him and his family with every circumstance of ho'nor But here he became guilty of treason, not alone provo- king the Swedish king, Charles Gustavus X, Christina's 296 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. successor, to war against Denmark, but even aiding hiin in making inroads into the Danish dominions. Charles Gustavus X, a nephew of the great Grustavus Adolphus, who, at the abdication of Christina, a. D., seized the reins of government of Sweden, pos- i^^^- sessed all the qualities and talents requisite to follow in the footsteps of his uncle, his reign being one succession of hardy enterprises and remarkable exploits. He indulged the martial spirit of his people by declaring war against Poland; where John Casimir, descended through Sigismund, his father, from the race of Yasa, revived his pretensions to the throne of Sweden, pro- testing against the nomination of Charles X. Poland was then invaded by Charles ; the progress of the Swedes was rapid ; they obtained two brilliant victories in the field, captured Cracow, the former capital of Poland, and compelled the terrified John Casimir to fly into Silesia. Thereafter the king entered Prussia, where he compelled Frederick William, elector of Brandenburg, to acknowledge himself the vassal of Sweden. Meanwhile, John Casimir having returned to Poland, the people rushed to arms, and the country was on the point of being reconquered from the Swedes, when Charles X. led back an army to the assistance of his troops, and fought a terrible battle near Warsaw, 1656, which, after having lasted three days, was ulti. mately decided in favor of the Swedes, and Poland had again to submit. His great success in Poland had HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA 297 already excited the apprehensions of the emperor cl Austria, of Holland, and Brandenhurg, and rekindled the jealousy of Denmark, which, desirous of profiting by the complicated embarrassments of Sweden, and hoping now easily to regain the lost provinces, declared a. d., war against Sweden, although her defensive i^^"^- affairs were in the most miserable condition. But Charles G-ustavus, who had fought in Grermany under the illustrious Torstenson, soon convinced the Danish king, Frederick IIL, that he was able to chastise his temerity. Concluding an armistice with Poland, he repaired to Pomerania, and then into the duchy of Bremen, which the Danish army had conquered. Thence he marched with 12,000 men into Jutland, where the Danish commander-in-chief, Anders Bilde, defended the fortress of Fredericia, which, however, was taken by the Swedish general, Herman Wrangel, who was now made Lord High Admiral of Sweden. Charles Grustavus X., with astonishing rapidity, made himself undisputed master of Holstein, Schleswig, and Jutland, the treacherous Ulfeldt, who was minutely acquainted with the interior parts of the country, assisting him with his advice and actual help. But Charles X. could not yet pass over to the small islands, as his fleet, numbering fifty-nine men-of-war, in a horrible engage- ment with the Danish navy close by the island ol Falster, was so cut up and crippled as to be obliged to make port to refit, this disadvantage being about 298 msTORY OF Scandinavia. the only one he had in this war, while the prospects of the Danish king had become dark as naidnight. After being defeated at the island of Falster, a.d., Charles Grustavus, in the month of January, i^^^- drew up his victorious forces on the shore of the Little Belt, which was completely bridged with ice. The extremely rigorous cold, twenty-four degrees of Eeaumur, which had thus fettered the strait, still con- tinuing, and giving no signs of relaxing in severity, Charles, having tested the strength of the ice, and measured its thickness, weighed the matter carefully for a short time in his mind, and determined to pass over it with his army. "With the king at their head, the Swedish troops, numbering 20,000 men, advanced, in separate columns, accompanied by all their horses, baggage, trains and artillery, combating, even upon the ice, (where two divisions of his dragoons were sub- merged and drowned,) the detachments of the Danish troops, which bravely endeavored to arrest their advance, and at last, victorious over the enemy and the ele- ments, Charles Grustavus entered the island of Fyen (Funen). At the eastern coast of Fyen, separated from the island of Sjelland (Zealand) by the Grreat Belt, the Swedes discovered this water, sixteen English miles wide, likewise entirely frozen. Charles at once de- termmed to attempt the passage, taking, nevertheless, such precautions as prudence demanded. In place of crossing directly from Fyen to Sielland, where the cur- fflSTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 299 rents are too rapid to afford sure passage on the ice, h«s marched his army by a circuitous route between the islands of Langeland, Falster and Laaland, where the well fortified city of Nakskov^ imprudently listening to the crafty and subtle demonstrations of the treach- erous TJlfeldt, unresistingly surrendered to the Swe- dish king, whose cards were almost all trumps in this war. Only the Danish Admiral Bredahl distinguished himself by heroically and successfully defending the Danish fleet, which was ice-bound in the gulf of Ny- borg. At length, arrived in the island of Sjelland, the Swedes, to whom the ice and the deep snow presented no obstacles, advanced upon Copenhagen, a prey to the greatest terror, and unprepared for the event of a siege. In fact, so general was the consternation, that, within ten days after the landing of the Swedish army in Sjelland, Frederick III. sent commissioners to the city of Wordingborg to negotiate with Charles G-ustavus, whose conditions, however, were too severe to be agreed to by the Danish commissioners. But Charles Grus- tavus, tenax propositi, advanced further towards Co- penhagen, and Frederick III. had to offer humiliating proposals of peace, signed by the commissioners at the small village of Hoie Tostrup, eight English miles from Copenhagen, and afterwards affirmed and signed by the king himself in the definite treaty subsequently con- A. D., eluded at Roeskilde, on the 26th of February, 1658. 1658. So humiliating were the conditions for 300 mSTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. Denmark, and so glorious for Sweden, that one of the Danish envoys exclaimed, as he affixed his signature, like the usually cruel Roman emperor, Nero, when a warrant for the execution of a criminal was brought to be signed: '' Would to Heaven that I had never learned to write." Said peace of Roeskilde was concluded on the following terms : Denmark should give over to Sweden Skane, Halland, Bleking^ Bahus, Trondhjem, in Norway, and the island of Bornholm, in the Baltic ; as also deliver twelve men-of-war and two thousand horsemen, and, finally, replace the treacherous Corfitz Ulfeldt in his dignities. Shortly after both mon- archs met together, for the first time, with great pomp and ceremony, at a splendid entertainment in the royal palace of Fredericksborg, amusing themselves by friendly conversation, as though living in the best harmony. The base and contemptible Corfitz Ulfeldt was now re- placed in his dignities, his estate, Hirchholm, restored to him, and his lady, Eleonora Christina, was granted the title of Countess of Schleswig-Holstein. But to return to Charles Grustavus. Repenting that he had omitted the convenient opportunity of subduing all Denmark and Norway, and pleading that the two thousand horsemen had not been delivered duly equip ped, he broke the peace a few months after, landed with his army in Korsor, and advanced upon Copenhagen. But this insincere peace, which proved to be only a suspension of arms, stirred up a new spirit among the HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 301 Danish people, now uniting the most enterprising and heroic spirit with the greatest prudence and moderation, and clearly comprehending, that it had come to sad extremities, and that the existence of Denmark and Norway, as independent states, was at stake. In Copenhagen every one prepared himself for the most determined defence ; no one spared himself ; even the young students of the University took up arms, the king's own example being the most effectual encourage- ment to the promotion of a courageous defence. Several citizens ^advised the king to leave the capital, but he answered : •' Even if the worst comes to the worst, I srill not leave, but die in my nest." Charles Grustavus X. commenced to lay siege to Co- penhagen, and also sent a body of hardy Swedish soldiers to take possession of the important fortress, Kronborg ; it being of the more consequence, as a strong Dutch fleet was expected to relieve the besieged city of Copenhagen. Wrangel was sent to besiege the fortress of Kronborg, which he took from Colonel Beenfeldt in less than three weeks' siege, acquiring thereby enormous booty of can- nons and powder, which enabled the Swedes to carry on the siege of the Danish capital with yet more energy ; Charles Grustavus being so confident of winning the horrible game, as to write to king Frederick III. that his life and liberty lay at the mercy of the Swedes, and that he (Frederick) might easily comprehend that Den- . marli: was undone, and like a patient past recovery. 302 EISTORY OF SCAXDINAVIA. But king Frederick did not despair ; the citizens and students of Copenhagen made several sudden and suc- cessful sallies on the enemy; and three patriots, the engineer Steenwinkel^ the bailiff Hans Rostgaard, and the clergyman Henry Gerner^ hazarded their lives for reconquering Kronborg, which, however, fell short of success, their patriotic design being too early discovered. Steenwinkel was decapitated by the enraged Charles Gustavus, Hans Rostgaard escaped by flight, but the magnanimous minister of the gospel, Henry Gerner, was put on the rack, and asked questions about the plans and operations of the Danish army, which he, nevertheless, obstinately declined revealing. Under command of the generals Schack and Gylden- love, the chief captain of the city, Thureson and the king himself, the citizens of Copenhagen continued to defend the city in the most heroic manner, but began soon to suffer from want of provisions. Meanwhile the Dutch fleet arrived, under Admiral Opdam, to the assistance of the Danes, carrying brave soldiers an J plenty of victuals. On the 24th of October the a. d., fleet came booming through the narrow sound, i^^^- under a terrible shower of cannon balls from Kronborg, whence the Swedish general, "Wrangel, tried to prevent the passage of Opdam and his fleet, but in vain. After having totally defeated "Wrangel, Opdam arrived safe in Copenhagen, where the most boundless rejoicing took place. Te Deums were sung in all the churches, and fresh spirit and courage quickened every soul. HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 303 The siege having lasted half a year without any is.";ue, Charles Gustavus now resolved to take the capital hy a general storm and a violent onset, making the most desperate preparations, and promising his troops, if victorious, the plunder of Copenhagen for .three days He ordered his soldiers to put on white shirts, that 'he besieged might not distinguish them on the snow-covered ground, and hade them not to spare even the child in A. D., the mother's womb. The night between the 10th 1^^^ and 11th of February was appointed for that wholesale slaughter, which he had in view. But the result disappointed his expectations. The undaunted Frederick III. being informed of the plans of the Swedes by the patriotic Lorentz Tuxen, receiver of taxes in Hirchholm, made the most skillful preparations, and his military talents had here, undeniably, the noblest field for their exertion, as his antagonist, Charles Grustavus, was deservedly ranked among the greatest commanders in Eur' pe. In that frightful night king Frederick III. was present himself wheresoever the danger was greatest, and the talent he displayed in bringing the siege of Copenhagen to a happy issue has immortalized his memory, as well as that of its brave citizens. Even the queen, the proud Sophia Amalia^ arrayed in a mili- tary dress, was all the night on horseback, encouraging both the soldiers and citizens to shed the last drop of theii blood for king and fatherland. V' \ddened by the thirst for victory, the Swedish sol- 304: HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. diers foaglit with a bravery almost unheard of; the massacre was dreadful, and the Swedish historian, La- gerbring, says, that Charles G-ustavus kept up so con- stant a discharge of artillery, that had each hundredth ball hit the mark, not a single Dane would have been left. The Danes, excited to frenzy by the agonies their eyes beheld and the lamentations their ears drank in, fought with the most desperate bravery, and after a heroic resistance forced Charles Gustavus to raise the siege of Copenhagen. For the important services the citizens of Copenhagen had rendered, Frederick III. conferred upon them great prerogatives and privileges, equal to those of the nobility. Few enterprises were ever more deeply weighed than that of Charles G-ustavus, few preceded by more im- mense preparations, and few, perhaps, ever attended with a more unfortunate issue. And here it may not be out of place to use the words of the Spanish writer, Bentivoglio : "So often the Divine Providence, in the wisdom of his impenetrable decrees, has determined the fate of an enterprise quite contrary to the presumptuous expectations of human foresight." Also, in other places did the Swedes suffer great losses. The inhabitants of the island of Bornholm drove out the Swedish garrison, and threw off the Swedish yoke. Likewise, from the diocese of Trondhjem^ Norway, the Swedes were turned out, and the citizens of Frederikshald, Norway, bravely defended their iown against three different attacks of HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 305 the Swedes. Nakskow, on the island of l^aaland, which in the former war so rashly had surrendered, now compensated for it hy a heroic and obstinate defence of thirteen weeks ; even the small island Moen, South of Sjelland, made a valiant resistance. Finally, the con- federated troops arrived to the assistance of Denmark ; the elector Frederick Wilhelm^ of Brandenburg, at the head of thirty thousand men, clearing almost the whole peninsula of Jutland from enemies. Undaunted by all these misfortunes, Charles Grusta- vus, although finding himself surrounded with mighty enemies, formed a new plan for the destruction of his hated rival, Frederick III. Marching a considerable body of soldiers to the island of Fyen (Funen), where, close by the city of Nyborg^ a Danish army of ten thousand men was encamped, Charles ordered his gene- ral. Count Steenbuck, to attack the Danes in theii intrenchments. A battle was now inevitable, and both armies prepared for the contest with equal courage. The battle was. brief, but fierce, and after a dreadful combat of about four hours' duration, the Swedish army was irretrievably ruined; four thousand of their best troops were left dead on the field, three thousand were taken prisoners, and about two thousand of the fugitives were soon after forced to surrender on the coast, from want of boats to cross the Grreat Belt. Only G-eneral Steenhuck escaped by flight. When intelligence of this defeat was conveyed to Charles G-ustavus, who tarried 306 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. in Korsor in Sjelland, lie laconically exclaimed : " Since the devil has taken away the sheep, he might as well also have taken the buck." Charles Grustavus now repaired to Grothenburg, from whence he made an irruption into Norway, but without avail, only to iearn the downfall of all his expectations. Shortly after, he died, in Ihs yeai 1660, full of gnef that liia visionary designs had proved unsuccessful; whereafter negotia- tions for peace, were commenced with Sweden, a. D., and a treaty was concluded in Copenhagen on i^^^- the 27th of May, on terms, which, though severe, were more favorable than Frederick HI., under the circum- stances, could reasonably have hoped. Sweden retained Bahus, as also the three fertile provinces, Skane, Hal- land and Bleking-, which Denmark never has got again ; only Trondhjem in Norway, and the island of Bornholm were restored to Denmark, the execution of this treaty being guaranteed by Holland, England and France. Thus the bloody war with Sweden terminated, just as Denmark was upon the very brink of her ruin. FOURTH PERIOD PROM THE tNTRODUCTION OF THE ABSOLUTE SOVEREIGNTY UN- TIL THE TEAR 1852. 1660—1863. 1660—1766. Frederick III. — The Diet of Copenhagen — The Charter annihilated and Abso lute Sovereignty introduced — Kay Lykke — Corfitz Ulfeldt — Eleonora , Christina — Dispute with Christian Albrecht of Gottorp — Christian V. — Acquisition of Oldenburg and Delmenhorst — ^War with Sweden and France — Niels Juel — Peace of Lund and Fontainebleau — GrifFenfeldt— Ole Romer — The Peasantry — Oluf Rosenkranz — Masius and Bagger — Frederick IV. — War with the Duke of Gottorp — Peace of Travendal — Eleven Years' War with Sweden — Tordenskjold — ^Peace of Fredericsborg — Hostile Terms with Russia — Hans Egede — Science and the Arts — Christian VI. — The Peasantry — Ecclesiastical Aifairs— School Affairs — Science and the Arts — The Navy — Count Danneskjold Samso — Frederick V. — Hostile Terms with Russia — Peter HI. — ^Manufactures — Conunercial and Financial Affairs — The Peasantry — Science and the Arts. The sanguinary struggle ended, a period followed, scarcely to be called a peace, although there was a ces- sation from open hostilities. Both kingdoms, Denmark and Norway, were in a sadly depressed condition ; the scene, that was everywhere presented, was a wide waste of ruin; the countries were sunk in debt, and the 808 fflSTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. soldiers had not received their wages, the commercial affairs were decaying, and the agriculture, of course, neglected. The nobility, enjoying all privileges and prerogatives, would, as usual, he exempted from taxes, although best capable of paying them, and the popular frenzy was inflamed to the highest pitch. To pacify the minds and to find out means to remedy the misera- ble condition of his kingdoms, King Frederick III. convoked a Diet at Copenhagen on the 8th of a. d., September, being called the devolution of Den- i^^^- mark. During the sitting of the Diet the tyranny and unbecoming haughtiness of the aristocracy arose to such a height, that the clergy, the burgher class, and the peasantry, headed by Hannibal Sehested^ the only no- bleman siding with the king, the senator, Henrik Bjelke, the honest mayor of Copenhagen, Nanson^ the learned bishop Svane^ and pastor Willadson of Slagelse, voted for the surrender of sovereignty to the king, and jan. lo, Frederick III., at the close of the Diet, almost A.D., without any effort of his own, was thus invested i^^i- with absolute power, Denmark being now as absolute a monarchy as any other in the world. But it deserves here to be remarked, that the Danish sovereigns have generally exercised their extensive power with great moderation. Nevertheless, this excessive power of the crown, produced, at length, in the year 1849, the liberty of the people, gave rise to a spirit of union, and opened their eyes to the natural rights of mankind. fflSTORY OF SCANDIN^-'^.i. 309 The sovereignty thus surrendered U itiu king, a new and solemn contract between the kmg and the people, called Law for the King, and composed by the talented secretary, Peter Schumacher^ under the following king Nov. 14, ennobled by the name of Griffenfeldt, was sub- A. D., scribed to by Frederick III., and declared an 1665. inviolable law for both kingdoms, the principal articles of which law were : 1. The king of Denmark and Norway shall indis- pensably profess the articles of the Lutheran creed, known by the name of the Confession of Augsburg' (Confessio August ana). 2. The king must neither divide the kingdoms nor separate any province from them, but shall preserve their integrity. 3. The king shall reside in Copenhagen, Denmark. 4. The king is of age at thirteen years old, to contro! all affairs. 5. The throne is hereditary, both in the male and female line, but it being never vacant in the eye of the law, the queen-dowager shall, if the king before his death should not have regulated the guardianship, from the very moment of his death, in conjunction with seven counselors of state, assume the reins of government as long as the young king is in his minority, and take care of his education. 6. The most unlimited power of the government, both in ecclesiastical and secular matters, shall be 310 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. lodged in the person of the king, who is ahove the reach of all courts of law, and not personally responsi- ble to any judicature but the bar of Grod for his acts and conduct in the administration of government. It need not be explained how greatly this investment of the king with absolute sovereignty curbed the no- bility, whose shameful ignorance, meanness and rebel- lious spirit had rendered them useless and contemptible both to the king and the nation. The praiseworthy men, above mentioned, who had mainly raised the king to an absolute sovereignty, obtain- ed the most palpable evidences of his gratitude : Svane being given the title of archbishop and extensive real estates ; and Nanson, Hannibal Sehestedt, and Willad- son likewise presented with donations and high offices, in reward of their important services. New measures for improving the administration of the state affairs were now taken. The whole frame of government was altered altogether, many affairs, which before had be- longed to the senate, being divided amongst various colleges [collegia)^ in which, by authority of the king's writ, the burgher class as well as the nobility could be invested with offices. Said colleges were: the college of state, intrusted with the administration of foreign affairs and with the care of maintaining the new con- stitution and the interests of the royal house ; the sacred college, invested with power to confer the ecclesiastical offices on qualified persons; the college of justice, to HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 811 which, pertained the judicial power and the regulation of the police ; the college of treasury^ to administer the finances and the levying of taxes ; the college of ivar^ to which the army was suhject ; and the admiralty college^ having the naval affairs under its direction. But whatsoever the colleges had decided upon, was, for getting legal strength and force, first to he laid before the king himself, and have his signature affixed to it. The legislative power belonged to the king alone, that is, the power of making laws, of abrogating them, or of changing them. Besides these colleges, the supreme court was in- stituted, which became the highest tribunal, its presi- dent being the king himself. Frederick III. now em- ployed all his efforts for introducing a more economical system, and remedying the prevailing scarcity of money, the proud nobility, hitherto exempt from taxes, being de- clared tributary as well as the peasantry, which consid- erably contributed to settle the confused financial affairs. There remains to be mentioned, that the code of posi- tive law needed a transformation according to the ma- terial alteration the government had undergone, for the performance of which the king appointed a committee, which reviewed the earlier laws and elaborated a new code or collection of laws ; which important work was finished in the space of eight years by Rasmus Windin ^, professor of law, and Peter Lasson^ justiciary of the supreme court, the code itself, however, first being pub- lished during the reign of Christian Y, 312 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. "We must now take a brief retrospect of the affairs of the treacherous Corfitz Ulfeldt, one of the most ex- traordinary men that ever appeared on the stage of hu- man life. After the peace was concluded in the year 1660, Ulfeldt had made himself suspected even in Swe- den of being a clandestine adherent of Denmark. His property, therefore, being confiscated in Sweden, he fled with wife and children to Copenhagen, just at the time the sovereignty was to be surrendered to the king. Being here at liberty for a short time, he and his wife, through the instrumentality of his sworn enemy, Hannibal Sehestedt^ were suddenly imprisoned in the castle of E-osenborg, on the 8d of March, 1660, from whence they soon after were brought to the castle ot Hammershus^ on the island of Bornholm, and locked up in a dark, subterranean prison, where Henry Fuchs^ the lieutenant of the castle, for a time of fifteen months, treated them with such, inhumanity and severity that Ulfeldt had to make a very submissive request to the king himself for a mitigation of their severe treatment. Count Frederick Ranzau was now sent to Bornholm to inquire into the matter. Ulfeldt and his wife were set at liberty on condition that he would solemnly promise never to undertake anything detrimental to the sovereign power of the king, and never, without permission, to leave the country. They arrived now again in Copen- hagen, whence they, on the 27th of December, 1661, went to the island of Fyen, to their beautiful manor HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 313 Ellensborg: Some time after, Ulfeldt, upon request, obtained permission to go to Spaa, a celebrated watering- place in Belgium, but instead of it, he went with his wife and four sons to Amsterdam, where his lady, the magnanimous and faithful Christina Eleonora, left him for England, in order to claim a large amount of money with which Ulfeldt had supplied Charles 11. On taking leave of her, 7th July, 1662, his parting words were as follows : " You have been united with me in love, you have suffered with me in patience, you have shared my hardships with manly perseverance, you have assisted me with kind advices in difficult cases, you have tried to lead my heart unto Him by whom kings reign and princes decree justice ; you have loved me even in the utmost miseries. I am now parting with you, but whatsoever might happen, do not forget to adhere to Him who is the ruler of adversities and the strengthener of love." They never more met each other on this side the grave. After she left, Ulfeldt, whose heart was full of hatred against the Danish king, engaged himself in treacherous negotiations with Holland, France, and Brandenburg, aiming at overthrowing the new constitution of Den- mark. But the elector of Brandenburg, Frederick Wilhelm, a personal and intimate friend of Frederick III., informed, without delay, the Danish court of Ulfeldt's high treason, who instantly was sentenced tc suffer death ; but it being impossible to get hold of tim ^ HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. he was decapitated in effigy, his sentence of condemna- tion being written on the scaffold, his house in Copen- hagen pulled down, and a monument of infamy erected on the void place. No- sooner was Ulfeldt informed of the sentence of death pronounced against him in Denmark, than he left Amsterdam and fled, crossing the Rhine to Brisac, where he died, aged sixty years, his conscience a. d., heing burdened with the memory of crimes of 1664. the deepest dye. His corpse was brought to a cloister near Neuburg^ in Bavaria, whence his sons brought it, interring it secretly under a tree. He was a man of the greatest talents, a great linguist, an accomplished noble- man, and a sagacious diplomate ; but he was headstrong in his passions, imprudent, treacherous, and capricious, and his romantic spirit often led him into the most extravagant excesses. TJlfeldt's wife, the noble-minded Eleonora Christina^ a splendid example of conjugal love, was by the English government delivered up to Denmark, and sent on board of a ship to Copenhagen, where the queen, Sophia Amalia, ordered her maid of honor to strip Eleonora of her clothes, after which she was imprisoned for twenty-three years in Bluetoiver^ and all the time treated with every circumstance of severity. This action is the greatest stain upon the memory of the queen, who ought to have respected the unhappy lady for that which was her only offence — a noble faithfulness in sharing the fate of her husband. HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 315 Immediately after the death of the queen, the suc- oeeding king released Eleonora from imprisonment, in 1685, presenting her with the palace of Maribo, on the island of Laaland, and with an annual allowance of fifteen hundred rixdoUars. Here she lived for thir- teen years in literary occupations and pious contempla- tions, until she died on the 16th of May, 1698, aged seventy-seven years. Her hiography, composed by herself, she finishes with the following words : '' Per- secutions followed my hushand of blessed memory ; I followed him, and afflictions, therefore, followed me : mais la tristesse donne occasion a la patience. Death will he acceptable to me ; nevertheless I do not wish for it, but agree with the Latin proverb : Rebus in adversis facile est contemnere mortem: Fortius ille facit qui miser esse potest." She is buried in Maribo cemetery, the words she herself had wished being engraved on the tombstone : " Unless Thy law had been my delight, I should have perished in mine affliction. Ps. cxix. 93." Although the absolute power, as above mentioned, was generally exercised by Frederick HI. and his suc- cessors with great moderation, he seems, nevertheless, especially immediately after having obtained this power, to have held the highest notions of his sove- reignty, and to have exerted his authority with rigor. A rioh and esteemed nobleman, Kay Lykke^ had in a 316 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. private letter mentioned the queen in offensive terms. Though humbly imploring mercy and forgiveness for his temerity and inconsiderateness, he was sentenced to suffer death; but having seasonably escaped by flight the capital punishment, he was executed in efiigy, his large estates being confiscated in behalf of the crown. Gunde Rosenkranz, an accomplished and honest nobleman and senator, having often deserved well of his country, was without mercy banished, only for being at variance with the king's favorite, Henri/ Gabel; and for the unexampled severity shown against the innocent countess, Eleonora Christina Ulfeldt, the king is highly to be blamed. For the rest, Frederick III took energetic care for the welfare of his kingdoms, commencing rapidly, during his reign, to emerge from the weakness and enervation into which they had been plunged by the Swedish invasion and subsequent wars. He reformed the laws, and encouraged commerce by establishing trade with Gruinea, on the western coast of Africa, and with the West Indies. The king himself, being a man of letters, patronized science and the arts, and estab- lished the royal library, one of the greatest in Europe, now containing four hundred thousand volumes, and the university library was considerably enlarged. The fleet, almost entirely disabled in the last war, was excellently fitted up by a Norwegian, Cort Adler^ who in Venetian service against the Turks, had immortalized HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. dij himself by the most undaunted courage in many naval engagements. But a most heavy burden on the country was the standing army, which was now aug- mented to twenty-four thousand men, kept in constant pay ; and the king, who, with all his superiority of genius and extensive knowledge, firmly believed in the possibility of the transmutation of metals into gold^ wasted not a little of the national revenue in vain on costly alchemical experiments, conducted by Burrhi, an Italian professor of that imaginary science, with which so many of even the superior minds were in that age infatuated. Frederick III. inherited Oldenburg and Delmenhorst and bought Sonderborg, Nordborg, and the island of Aro, in the Baltic. In the latter part of his reign hostilities were about to break out with Charles II. of England, as an English admiral had attacked a Dutch commercial fleet, which had fled for refuge to a harbor in Norway ; A. D., the conclusion, however, of a peace at Breda^ 1667. in Holland, dissipating the alarm. But soon a serious misunderstanding arose between Frederick and Christian Albrecht^ duke of Grottorp. The new relation into which the dukes of Grottorp, because of the sove- reignty surrendered to the king, had come to Denmark, occasioned frequent collisions ; and Christian Albrecht having made an alliance with Charles XL of Sweden, was more prone to strife than to submission. The 318 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. dispute, however, was settled by the Recess of a. o., Gluckstadt, the friendship being confirmed by a '^^^'^^ marriage between the duke and the daughter of the king, Fredericka Amalia. Frederick III. died after a remarkable reign a. d., of twenty-two years. Upon the whole, having i^'^^- distinguished himself by firm principles, manliness, prudence, and judiciousness, he nevertheless often showed, as above mentioned, a blamable severity, mainly, perhaps, to be ascribed to the undue influence his queen, the haughty Sophie Amalia, exercised upon him. He is also to be blamed for having surrounded himself too much with G-erman favorites, and neglected the mother tongue to such a degree, that the crown prince for a long while did not understand Danish. Neither was it slightly to his discredit that he nearly all the time lived in prohibited sexual commerce with different concubines. Christian V. succeeded to the Danish crown a. d, on the death of his father. He commenced his i^'^^- reign by adopting a policy entirely contrary to thai system of equality, which liad begun to take place during the reign of Frederick HI., the new king being unfavorable, as it will appear, to the people's liberties, but in favor of the higher orders of the state, which now again would have everything at their disposal. The nobility, having been made tributary from compulsion, during the reign of Frederick HI., was now, by Chris* mSTOHY OF SCANDINAVIA. 319 tian Y., exempted from paying taxes, and not alone restored to their -dncient rights and priviieges, "but several new prerogatives were conferred upon counts and barons, the lower orders of the state being consid- ered only as a part of the property belonging to the real estates. Amongst these prerogatives were : Right of patronage {jus vocandi), consisting in freedom to confer p, vacant pastorate on their estates upon any candidate for orders the nobleman might please to select — a right very often misapplied in the most shameful and conscienceless manner, the noble- man frequently offering a pastorate to a young candidate upon condition that he should marry a woman de- bauched by the lewd nobleman himself ; right of juris- diction, that is, an exclusive privilege of appointing any judge on their estates they might wish — a right, likewise, often misused ; exemption from paying tithes of their manors to the clergy ; and power of life and death over their peasants, that is, it was left to the disposition of the nobleman to order a peasant to be scourged and beheaded. All these shameful privileges granted to these dregs of society were, in fact, the very cause of the subsequent freedom of the Danish nation, which at length, roused out of sleep, shook off the unjust yoke to which they, for centuries, had been subjected. Christian V. established also a distinction of ranks and honor^ which he considered an essential benefit fo 320 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. the state, as furnishing a reward for public services and captivating to the ambition of individuals, who thereby might be prompted to distinguish themselves in service of their country ; but although undeniably thereby was given an incitement to many to exert themselves lauda- bly, it nevertheless imposed a great burden on the com- munity, a new order thereby being established, invested with new privileges and immunities^ not to mention the impure emulation and vanity it produced. He also instituted two new orders of knighthood : the orders of Dannebrog and of the Elephant, with the latter of which only kings, princes, dukes and noblemen were decorated. Upon the whole, the gay humor of the French, and that spirit of levity and luxury which was prevailing at the court of Louis XIY., was never more conspicuous in Denmark than during the reign of Christian V., who himself loved the lusts of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, but cared not very much for matters relative to salvation. The good terms on which Denmark, by the Recess of Grliickstadt, had come to Christian Albrecht, duke of Grottorp, commenced now again to be subverted by disputes concerning Oldenburg and Delmenhorst, which the last count, Anthon Gunther, by his will before his death, had divided between the king of Denmark and the duke of Grottorp ; but Joachim Ernst, duke of Ploen, in Holstein, believing himself more entitled, laid claims to the said earldoms, and appealed to the empe- HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 321 ror's tench. For averting the danger, which was threatening, the wise diplomate, Griffenfeldt, whom Louis XIY, called the world's greatest statesman, nego- tiated with the duke of Ploen and prevailed upon him to resign his claims, by which means Christian Y. decidedly became the master of both earldoms; which exasperated Christian Albrecht to such a degree as to prepare himself to strike a decisive blow against Den- mark. But Christian Y., by virtue of his au- a.d., thority as sovereign king, cited him to meet in '^^'^^^ Rendsburg^ where he was compelled to make an agree- ment, according to which he had to give up his troops and fortresses to the king, as also to pass his word for refraining from all hostilities. At the same time the arbitrary designs of Louis XIY. had excited universal dissatisfaction, and alliances were formed to resist his designs and successes, which alarmed all Europe. A triple alliance was formed be- tv/een England, Holland and Sweden, to compel Louis to make peace with Spain, and the union of these powers being too formidable to be opposed, a treaty was signed. But other projects soon occupied the monarch of France, whose designs against the dominions of Spain had been checked by means of the triple alliance. He meditated now the conquest of Holland, and took every measure necessary for so great an enterprise. England and Sweden entered into his views, while the Grerman em- peror, Leopold L, and the Elector of Brandenburg^ 6'2'J HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. Frederick Wilhelm, took up arms to protect Holland and rescue it from destruction. Griffenfeldt advised the Danish king, Christian Y., to maintain a wise neu- trality, and keep up good terms with Sweden, w^hich had joined the mighty France. But from an ardent desire of reconquering the lost provinces in Sweden, Christian V., disposed to war himself, and instigated by the Elector of Brandenburg, declared war against France and Charles XI. of a. d., Sweden, whose troops lately had been defeated i^'^^- at Fehrbellin in Brandenburg, Denmark thus again being involved in a horrible war. The Danish king, not daunted by the power of his enemies, opened the theatre of the war in Germany, although GrrifFenfeldt advised the king rather to invade Skane, the inhabitants of which were yet in favor of Denmark. After many toilsome tasks, the strong fortress, Wismar, was taken, especially by G-riffenfeldt's constancy, and Bremen and Wei'den were also conquered by the Danish and Bran- denburg troops. Next year the war commenced in Skane, and Christian V. launched his fleet, now excel- lently equipped and fitted out, into the Baltic, and during the continuance of this war, the Danish navy rode triumphant, and gained a decided superiority over the Swedish fleet. The great Danish admiral Niels Juel, in whom every endowment of nature necessary to form a consummate warrior seems to have been cen- tered, conquered the important island, Gulland, and HISTORY OF SCANDINA^^A. 323 A D., co-operating with the Dutch admiral, Tromp, he 1676. totally defeated, in a most desperate engagement, the whole Swedish fleet at the island of Oeland, whereb}^ the king was enabled to carry his army to Skane^ where in the beginning, he went on with brilliant success, conquering the greatest part of Skane and Bleking, and several strong fortresses. But fortune soon turned her back upon him. The Swedish king, Charles XI., endowed with military talent, as were almost all the kings of the illustrious house of Vasa, .and with an intrepid and enterprising mind, arose now like a phenix from its ashes, and defended himself with great ability and success. A Danish army was A. D., defeated by Charles, at Halmstad, and in the 1676. next year two battles were fought near Lund and Landscrona, where both kings commanded in per- A. D., son. The battles were brief, but, for their dura- 1677. tion, the most sanguinary on record; the victory, towards the last, remained doubtful, when suddenly, Charles XI., amusing the Danish left wing by a feigned attack, poured his infantry, in masses, on the centre ; they encountered the bravest resistance, but the Swedish king, bringing up the cavalry just as the Danish lines began to waver, broke through them with a headlong charge, and in a few moments the Danish army was a helpless mass of confusion. The result of this brilliant victory was the immediate conquest of the lost fortresses, except Christianstad, 324 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. which for a long time was defended with great heroism by the Danish general, Von Osten; who, nevertheless, as his assistant. General AhrensdorfF, neglected his duty altogether, had to surrender that strong fortress to the Swedish king, and every thing now seemed short of success for Denmark. The wise and intelligent GrrifFen- feldt stood no more by the king's side ; he had been removed partly by his own crimes, partly by secret intrigues of his enemies, the king now trusting only in his inefficient G-erman favorites, Hahn, Alilefeldt^ and Ahrensdorff^ who assisted him in his immoral dissipa- tions and irregular course of life. Notwithstanding all looking very dark for Denmark, Christian Y. attempted to retrieve his losses in a new campaign, and sent his half brother, Ulrik Frederick Guldenlove, a natural son of Frederick III., to Norway, which had been attacked by the Swedes. Grtildenlove acquitted himself bravely and with success, soon after conquered Jemteland, made his way through Bahus and Halland, and took by storm the strong rocky fortress, Carlsteen, situated by the Cattegat, while at the same time the brave G-eneral Lovenhjelm entirely defeated a superior Swedish army at Uddevalle^ in the province of Bahus. The rays of the sun seemed again to smile on Denmark, her navy continuing to ride triumphant wheresoever she came in engagement. The celebrated Niels Juel gained a new victory over the Swedes at Kolberg' Rhed, close by the island of Femern, and a HISTORY OF SCAXDIXAVIA. 325 A.D., montli after, lie immortalized Lis name by en* 1677. tirelv destro^'iIlo: tlie Swedish fleet in the hay of Kjoge. by Sjelland. The latter, numbering fort}'-six men-of-war, attacked the Danish fleet, moored in a formidable position in the bay, but. after a desperate contest, every Swedish ship that had a share in the engagement was taken or destroyed, the Swedes being humbled considerably by this loss. A.D., In the meantime, conferences taking place at 167S. yimvegen, and peace with France bemg made, Denmark also had to consent to peace with Sweden, in A. D., Liind, and the same year with France, at Foyi- 16"9- tainehleaii. On account of the interference of France, who would not permit her ally, Sweden, to suffer any loss, Denmark got nothing for all her great \dctories at sea, but had even to promise to replace the rebellious Christian Albrecht of Grottorp in his former ris^hts. The srood footins: between the two nei^hborins kingdoms now seemed to be firmly estabhshed, Charles V. marrying Vlrikka Eleonora, a sister of the Danish king. After the restoration of peace, the king of Sweden tried to make himself as absolute as the kinsfs of Den- mark, but he died prematurely, lea\mig his crown to his son, Charles XIL, who has deservedly been styled the Alexander of the Xorth, and who rivaled the fame of the most celebrated conquerors of antiquit}". "We shall now dwell a Uttle on the fortunes and fate of the chief minister of Clnristian Y., the great Peter 326 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. Griffenfeldt^ whose Christian name was Sclmmacker. His father was a wine merchant in Copenhagen. His education commenced in the house of bishop Brock- man, where king Frederick IH. saw him, bestowed his favor upon him, and, perceiving him to be a young man possessed of a very considerable share of learning, and of uncommon acuteness of understanding, per- mitted him, at royal expense, to visit foreign universi- ties. Upon his return he was ennobled by Christian V., decorated with the order of the Elephant, and made lord high chancellor. Even the German emperor, Leo- pold I., conferred upon him the title of landgrave. But there are never wanting those who are envious and jealous. His success procured him powerful ene- mies, who tried to get rid of him, and cast an aspersion upon his honor in the eyes of the king, who was weak knd of a changeable mind. Griildenlove, half-brother of the king, bore an inveterate hatred against GrifFenfeldt, because the latter had tried to counteract the detri- mental influence G-iildenlove exercised on the king's morality. Another dangerous enemy was John Adolph, duke of Ploen, whose daughter he had refused to marry ; Ahlefeldt^ Hahn, Knuth, and other Grerman favorites, also tried to undermine GrrifFenfeidt, in hope of profiting by his declension from greatness ; and the king himself appears not to have seen through the ungenerous policy of these crafty knaves, who were possessed of neither abilities nor virtue. G-riffenfeldt was suddenly impris- HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 321 A.D., oned, charged with leze majesty and simony. i^''^- and also with using abusive language against the king himself, the following words being found in his diary : " To-day the king has spoken as a child in the council of state ;" a circumstance which contributed in no slight degree to heighten the king's animosity against GrrifFenfeldt. He was sentenced to suffer death, and his property to be confiscated ; a sentence, however, which three members of the Supreme Court deemed so iniquitous that they refused to subscribe to it. But only the minority of the court being in his favor, the king said, '' Justice will take its course," and signed the warrant for the execution of the great statesman. A high scaffold was erected, but just as the executioner was about to strike the mortal blow, voices were heard on the staircase, crying '' Pardon, in the name of his Majesty !" GrrifFenfeldt, on hearing that the sentence of death was commuted to imprisonment for life, cried, " This mercy is more cruel than the capital punish- ment." Then he was brought to the citadel of Copen- hagen, where he was imprisoned for four years, whence he was sent to a prison on the island of Munkholm^ in Drontheim Fjord, Norway, where he was kept for eighteen years, (1679-1698), and treated there all the time with the utmost degree of barbarous cruelty. He was set at liberty only a few months before his death, and died in Jutland, on Steensballe^ a beautiful manoi belonging to his son-in-law, baron Krag^ with whom he 828 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. passed the last days of his wretched and toilsome life. From his early youth he distinguished himself by remark- able talents ; he spoke almost all modern languages, and even in his fourteenth year he wrote Latin with Cicero- nian perfection ; as a statesman he has never been surpassed. Louis XIY., of France, looked upon him as a genius of the highest order, and he undeniably wielded the diplomatic sceptre with a discrimination which no doubt saved Denmark and Norway from being involved in one common ruin. After his fall, the want of his rare talents was often deeply felt, the king him- self saying, " G-riffenfeldt alone better understood the welfare of my states than all my other counsellors to- gether." His administration was vigorous and useful, but his haughtiness and imprudence gave great offence to the Danish nobles, and was mainly the cause of the conspiracy being formed against him, of which Giilden- 16 ve, above mentioned, was the principal instigator ; and it is not to be denied that he wanted that prudence which should have taught him rather to yield to the necessity of the times, than, by obstinately maintaining his power, to risk an entire deprivation of it. According to the pacification of Lund, Chris- a. d., tian Albrecht was as we have seen to be replaced i^"^^- in his former rights, but new disputes arising. Christian V. marched his army into Schleswig, when, by the interference of other realms, the treaty of Altona a.d., was brought about ; agreeably to which the ^^^^ HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 829 rudely treated duke was allowed to return to his duke- dom from Hamburg, where for several years he had lived a retired life. Upon his death his son a. d., Frederick, married to Hedevig Sophia, a sister i^^^- to Sweden's warlike king, Charles XIL, succeeded to the rule of the duchy, and relying upon his affinity to the king of Sweden, he picked a new quarrel with Den- mark, which shortly after the death of Christian V. created a most dangerous war. Like many of his predecessors. Christian Y. had earnest controversies with Hamburg, which were com- posed, however, by an agreement of Pinneberg, Ham- burg obliging herself to pay Denmark two hundred and twenty thousand rixdollars. The mighty Hanse Con- federacy now gradually declined, and this league, once so extensive as to preserve a monopoly of the Baltic trade, was now forced to share it with the merchants of England, Holland, Sweden, and Denmark, and included, in the seventeenth century, only the cities of Hamburg, Liibeck, and Bremen. In many branches of the internal administration of Denmark and Norway, important improvements were made during the reign of Christian V. The new code, published in 1683, by name of Christian F.'s Danish Law, has been before mentioned. The celebrated mathematician, Ole Romer, acquired great fame throughout Europe, by his ingenious astronomical in- struments, and by discovering the swiftness of the 330 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. emanation of light from the sun, from whence the most important conclusions have been deduced. He also composed a new terrier, which became the basis of a more exact taxation of the lands of private persons. The navy and admiralty were excellently administered by Span and Janus Juel, a brother of the great admiral, and at the close of the Swedish war the Danish fleet numbered forty-eight men-of-war, duly equipped and fitted out. The able statesman, Sigfried Pless, regulated skill- fully the financial affairs, which had fallen into great disorder during the war with Sweden. Nevertheless, at the death of Christian V., Denmark had run into a debt of one million of rixdollars, mainly to be ascribed to the king's military enterprises, which had been attended with a prodigious waste of treasure. To improve trade and manufactures, sl College of Commerce was estab- lished, the East India Company was renewed, and commercial houses erected for Iceland, the Paroe isles, and Grreenland. The trade with the West Indies was enlarged by acquiring the two islands of St. Thomas and St. John ; and, on the whole, the Danish commerce was vigorously promoted in the latter part of the reign of Christian Y., while most other maritime powers of Europe were entangled in wars. Fairs, or great mar- kets, were held at stated times, to which traders resorted from different quarters, and interchanged their several products or manufactures. This trade, however, being HISTORY ^OF SCANDINAVIA. 331 A. D,, exposed to much trouble from the privateers of 1^9^- the belligerent nations, Denmark made an allj ance with Sweden, for the mutual protection of their commerce. For defence the old fortresses were refitted and some new ones founded ; amongst others, the for- tress of Christianso, near the island of Bornholm. The police and the fire-companies were better regulated, and Copenhagen was beautified by laying out new streets and by the erection of the splendid palaces, Charlotten- horg and Amalienborg. Uniform measures and weights were fully introduced, the common roads measured, and the means of conveyance bettered. • But the peasantry and agriculture, during the reign of Christian Y., were in a most lamentable condition, the country not producing sufficient to satisfy her own necessities. The peasants were compelled to serve without wages, whenever the noblemen thought it proper to send for them, theu' own work often thereby being neglected. The overweening self-confidence and pride of the nobles disdained any co-operation with the lower orders ; the nobles filled the highest offices in the state ; they appointed judges in their domains for the cogni- zance of certain civil causes, and exercised an unlimited criminal jurisdiction over their peasants, on whom they occasionally inflicted even capital punishment. The nobility were also exempt from taxation, except in case of war, nor could they be imprisoned, though their estates might be sequestered for debt. The peasants 332 HISTORY OF SCA^DINA'V1A. were in perfect bondage to their masters, who, when displeased with them, could, without any judicial inquiry, fetter them, and send them for one year to the house of correction. The whole was a system of oppres- sion, and exerted a fatal influence on the character of society in general, the great mass of the population, under the thraldom of this system, sinking into the deepest ignorance. Nevertheless, while inhumanity and oppression held undisputed sway, the sentiment of independence, and the feelings of personal consequence and dignity, were fermenting in the mass of the people, and at length let in those first rays of light, which dispelled barbarism, and introduced that liberty of which the Banish nation, since the year 1849, can rightfully boast. Science and the arts were not patronized by Christian v., who himself had no relish at all for them, whereas some private men protected literature and took care of its cultivators. Ole Borch erected a spacious building, called the Collegium Mediceum, appropriated to the use of sixteen indigent students, and George Ehlers, a like edifice, called Collegium Ehlertii, both of them be- queathing rich legacies to the students. But the Iberty of the press was under the severest control, censors being appointed and empowered to examine all manuscripts before they were printed, and to see that they did not contain anything offensive to the king's absolute power, every expression containing the least opposition to the HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 833 sovereignty being looked suspiciously upon, and at times severely punished. A learned nobleman, Oluf Rosen- kranz^ published a small book entitled, " Defence of the Danish Nobility," which historical work caused a law suit against him, and by the supreme court he was sentenced to be deposed from his office, to recant, and his fief to be confiscated, all of which was executed except the forfeiture of the fief, which was commuted for a penalty of twenty thousand rixdoUars. A like instance did appear in a literary controversy between Masius, court-chaplain of Copenhagen, and the great philosopher, Thomasius, of Halle, Grermany : Masius having explained, that the king's absolute power origi- nated immediately from Grod, while Thomasius insisted that it was originally yielded to the king by the people. This work of Thomasius was publicly burnt by the exe- cutioner. In reference to religious matters a mean intolerance prevailed. The celebrated edict of Nantes, 1598, had, as we know, been issued by Henry IV., of France, giving the Huguenots (Protestants) liberty of conscience, and had been confirmed by Louis XIII., under certain restrictions with regard to public worship. But Louis XIV., by a display of ferocious bigotry, revoked the edict, and nearly four hundred thousand of the Hugue- nots abandoned their country, some of whom solicited the Danish king. Christian V., for permission to settle in Denmark. The Hui^uenots beinsr of the Reformed 33-i HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. Church, were, however, by the bigoted interposition of Bishop Bagger, and the court chaplain, Masius, no^ granted their request, but had to remove into other lands, Denmark thus losing many subjects of wealth, commer- cial intelligence, and manufacturing industry. Never- theless, some time after, the queen, Charlotte Amalia, belonging herself to the Reformed Church, interceded for them with the king, and procured them permis- sion to settle in Copenhagen, and a Reformed a. D., church was erected, the queen herself paying two 1698. clergymen, a Frenchman and a Grerman, a yearly salary, and at her death bequeathing a considerable sum of money to the congregation. But not many availed themselves of this permission, and those who arrived in Copenhagen were oppressed in different ways. Christian V. was married to Charlotte Amalia, a daughter of Landegrave "Wilhelm lY., of Hesse Cassel, an intelli- gent, pious, and virtuous queen, exercising, however, only a little influence upon the king, who lived in open concubinage with a lascivious girl, Sophia Amalia Moth, whom he exalted to be Countess of Samso, and by whom he begot several spurious children. After a. d., a reign of twenty-nine years. Christian Y. died, i^^^- leaving his kingdom greatly indebted, and a court highly corrupted in morals. The Grerman language got a greater ascendency over the mother tongue than ever before ; Grerman was the court language, and Grermans filled the highest offices in the state. HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA 335 After the death of Christian Y., the sceptre passed to A. D., the hands of his son, Frederick IV., who, not- 1699. withstanding the rudeness and imperfection of his education, very soon exhibited proofs of that genius, frugality, and assiduity by which he became one of Denmark's most able and excellent kings. The first object of his attention was how to manage the rebel- lious duke, Frederick of Grottorp, who, relying on his affinity to Charles XII., of Sweden, defied Denmark in every way, made alliance with Hanover, erected fortifi- cations, and carried Swedish troops into the country. To compel the duke to submit, Frederick IV. entered into a secret alliance against Sweden with Peter the Great, of Russia, and Augustus, elector of Saxony, who had succeeded John Sobiesky on the throne oi Poland, marched an army to the duchy of Schleswig, and commenced to lay siege to the fortress of Ton- ningen, and it was hot doubted, that the duke and Sweden both would fall victims to so formidable an alliance. But the progress of the Danes was slower than they expected, the duke being supported by Swedish and Hanoverian troops, and, in the midst of his career, the Danish king was arrested in his opera- tions by intelligence of the dangers which menaced his own capital, which was just now on the point of bemg taken. The young king of Sweden, Charles XII., only eighteen years of age, soon unveiling his admirable military talents, and undaunted by the power of the 'J'^O HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. league, resolved to carry the war into the dominions of Denmark, and landed immediately upon the island of Sjelland, on which Copenhagen is situated, while his fleet, strengthened by a Dutch and English squadron of ships, which William III., king of England and stadtholder of Holland had sent, bombarded Copenha- gen. Frederick lY., cut off from his dominions by the Swedish cruisers, and alarmed by the imminent danger of his navy and beautiful capital, thought himself happy to save his kingdom by indemnifying the a. d., Duke of Grottorp, and purchasing a peace at l'^^^- Travendal^ highly honorable to the Swedes, and left his Russian and Polish allies, who had not duty assisted him, to continue the contest with Charles XIL, the young Alexander ,of the North, who for a long time did not permit them to enjoy a moment of ease or re- laxation. The terms of peace were : Denmark should acknowledge the Duke's sovereignty in his dukedom, and his right to erect fortresses, keep troops, and make alliances with foreign powers, and pay him two hundred and sixty thousand rixdollars, to defray the charges of the war. But two years after the peace of Travendal, duke Frederick of Grottorp, who fought for his a. d., brother-in-law, Charles XIL, fell in the battle 1702. of Clissaw, in Poland, and the duchess-dowager gov- erned the dukedom in the minority of her son, Charles Frederick, when events soon now came to pass, un- expectedly deciding the long contests between the dukes HISTOET OF SCANDINAVIA. 337 of Gottorp and tlie kings of Denmark. After having humbled Denmark, and already, at the age of eighteen, rendered his name the terror of the N'orth, and the ad- miration of Europe, Charles XII. resolved to turn his arms against the Russians, whom the heroic king of Sweden totally defeated at Narva^ after a contest of three hours' duration, all the artillery, baggage, and ammunition of the Russians becoming the prey of the Swedes. Having wintered at I^arva, Charles XII. marched against the Poles and Saxons, and formed the project of dethroning king Augustus, and placing another upon the throne. His designs were seconded by the misera- ble state of Poland, and by the dissatisfaction of the Poles with their king, Augustus, from the undisguised preference which he showed for his Saxon subjects ; and to add to this, the primate of Poland, Radzrewiskyy secretly meditated a revolution, and entered immediately into the views of the king of Sweden, who, without difficulty, made himseK master of Warsaw, in July, 1702. Augustus, convinced that he could only protect his crown by the sword, led his army to meet the Swedes at Clissaw^ above mentioned, where he, how- ever, was forced to fly, after having made in vain the most heroic efforts to rally his troops. A second triumph at Pultusk gave such encourage- ment to the enemies of Augustus, that in the year 1704 the throne of Poland was declared vacant, which Charles 338 HISTOKY OF SCANDESTAVIA. XII. now gave to Stanislaus LeczinsJci, a young noble- man of Posnania ; and when the Poles hesitated a little on account of his youth, Charles XII. said : " If I am not mistaken, he is as old as I am." Then the king of Sweden turned his arms against Peter the Great of Pussia, who was making some ineffectual efforts to re- vive the party of Augustus, and at the head of forty-five thousand men he entered Lithuania, and carried every- thing before him, defeating an army of twenty thousand Russians strongly entrenched. Intoxicated by success, he rejected the Czar's offers of peace, bluntly declaring that he would negotiate with the Czar in his capital of Moscow. ^Vhen Peter the Great was informed of this haughty answer, he coolly replied : " My brother Charles affects to play the part of Alexander, but I hope he will not find in me a Darius." Peter prevented the advance of the Swedes, on the direct line, by breaking up the roads and wasting the country, and Charles XII., after crossing the Dnieper, and en- during great privations in the midst of a hostile and almost desolate country, and in the midst of one of the severest winters ever known in Europe, found it im- practicable to continue his march to Moscow. jN'evertheless, undaunted by these obstacles, he adopted the extraordinary resolution of passing into the Ukraine, and laying siege to Pultowa^ a fortified city on the frontier. Leaving some thousand men to guard the works, Charles ordered his soldiers to march and meet HISTOEY OF SCANDmAVIA. 339 A. D , the Russians, who were advancing to raise the 1709. siege. On the 8th of July, a desperate contest took place, but after a dreadful combat of two hours the Swedish army was irretrievably ruined, and Charles XII., who thus in one day had lost the fruits of nearly nine years of successful warfare, had to escape as a helpless fugitive with three hundred horsemen to Beii- der, a Turkish town in Bessarabia, abandoning all his treasures to his rival, Peter the Great, whom he now had taught how to conquer him. Under these circumstances, Denmark thought it a proper opportunity to regain the lost provinces of Skane, Halland, and Bleking, and king Frederic lY., after a short interview with Augustus in Dresden, entered into a league with Poland, Saxony, and Russia against Swe- den. The Danish monarch invaded Skane, but his troops were in the beginning of the following year de- feated by the Swedish army, principally consisting of young boys, commanded by the brave General Steen- huck. This victory again quickening the Swedes, was A.D., won close by Selsingborg, over against Else- 1710. nore, and transported Charles XII. to such a degree, that when intelHgence of it was conveyed to him in his exile he exclaimed, "My brave Swedes! should God permit me to join you once more, we will beat them all !" Then the war was carried over to Ger- many, where the Danes conquered the two counties, Bremen and Werden, together with other Swedish pos- 340 HISTOET OF SCANDmAVIA. sessions, while the fortresses, Stettin and Stralsund, in Swedish Pomerania, were besieged in vain ; and next year the Swedes, nnder General Steenbuck, gained a brilliant victory over the united forces of the A.D., Danes and Saxons, at Gadebusch, in the duchy 1712. of Mecklenburg. Not able, however, to master the troops of the allied powers, Steenbuck had to retire to the fortress of Tonning, in Schleswig, but on the way thither he sullied his fame by burning the defenceless city of Altona, an outrage which excited the indigna- tion not only of the king of Denmark, but of all Eu- rope. Although the government of Gottorp had engaged itself to maintain a strong neutrality, Steenbuck, never- theless, was received into Tonning. In retaliation, Frederick lY. immediately took possession of the Got- torp part of the duchy of Schleswig. The burning of Altona, however, was the last service that the cruel general could perform for his exiled master ; unable to prevent the junction of the Russians with the Danes and Saxons, he retreated before superior numbers, and the brave king, Frederick lY., of Denmark, pur- a. D., sued his advantages so vigorously, that Steen- l'J'13. buck, at Tonningen, was forced to yield himself a prisoner of war to the Danish king in person, who car- ried him to Copenhagen, where he died in captivity in the citadel. • The Danish fleet, commanded by the illustrious he- HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 341 roes, Gdbel, Sehested^ Edben, and Tordensltjold^ rode triiimphantly throughout nearly the whole of this war. Gabel annihilated a Swedish fleet in Femern Sound, and Sehested and Raben discomfited, off the island of Riigen, another Swedish fleet, which had to retire to the harbor of Carlscrona to refit. The commander, Hvitfeldt^ has left behind him a never-dying remem- brance in the mind of the Danish nation by heroically sacrificing his life in the desperate battle in the bay of Kjoge. Dannebrog, the admiral ship, on which he was, A. D., had taken fire. Hvitf eldt could have saved his 1714. life, but in fear of thereby setting the whole Danish fleet on fire, he resolved heroically to sustain the whole fury of the assault, till he, with three hun- dred men, was blown up. The young N^orwegian, Peter Yessel^ so distinguished himself by heroic ex- ploits, that he from a low office rose to the dignity of an admiral, and was ennobled by the name of Toir- denshjold (thundershield). On receiving this honor, he exclaimed: '' Tordenskjold ! A beautiful name, your Majesty ; and I promise to thunder so in the ears of the Swedes, that your Majesty shall not have to say that you have given me that name in vain." \ The Swedish monarch continued to linger in Turkey until the end of 1714 ; but when he then learned that the Swedish senate intended to make his sister regent in his absence, and to make peace with Eussia and Denmark, his indignation induced him to return home. 342 HISTOET OF SCANDINAVIA. He traversed Germany vneognito, and toward the close of the year reached Si/ralsund, the capital of Swedish Pomerania, which was besieged by the united armies of the Prussians, Danes, and Saxons. After an obsti- nate defence, in which Charles XII. displayed all his ac- customed bravery, Stralsund was compelled to capitulate after a siege of two months, while at the same time the Danish and Kussian fleets swept the Baltic and threat- ened Stockholm. A firmer alliance was now concluded between Den- mark, Saxony, and Russia, which also soon after was joined by Prussia and Hanover, the elector of which had ascended the throne of England under the name of George I. Stralsund having surrendered, Charles es- caped in a small boat to his native shores, and now prepared himself to pass over the ice and make an irruption into Sjelland, from which he, however, was prevented by an unexpected thaw. AU Europe be- lieved Charles XII. undone, when, to the inexpressible astonishment of every one, it was announced that he, whose anger with Denmark was now wound up to the highest pitch, had declared war against Denmark, and invaded ISTorway. But his army was soon driven back, greatly diminished in numbers. Anna Colbjornsen^ a clergyman's wife, a patriotic, fearless woman, led astray by cunning pretences the Swedish colonel, Lowen^ so that he desisted from his plans to destroy the silver mines of Kongsberg. HISTORY OF SCAl^DINAYIA. 343 Charles XII. now laid siege to the city of Fredericks- A D., hald^ a maratimc town of Norway, near the 1716. Skaggerack, defended by the strong fortress of Fredericksteen, but the two brothers, John and Peter Colbjornsen, prevailed on the inhabitants to fire the city, to prevent the Swedes from having any hold there. A bloody battle ensued ; Charles galled the Danes and E'orwegians with a continual fire ; ' the slaughter was equal on both sides, till at last, however, the Danes claimed the victory. Crowds of hungry wolves, issu- ing in the midst of the severe winter from the ^NTor- wegian forests, howeled over the dying remains of the Swedish soldiers. Charles XII. was driven to seek a temporary refuge for his army in the country. In the meantime, the vigilant Danish admiral, Tor- denksjold, with a daring hardly ever heard of, running a Danish fleet into the harbor of Dynekiel^ and, after a desperate contest of a few hours, destroying the Swedish men-of-war and store-ships, Charles XII. was compelled for this time, to leave E'orway. But no way yet intimi- dated by his misfortunes, and still determined upon taking Denmark, he commanded his mariners to seize every Danish vessel, even if the king of Denmark him- self might be on board. Frederick lY. now launched into the Baltic a mighty fleet, commanded by Torden- skjold, who acquired great fame for his courage and strategic skill in conquering Marstrand, and the strong rocky fortress, Carlesteen^ although meeting with the 344 HISTOEY OF SCANDINAVIA. most terrible fire from the Swedish batteries. While Charles XII. had been taken up with his attempts at conquering [Rorway, Frederick TV. and Peter the Great of Russia prepared themselves to march an army to Sweden, Peter himself arriving in Copenhagen with a fleet, and disembarking a powerful Russian army on the shores of Sjelland, seemingly in assistance of the Danes. But soon learning that the cunning Czar, who, under the mask of friendship, requested the keys to the four gates of, Copenhagen, intended to seize upon the Danish capital and the fortress of Kronborg, the neces- sary preparations were made to oppose this treacherous plan, Peter the Great being suddenly compelled to leave Sjelland. Then secret negotiations commenced between Russia and Sweden, conducted by the Swedish prime minister, Baron de G6rt3, a native of Franconia, a man of an artful, active, and comprehensive genius, whose plan was to unite the king of Sweden and the Russian Czar in strict amity, who then not only would dictate laws to Europe, but wrest the kingdom of JS^or- way from Denmark, and force the Danish king to renounce the duchies of Schleswig and Holstein to the Duke of Gottorp. The Czar readily joined in the scheme, and a dark storm was gathering for Denmark, when the sudden death of Charles XII. rendered abor- tive a plan that might have thrown Denmark, and perhaps all Europe, into a state of political combustion. Charles XII., in the prosecution of his views against HIST ET OF SCANDINAVIA. 34:5 I^orwaj, a second time invested the castle of Fredericks- hald, in tlie very depth of winter, bnt while engaged in viewing the works, and in conversation with his engi- neer, in the midst of a tremendous fire from the enemy, A. D., he was struck dead by a ball from the Danish 1718. batteries. His sister, Ulrikka Elenora^ suc- ceeded to the throne, and raised it to her husband, Frederick of Hesse Cassel^ who first had to swear, that he never would attempt the re-establishment of abso- lute power, which was now fully abolished in Sweden, and a new form of government modeled. The Swedish senate showed little grief for the loss of this warlike king, who had only involved Sweden in miseries and wars. Upon the intelligence of the death of Gustavus Adolphus at Liitzen, 1632, the inhabitants of Stockholm shed tears ; upon that of Charles XII. they jubilated. Some have believed, that he was not struck by a cannon ball from the Danish artillery, but was shot by a traitor, a Swedish Colonel Seeker, which, however, has never been proved. Be it as it may, the kingdom of Sweden gained by his death. On the first news of the king's death, his favorite minister, Baron Gortz, was arrested, brought to trial for having projected a dangerous war when the Swedish nation was exhausted and ruined, and was publicly be- headed in Stockholm. The death of Charles XII. was a great relief to Denmark, and when Tordenksjold, the very first who conveyed the intelhgence of it, entered 346 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. the king's audience chamberj saying, " Charles XII. is dead, and there is not one Swede in the whole of l^or- waj," Frederick lY. embraced him joyfully, and hung a gold chain round his neck. The new government of Sweden now looked with an ardent desire for peace with Denmark, which was established by the treaty of Fredericksborg^ the A. D. terms of which were, that Sweden should pay 1720. Denmark six hundred thousand rixdoUars to defray the charges of the war, and acknowledge the sale of Bremen and Yerden, which, with their dependencies, George I., king of England and elector of Hanover, had purchased from Denmark for eight hundred thousand rixdoUars ; Sweden should renounce her exemption from paying Sound Dues, which she has enjoyed since the peace of Bromsebro, 1645 ; and finally Sweden pledged herself not to assist any more the Duke of Gottorp ; France and England securing to Denmark the permanent possession of the duchy of Schleswig. So happy an issue for Den- mark had this eleven years' war, though no accession of territory was gained. The appearance of an English fleet in the Baltic, coming to aid Sweden, finally disposed Czar Peter to pacific measures, and he consented to grant peace in N^ystad^ a town of Finland, 1721, on condition of being permitted to retain Esthonia, Livonia, Ingria, part of Finland, and dominion over the GuK of Finland, a highway for his commerce to the Baltic ocean. IIISTOEY OF SCANDINAVIA. 34:7 The war tliiis being ended between Denmark and Sweden, a profound peace ensued. Denmark, however, had soon after to empty a bitter cup. The patriotic, brave, and magnanimous Tordenskjold, who had raised his fatherland by many victories to a great height of naval glory and greatness, and was almost adored by the king and the people, asked permission to go abroad. In Hamburg he met with a Swedish colonel, Stahl, a mean-spirited scoundrel, who tried to impose upon a young rich Danish nobleman, by name of Zehn, who accompanied Tordenskjold. Exasperated at such con- duct, and exchanging high words with Stahl, who called the admiral a vulgar sailor, Tordenskjolk gave him a sound beating, and knocked him down in the kennel, after which he left Hamburg for Hanover. A few weeks after, he unfortunately met here again with Stahl, who, bringing the old quarrel again upon the carpet, challenged Tordenskjold to answer for his offence by a duel with rapiers, in using which Stahl was a great master. Tordenskjold, of course, answering the chal- lenge in the affirmative, appeared the next morning at the appointed place, close by Hildesheim. The two first thrusts he parried, but then Stahl ran his sword under Tordenskj old's right arm, pulling it back in tierce. Torkenskjold, perceiving his death ivevitable, calmly disposed himseK to meet it with decency, and covering his wound with his handkerchief, resigned himself to his fate. As he expired from the loss of blood, 348 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. he exclaimed : " God be^ merciful to me for the ^^^ 2q» sake of my Eedeemer." On hearing this sad ^-I^- 1720 event, king Frederic TV. shed tears and ordered the corpse to be brought to Copenhagen and buried in the mariner's church, where Tordenskjold now rests in the same vault with Otto Rud^ Niels Juel, Cort Adeler, JEtahen^ Sehested and Gabel^ who all so often had led the blood-red Danish flag from victory to victory on the Baltic ocean, the dark heaving wave. By the peace of Fredericksborg, the duchy of Schles- wig was once more reunited to the kingdom ; but for the many centuries through which the Counts of Hol- stein and the German-minded dukes of Gottorp had swayed the sceptre, the Danish nationality had had a difficult fight to wage. In the southern part of Schles- wig the German language at length prevailed, while in the northern part the inhabitants were attached to their native tongue, and to the manners and habits inherited from their forefathers, although the dukes of Gottorp, by appointing German clergymen and intro- ducing German schoolmasters and German legal pro- cedure, sought to naturalize the German language, even in this part of the dukedom. JSTotwithstanding Schleswig was now reunited to the kingdom and for all subsequent time governed by the Danish kings, that unnatural state of language, how- ever, continued for more than one century, and first in modern times energetic regulations have been issued HISTORY OF SCAXDmAYIA. 349 to protect the Danisli nationality in the northern part of Schleswig. But the reunion of Schleswig to the king- dom put Denmark, throughout a long series of years, to very much trouble and heavy expenses. The duke of Gottorp, Charles Frederick^ making now the city of Keil his residence, would neither subscribe to the resig- nation of Schleswig, nor come to any amicable agree- ment, and became a very dangerous enemy by marrying the Russian princess Anna, a daughter of Peter the Great. Frederick lY. had continually to keep fleets ready in the Baltic to secure Denmark against Russia, as Peter the Great and his successor, the empress Catharine I., threatened to establish by force the claims of the duke. Certainly amicable terms were afterwards contracted with the court of St. Petersburg, but in course of time the strife was renewed in such a manner as to be very dangerous for Denmark. Frederick lY. A. D. gained an accession of territory for the kingdom 1735. by laying hold on the fertile county of ItoMzau as the latter count had been killed, and his younger brother, on being brought to trial, found an accomplice in this crime. During his whole reign, Frederick lY. was actuated by sincere and earnest motives to introduce useful insti- tutions and remedy old mistakes. He deserved well of the Danish peasantry, by abrogating their slavish de- pendence on their masters. He enacted a law, that all peasants born after his accession to the throne should be 350 HISTOET OF SCANDmAVlA. free ; concerning tlie others, it was determined that thej, on reasonable terms, conld buy their freedom ; the tenants should be permitted to keep their farms for life, and neither could they inyoluntarily be deprived of them, nor be forced, as before, to accept of desolate and barren farms ; and on the whole this law contained very considerable mitigations of those feudal rights claimed by the noblemen over their peasants, which either were the most burdensome in their own nature, or had been made so by an abusive extension. Already during the first war which Frederick TV. waged, his attention had been directed to several defi- ciencies in the military affairs, which he immediately tried to remedy ; and after the treaty of peace (lYOO), he employed the interval of tranquility in raising a militia of eighteen thousand men, in equipping a respec- table fieet, and upon the whole, in paying close atten- tion to the posture of defence. Besides this militia, there was kept a considerable army of levied soldiers ; the cavalry was augmented by twelve regiments, each consisting of eight companies. He established two cadet schools in Copenhagen, to educate young men both for the fleet and the army ; schools never organized before, and the want of which had been deeply felt. In order to protect the capital and the navy against the renewal of the dangers to which they had been exposed, when, in the year 1700, a Swedish, Dutch, and English fleet bombarded Copenhagen, he erected two sea HISTORY OP SCANDINAVIA. 351 batteries, Tre Kroner (three crowns), and Provestenen (tonchstone). The navy was put in a good posture, and the number of marines was considerably increased. To augment the revenues of the kingdom, Frederick lY. had supplied Austria, England, and Holland with twenty thousand men, who acquitted themselves with great courage in the war of the Spanish succession. Under the illustrious heroes, prince Eugene^ of Savoy, and the duke of Marlborough^ commander-in-chief of the forces of England, the Danish soldiers had shared the glory of the battles of Soehstedt, Ramulies^ Oude- narde, and Malplaquet ; and the duke of Marlborough, upon whom now the emperor of Austria had conferred the dignity of a prince of the empire, wrote to king Fred- erick lY., that for the gaining of the victory in those cele- brated battles he was mainly indebted to the lion-hearted bravery of the Danes, who likewise, under the great Eugene, fought gallantly in Hungary against the Turks. Frederick lY. made many improvements in the regu- lation of the different colleges, and caused justice to be duly and quickly administered, and the laws carried into execution. He was very active himself, and sought to acquire a knowledge of all matters of conse- quence. To the administration of the finances he paid a strict attention, and kept the pecuniary affairs in an exemplary order. As economical as the king was in spending the public means, as particular was he in conferring titles and badges of honor. At his death 352 HISTOET OF SCANDnq-AYIA. the kingdom had incurred a debt of three millions of rix-dollars ; which, however, when it is considered, that Frederick TV. waged expensive wars, and even after the peace, for many years, had to keep a standing army and fleet against Russia, and that many disasters visited the country, is only a trifle, and not to be laid to his charge. An enemy more fatal than the swords of the Swedes, a frightful pestilence, raged from 1710 to 1712, in Copenhagen and on the island of Sjelland, with the most destructive effect, and took off great numbers ; the l^orth Sea breakin-g through the dykes in the marsh- lands on the western coast of Schleswig, destroyed property to the amount of one million of rix-dol- A.D., lars, and Copenhagen was visited by a destructive I'^^s. fire, continuing for several days and consuming nearly two-thirds of the city ; on which occasion science and the arts suffered a great loss, as a great deal of the large University library, with its many rare manuscripts, was destroyed. J^otwithstanding all these heavy losses, and his many great expenses, the king found, however, by his econ- omy, means to erect the splendid palaces of Fredens- lorg and Frederilcsberg^ as also the spacious exchequer. Commerce and manufactures were vigorously promoted by Frederick lY. The trade with Greenland was re- newed, and the East India Company, for a great while ruined altogether, was, at the close of his reign, again \n\i in motion. The post-office department, having for HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 353 •a long time been entrusted to private men, was again administered at royal expense, the surplus being ap- plied to pension civil and military officers, or their in- digent widows. Previous, however, to giving an account of the private life and character of this excel- lent king, we must take a short connected view of the standing of school affairs and literature during his reign. The public instruction had, hitherto, almost entirely been neglected in Denmark, the commonalty growing up in the grossest mental darkness. But Frederick lY. merited highly the grateful thanks of the peasantry by erecting two hundred and forty brick school buildings, and assigning money to keep them in repair and pay the teachers. Amongst other charita- ble institutions, ought to be mentioned the founding of Yaisenhuset (the Orjphanotro^hy), for the education of orphan children, with which hospital an excellent school is connected. In Greenland, Christianity was spread by the noble and pious Hans Egede^ who left his pastorate in E"or- way, and went to G-reenland with his wife, Gertrude Rash^ a Christian heroine, " whose adorning did not consist in putting on of apparel, but in the hidden man of the heart, and in the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is, in the sight of God, of great price.'^ From 1721 to 1736, Hans Egede, enduring inexpressi- ble privations, opened his mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the Gospel amongst the heathen- 354 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. ish and savage Greenlanders. His faithful wife, who had shared his hardships, died in Greenland ; soon after which he went down to Denmark, where, on the fifth of ]N"ovember, 1Y58, he departed from life, aged seven- ty-three years, to receive the crown of righteousness, which the Lord shall give unto all them that have loved his glorious appearing. Pursuant to his proposal, a Greenlandish seminary was established in Copenhagen, to educate missionaries, Egede himseK teaching the Greenlandish language. His son, Paul Egede, con- tinued for six years, with Christian fidelity, his father's missionary work in Greenland, to the great good and profit of many souls ; and when he left them, his part- ing words were : '' Preserve with meekness the ingraft- ed word, and grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby you are sealed unto the day of redemption." Upon his arrival in Copenhagen, in 1742, Paul Egede was appointed minister of the Church of Yartov (the church of charity), where he, renouncing the vanities of all worldly pomp, showed himself an able minister of the E'ew Testament, not of the letter, but of the spirit, whose praise is not of men, but of God. Besides dis- charging his pastoral duties, he translated the ISTew Tes- tament into the difficult language of the Greenlanders, and published other works of consequence for the Greenlandish mission. For advancing learning and the arts, nothing of con- sequence was done during the reign of Frederick lY., HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 855 as the king himself had not enjoyed any scientific edu- cation. Nevertheless, there lived during his reign several men of letters ; Peter Hansen Resen^ who has distinguished himself by standard works on the N^orth- ern history and antiquities; Thomas Bartholin do- serves particular regard for the universality of his genius, which embraced a wide circle of history, phil- osophy, and physic; Wiels Steno, who, after having embraced the Catholic faith, passed the remainder of his days in foreign countries, acquired fame as an anatomist; the Icelander, Torfmus, who successfully applied the Icelandic sources to throw Light on the his- tory of the ]^orth, and preserved alive the embers of that literary spirit which already early had been stir- ring on that distant island, evinced a zeal for the cul- tivation of letters, which does him the highest honor ; the Icelander, Arne Magnusson, deserved well of men of letters by collecting a great number of Icelandic manuscripts, and bequeathing the greatest part of his means to publishing them. Thomas Kingo, bishop of Fjunen, acquired the fame of being an unsui-passed hymnologist, his hymn book being in use for a long time. Shortly after the death of his first queen, Louise, the king took in marriage Anna Sophia, a daughter of the deceased lord high chancellor. Count Conrad Revent- low. This marriage caused great disagreement in the royal family, particularly provoking the crown prince, Christian, because the king had cohabited with Anna Sophia, even while queen Louise was living. 356 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. Frederick lY,, before liis death, saw his kingdoms in the possession of every happiness which could flow from economy, frugahty, laboriousness, and from the sahitary laws and institutions which he had established, when he died, aged fifty-nine years, after a glorious reign a, D., of thirty-one years. Whether we view him in 1'730. his public or private character, he deserves to be esteemed as one of the most useful of the Danish kings. He united an enterprising spirit with the greatest pru- dence and moderation, the utmost vigor of authority with the most exemplary justice, and brought his king- doms to a pitch of eminence and wealth which, till then, they had never attained. War was not his ruling pas- sion, but he was able to meet it with firmness and valor. Thought but the memory of soldier-like bravery survives Charles XII., but Frederick lY. has left behind the memory of a life of restless activity, perpetually labor- ing for the improvement and prosperity of his coun- tries ; and while Charles left behind him nothing but ruins, Frederick lY. left two kingdoms in a flourishing condition, and with a well regulated administration. But his admirable institutions were but partially and feebly enforced under his son and successor. Christian VI., Denmark and ]S"oTway relapsing again into a. D., confusion and pauperism. 'No sooner had he 1730. obtained the sovereignty than he treated with great severity the queen-dowager, his stepmother, Anna So- phia, above mentioned, rightly accounted a stain on the royal family, removed her from the court to Glausholmiy HISTORY OF SCANDIKAVIA. 857 a lonely manor in Jutland, and immediately dismissed a great number of the higher officers of state, who had enjoyed his father's confidence, entrusting the public affairs to the ministers of state, Baron Ivar RosenkranB the Counts Louis Pless, Charles Pless, Schulin^ and John Louis Holstein^ all of whom exercised a strong influence upon the government. In the beginning, it was likely that the peasantry would flourish during the reign of this king, for he instantly abrogated the militia, above named, which on account of the feudal bondage therewith connected, had been greatly burdensome to the peasantry, and per- mitted every countryman to settle wheresoever he might desire. By this change the peasantry got complete per- sonal freedom, as well as the other orders ; but, unfor- tunately, after a few months, he enacted a new law, forbidding, upon severe punishment, the country lads to abandon their native county, unless permitted by the noblemen concerned ; and after a couple of years the militia was re-established, the time of military ser- vice being prolonged from six to eight, and thereafter to twelve years ; and when a countryman, after his term of service had expired, would not receive whatsoever farm the nobleman might think proper to give him, he had to submit to military service for ten years more. The enrollment was extended to the fortieth year of age, and from his ninth year the country lad was bound to remain in his native county ; thus again the liberal 358 HISTORY OF SCANDIJSrAVIA. and salutary regulations of king Frederick lY. being annihilated, and the peasantry anew sinking under the domineering spirit of the aristocracy. Several other regulations affected detrimentally the peasantry and the agriculture. Many noblemen, for instance, were permitted to break up the farms and unite the ground to their manors, the peasantry, of course, thereby decreasing, and the bond service in- creasing. Such were the stipulations in favor of the higher orders of the state, which the king promoted to all offices of honor and emolument, and to which from the very beginning of his reign, his partiality was abun- dantly conspicuous, while the peasantry was in the low- est stage of degradation. Upon the whole, the government under Christian YI. seems to have been extremely aristocratic. It was also of very detrimental consequences, that the king passed a law by which the merchants were restrained from im- porting grain into Denmark, the prices of corn thereby rising, and the progress in agriculture, of course, decreasing, as the greater certainty thereby produced for making a market, did not make it a matter of greater moment for the husbandman to prepare the ground sufficiently for a rich crop, and could not fail to excite somewhat of a spirit of ease and inactivity. But let us now observe some particulars of the re- ligious life, perhaps worthy of more note than any other circumstances during the reign of Christian YI., since HISTOET OF SCANDINAVIA. 359 it will be found to have received a very great influence during the period under consideration. There are periods in which the human mind seems more than nsuallj to turn strongly to religion and spiritual con- cerns, and to feel that the Heavenly Majesty must be worshipped in spirit and truth, and the flesh crucified, with the affections and lusts thereof, and such a period in Denmark was the reign of Christian YI. In opposition to the unsubstantial trusting to the letter which had long prevailed, and to the exorbitant weight laid on the ecclesiastical formulas and symbols, all of which kill, while only the spirit gives life, there appeared in Denmark, as well as a little earlier in Ger- many, a revival, in general called the pietistio disposi- tion of mind, which endeavored to remove that luke- warmness and stagnation, which undeniably in a great measure had long prevailed in the Lutheran churches. Great variances arose in the Church between the differ- ent parties, and separatistical conventicles were formed in many places. The king himseK, being of a stern, religious mind, was highly in favor of the revival, which he regarded as a recovery from death to life, and tried in different ways to promote the religious spirit ; but the means he used were almost altogether external, and not to the purpose at all, failing therefore entirely of the effect intended. The court chaplain, Bluhme^ and the queen, Sophie Magdalena^ exercised a great in- fluence upon the foolish ordinances issued in reference to ecclesiastical matters. S60 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. Going to churcTi every Sabbath was peremptorily commanded by law, the withdrawal from which being in the cities punished by tines, and in the country by pillorying the peasants ontside the chnrch door. Danc- ing, masquerades, comedy, Christmas games, and like amusements were forbidden, as hindering the attain- ment of spiritual and heavenly grace, and the alienation from selfishness and the world ; the church discipline was vindicated by public penance and rebukes from the pulpits. These ordinances very likely arose from the king's own unfeignedly religious mind ; nevertheless the happy mean was not found, and even his best advocates will find no apology for applying such compulsion in re- ligious affairs, and cannot regard it as a commendable method of propagating the mild and pure rehgion of Christ, who will not have involuntary professors ; and it was a matter of course, that instead of a real and pure fear of God, there appeared everywhere a feigned devoutness and a false piety, the people to please the king, making use of the most melting religious terms of this valley of misery, of the heavenly Jerusalem, and the celestial Canaan, and so forth, to profit substantially by his grace ; paying tithe, as Christ says, of mint, and anise, and cummin, but omitting the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy and faith. But, in spite of the many mistakes above mentioned, it is not to be denied that Christian YI., in many other HISTOEY OF SCANDINAVIA. 361 respects, exercised a highly beneficial influence upon the spread of true Christianity, by introducing the Act A. D., of Confirmation^ by which the young, after 1736. having attained to mature years, should confirm and ratify themselves the solemn promises made by others at their baptism ; and by appointing a Board of Insjpectors, which had to superintend the clergymen's and schoolmasters' administration of their ofiices, and to keep a watchful eye over their preaching the doctrines of the Church purely and genuinely, as also to ascer- tain that the books which were to be published were not of immoral or impure contents. The king also patronized highly the public instruc- tion, by enacting a law that public schools for the peas- antry should be erected round about in the country, and by issuing useful rules for the method of teaching ; a law, however, often meeting with great opposition, on account of the great expenses therewith connected ; and although the king here ought to have made use of his absolute power to establish this important institution, the opposition, nevertheless, gained the victory, in many places no schools being erected. The reign of Christian YI. may be considered as the epoch of the revival of literature in Denmark from that lethargy in which it had continued under Christian Y. and Frederick lY., both of whom were not very much interested in literary affairs, and whose incessant wars diverted their attention from them. The University, 362 HISTOEY OF SCANDEN-AVIA. which had sufi'ered by the fire (1Y28), and was in a declining state, was restored; more professors were appointed, and given better salaries than before; the examinations were made more strict, and a new consti- tution was drawn np in writing, and published. An examination in law was for the first time instituted; and the science of law being considered the most impor- tant, next to that of theology, recovered a new life from the learned Andreas Hoyer^ a man extensively versed in the European jurisprudence. The legal pro- cedure was highly improved by a new regulation of the supreme court, and particular attention was given to the study of medicine, and its connection with the sci- ences of botany and human physiology ; at the same time the subserviency of the studies to the practical uses of life being an object not to be neglected. The Latin schools, of which there was one in each city, were diminished, some of them being changed into common schools, and the Academy of Soro {Aoademia Sorana\ which was founded by Christian lY. exclu- sively for young noblemen, but since the year 1665 had been out of use, was recalled to life and inaugu- a. D., rated a year after the death of Christian YI. 1'''47. To promote the fine arts the king erected the Royal Academy for painting and drawing, the Yenetian and Flemish manner of tempering the colors with oil instead of water, being introduced, an invention which undeniably gave to painting a greater durability, as well as a warmth more approaching to nature. HISTORY OF SOAlTDtNAYIA. 363 During the reign of this king two learned societies were formed, the Litera/ry Society of Copenhagen, and the Society of the Danish Language a/ifid History^ from both of which excellent treatises have been and still are published. Among literarj men of this period deserve to be mentioned Andreas Hoyer, above named, distinguished both as jurisconsult and historian, and remarkable for his great judgment and perspicuity ; Erilc Pontoppi- dan, chancellor of the University, has composed, His- tory of the Danish Church, History of E'orway, Origines Hafnienses, and an Explanation of Luther's Catechism, all works classical in point of style, and to be depended on in point of facts ; John Gram, royal Historiographer, possessed not alone of great philological erudition, but also of rare knowledge in the history of the ISTorth, on which he has composed many critical dissertations, all written with great judgment and impartiality ; Andreas Samsing, for fifty years a faithful minister of the Gros- pel, has left behind him an excellent Latin translation of some of the best Danish hymns, of which I may be allowed to cite a proof : " Tua, Jesu, mors cnienta et profunda vulnera, Grata menti dant fomenta contra qusevis tristia. Si quid mali cogito, tua jubet passio, Semper Tui recordari, et peccata detestari." But all these authors wrote mostly either in German or Latin, thus exercising, properly speaking, no influ- 364 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. enee upon the Scandinavian literature. We have, therefore, so much the more to pay attention to Louis Holler g^ born in the city of Bergen, JSTorway, 1684, who has made a great epoch in the historical and dramatic literature of the Scandinavian countries, and not alone deserves, but will keep a lasting memorial. In the year 1718 he was appointed, first. Professor of Metaphysics, then Professor Eloquentise, and at length, Professor Historiarum et Geographise. During his pro- fessorship (1718-1747) he has influenced the Danish nation as hardly any one, either before or after him, partly by his historical, partly by his dramatical writ- ings, being both original and the results of deep study. His Description of Denmark and iN'orway, his History of I^orway, his History of the Church Universal, and his History of the Jews, are fruits of his indefatigable study and cultivated judgment, and of a purity and flexibility of language remarkable for the time in which he lived. His heroi-comic poems, Peter Paars and Niels Klim (the last written in Latin), in which he strikingly and wittily ridicules all that foolish pedantry, pertness, and vanity that prevailed amongst the higher classes of his time, and in which he sometimes soars to a pitch of the subhme equal to the finest flights of Homer and Yirgil, whose kind of style he in a mas- terly manner has imitated, have the most captivating charms to aU who are possessed of the smallest degree of genuine taste, and have, by an uncommon degree HISTOEY OF SCANDINAVIA. 365 of candor, humor, and impartiality, preserved their value long after their immediate interest has ceased. But the merit of the dramatic pieces of Louis Hol- berg is still much higher. Having taken the French comedian, Moliere, as his pattern, he ridicules, unde- niably sometimes in too low a language, the fashionable women, who were overrun with a pedantic affectation of learning, and that arrogant and supercilious de- meanor of the nobility, which demanded respect from the consideration of birth or fortune, without the pos- session of a single laudable or valuable quality. He certainly possessed that invention, which is the very first quality of a dramatic poet ; he is never deficient in the expression of passion, and in his most laughable scenes we have to admire the art of the poet, and to participate in the delineation of his characters, every person of which is very often a highly-finished picture. Upon the whole, in most of his pieces we cannot but discern the marks of a great and comprehensive genius, an inexhaustible fund of imagination, the most aston- ishing ebullition of ridiculous representations, and an infinite knowledge of human nature; and when pic- turing the pedantry of the ladies, the pathetic style of ordinary writers, and the absurd pride of the ignorant nobihty, he calls often to our memory, the words of Horace : '' Pa/rturiunt monies, nascitv/p ridiculus musP In his youth he had visited four times the Universi- ties of Oxford, Leyden, Paris, and Florence ; he spoke HISTORY OF SCAi;rDINAVlA. fluently nearly all modern languages, not to mention that he, as every distinguished Scandinavian scholar, wrote and spoke Latin with the highest degree of cor- rectness and volubility. After having been exalted to the rank of a baron, he repaired, because of physical infirmity, to his manor, Terslose^ on the island of Sj el- land, where he died, unmarried, on the 27th of Jan- uary, 1754, bequeathing his large real estates and ex- tensive library to the Academy of Soro. His last words were : " I have always endeavored to be a useful citizen to my fatherland ; now I am feeble and weak, and my only desire is to depart and be with Christ." Christian YI. took a praiseworthy care of diffusing a spirit of commercial industry, and the prodigious in- crease of the commerce of Denmark is mainly to be ascribed to his reign. The trade of the East India Company was extended to Ghma^ and vigorously carried on ; and that of the West India Company was consider^ ably enlarged by buying the island of St. Croix of Louis XY. of France. A bank was founded in Copenhagen, exercising through a series of years a favorable influence upon trade and industry, and facilitating in a high de- gree the currency. The king put himseK to great expenses in improving domestic manufactures. But although many manufacturers of cloth and silk were encouraged by the king's liberality, these efforts, how- ever, fell short of success ; their manufactures not be- ing so cheap and good as to compete with the produc- tions of foreign countries. Yarious expedients were HISTOEY OF SCANDIKAYIA. 367 thought of to obviate that rivalry, but for a long time without avail. Much money was also spent on foreign projectors, who, too willingly, were supported by the government, and became a very great drain to the wealth of the kingdoms. The navy has hardly ever been better administered than under Christian YI., by the talented Frederich Dannesk^old^ Count of Samso. In the latter part of the reign of Frederick lY. the navy had been neglected, consisting, when Dannesk- jold undertook the management, only of seven men-of- war and two frigates, but numbering, when he left, thirty men-of-war and sixteen frigates. A dry dock was established, many new storehouses were erected, and important break-waters reared to shelter the navy. I^otwithstanding these expensive undertakings, the abilities of the good financier, Danneskjold, husbanded so well the amount of money he had to dispose of, that on his leaving the administration, one million rixdoUars was saved. Danneskjold, a man of great address and extensive knowledge, who had gained upon the favor of the king, also influenced other branches of the state concerns, and had the principal share in setting on foot the Bank of Copenhagen, above mentioned, and in granting protections to trade and industry ; though he deserves highly to be blamed for his conduct toward two deserving naval officers, Benstrv^p and Frederick iMtken^ with whom he had become at variance, and who, through his interference, suffered severe and in- equitable treatment. 368 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. Althoiigli Denmark and Norway , during the reign of Christian YI., continued to enjoy the blessings of tranquility, and their commerce grew with their navy, and Danneskjold labored with indefatigable industry in the finances, the king, however, was in perpetual want of money, the kingdoms, at his death, being in debt for two and a half millions of rixdoUars ; about the same as during his predecessor, who had not reigned under so favorable conditions, but was involved in ex- pensive wars. The reason was the king's boundless desire of raising new buildings and costly palaces, mainly to be ascribed to his ostentatious queen, Sophie Magdalena. The palace of Copenhagen, which Fred- erick I Y. with great expense had enlarged and repaired, was pulled down, a new one, called the palace of Ghris- tiansburg^ being erected, and fitted up with such an excessive magnificence, that it rivaled the most splendid of Europe, and cost the kingdom the enormous sum of three millions of dollars. Furthermore, were built the palaces of FredericJcsruhe^ Sophienberg ^ Eremitage, and, twelve English miles from Copenhagen, the pompous palace of Hirschholm, erected on so miry a ground as soon after to be pulled down. Large amounts of money were also squandered away on relatives of the queen and other foreigners, who crowded into the country, and upon whom donations, pensions, and high offices were profusely bestowed. The German language pre- vailed again very much at the Danish court ; Christian YI. himself spoke and wrote only German ; neverthe- HISTOEY OF SCANDINAVIA. . 369 less he was interested in the Danish literature, and took care to diffuse the Danish language in the northern part of Schleswig, while the queen professedly despised Danish. Christian YI. had several difficulties with his neigh- bors. From his father he inherited a dispute with Hamburg, respecting an alteration made in the currency, and with Hanover a dispute arose as to the possession of the county of Steinhorst, in the duchy of Lauen- burg, both of which, however, were composed. With Charles Frederick^ the late duke of Gottorp, the king was continually on an unpeaceable footing, and al- A.D., though an alliance was made between Denmark, 1732. Russia, and Austria, which secured to Denmark the possession of the Gottorp part of Schleswig, and put an end to the dispute for a season, and Charles Frederick was offered a compensation of one million of rixdollars, he, nevertheless, obstinately rejected every proposal for an amicable agreement. Under his son and successor, Charles Peter JJlrick, these dissenting terms were about to turn highly dangerous for Den- mark, as Elizaheth^ the daughter of Peter the Great, was raised to the Russian throne, and now secured the A.D. , inheritance of the imperial purple to her nephew, 1743. the above named Charles Peter Ulrik, and to the Swedish crown for her favorite, AdoVphus Frede- rick^ a prince of the younger line of the house of Got- torp, and through the Swedish king, Charles IX.'s daughter, Catharina, a descendant from the warlike 370 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. house of Yasa. The election of Adolphus Frederick to fill the throne of Sweden after the death of king Frederick of Hesse, came within a hair of occasioning a dangerous war between Denmark and Sweden, where a considerable part of the Swedish nobility, clergy, and peasantry, wished to secure the succession to the Swe- dish throne to the Danish crown prince, Frederick^ of whose amiability, kind disposition, and popularity, favorable opinions were in vogue in Sweden. Par- ticularly amongst the brave peasantry from the province of Dalecarlia a violent movement arose, '^yq a.D., thousand of them advancing upon Stockholm, to 1743. force the election of the Danish crown prince. A most fearful and bloody conflict ensued within the city, and after several days of fighting, the undaunted peasants from the mountains of Dalecarlia were overmatched and compelled to submit. With a loss of two thousand ^YQ hundred men their military operations terminated, and Sweden, in order to please the Russian empress, and avoid hostihties, consented to elect Adolphus Frederick successor to the crown of Sweden, excluding the Danish crown prince. Dejected, melancholy, and even enraged at seeing his son's expectations frustrated, and yet cherishing a glimpse of hope of his success. Christian YI. equipped his army and fitted out his fleet, threatening to wage a sanguinary war ; but Swe- den making great preparations, and Russia promising to march twenty thousand auxiliary troops against HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 371 Denmark, tlie Danish king deemed it unsafe to bid de- fiance to so mighty an alliance. The strife dropped fortunately, and amity was entertained with Russia during the reign of the empress Elizabeth, although Charles Peter Ulrick, the elected successor to the Rus- sian throne, was highly exasperated at Denmark, and looked out for every opportunity to rekindle the flame of war. Christian YI. was of a gentle, pious, and sincere dis- position, and preferred and cherished the arts of peace- ful industry to those of selfish and destructive war. He gained the affection and confidence of his subjects by many good institutions, tending to promote litera- ture, public instruction, commerce, and naval affairs ; and there is more pleasure in contemplating such a man's character than that of a mad conqueror like Charles XII. of Sweden, the one producing happiness, and the other misery in the world. The king himseK was of an unfeigned piety to God, and an exemplary Christian, and his mistakes in promoting a true re- ligious life are more to be ascribed to the artful and hypocritical insinuations of his court chaplain, ,A.D., Bluhme, than to himself. After a reign of l'^46. sixteen years, he died in the vigor of his age. 1^0 sooner had Frederick V. succeeded his father to A.D., the throne of Denmark and JSTorway, than that 1746. seriousness and formality of manner which, during his father's reign, had prevailed at the Danish 372 HISTOEY OF SCANDINAVIA. coTirtj was done away, and a more jovial life took place, comedies and concerts being again represented, and other public amusements permitted. During the reign of Christian Yl. there had been upheld a great distance between the people and the royal family, the members of which never appeared in public except when accompanied and attended by costly liveried servants and soldiers ; the palace of Christians- berg, also, was surrounded by numerous sentinels ; ail of which ceased during Frederick Y.'s reign, who re- garded all stiffness and affected precision as- not com- patible with modern civilization, and married the jo- vial princess Louise^ a daughter of George II. of Eng- land, both of whom, free from all pride and vain am- bition, made themselves extremely beloved of their • subjects. To see the royal couple making their appear- ance in the theatre, the celebrated Louis Holberg, be- fore mentioned, called a fascinating sight. On the 10th of September, 1747, Frederick Y. and his queen, Louise, were crowned and anointed in the palace of Fredericksborg, the bishop of Copenhagen, Dr. Hersleb, performing the solemn act. In the beginning, many tried to insinuate themselves into the queen's favor, thereby to obtain rank, dignities, and high offices, but she answered that she had come to Denmark to embel- lish the days of her royal consort, not to interfere in public affairs, which did not appertain to her sex. Count Sohulm. one of the few able and skillful Ger- HISTOET OF SCANDINAVIA. 3Y3 mans who, during Christian YI.'s reign, had arrived in the country, and risen from a plain and poor student to the highest dignities, kept his situation under Frede- rick Y. After him, the great politician and acute diplomat, John Hartvig Ernst, Count of JBernstorf gained com- pletely the confidence of his royal master, and signally displayed his splendid abilities, while, on the other hand, the highly deserving Banneshjold, above named, without any competent reason, was discharged. The financial affairs were excellently administered by the baron. Otto Thott. Also, the great favorite of the king, Adam GotlZoh MoWke, later exalted' to Count of JBregentved, a beautiful estate in the island of Sjelland, exercised a considerable influence upon the state affairs. A.D., The dearly-beloved queen Louise became, on 1149» the 29th of January, mother to crown-prince Christian, afterwards king of both kingdoms by the name of Christian YII. ; but two years after, the twin- kingdoms had to lament her death, shortly after her delivery of a still-bom prince. That spirit of disagreement which had so long ex- isted between Denmark and Sweden, was done away A.D., with by the wise diplomatic efforts of Schulin 1750. and Bernstorff, a treaty being concluded, by which Adolphus Frederick, the elected successor to the Swedish crown, and the head of the younger hne of the dukes of Holstein, renounced his claims to Schleswig, 374 HISTOEY OF SCANDINAVIA. and engaged himself to exchange the ducal part of Holstein, when this soon, by inheritance, might devolve to his line, for the two counties, Oldenburg and Del- menhorst. The want of certain limits between ]^orway and Sweden, which long had caused violent disputes, was, in the following year, adjusted by plenipotentiaries from both kingdoms ; and, to contract a yet firmer union between Denmark and Sweden, espousals were arranged between the Danish princess, Sophie Magda- lena, and the Swedish crown-prince, Gustavus, a son of Adolphus Frederick, afterwards king of Sweden, by the name of Gustavus III. The wedding ceremony was, how- ever, not performed till after the death of Frederick Y. At this time, nearly all Europe was involved in the devastating Prussian seven years war, which A.D., the talented warrior, Frederick the Great^ 1756-63. waged triumphantly against Austria, Russia, France, Sweden and Poland, all regarding with jealousy the increase of the Prussian monarchy ; and the empress Elizabeth of Russia entertaining a personal hatred to Frederick the Great, who had often made her the ob- ject of his political satires, and the empress of Austria, Maria Theresa, still being dissatisfied with the loss of Silesia by the peace of Dresden, 1745. Although Denmark, through Bernstorffs wise diplo- macy, was happy enough not to be involved in this destructive war, it was, nevertheless, the cause of heavy expenses, it being deemed necessary, to secure the frontiers, to keep a considerable standing army in Hoi- HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 375 stein. Besides, an alliance was made between Den- mark and Sweden, both joining together in having their fleets in the Baltic during the war, to protect the commerce of the ^orth against the hostile privateers, all of which was a great drain on the public treasury. The war, at length, approached to the Danish fron- A. D,, tiers. The French troops had entered Hanover, 1757. where the French general, D'^Etree^ defeated, near Hastenbek, an army of Prussians and Englishmen, commanded by the Duke of Cumberland ; but Frede- rick Y. of Denmark was happy enough, through the A. D., interference of Count Lynar, to effect the con- 1757. vention of Zeven, in Hanover, pursuant to which the allied army had to separate ; a convention, however, neither ratified by the Enghsh nor the French king, and, therefore, of no long duration. But it was the fate of Denmark soon to enter into a yet more critical situation. An unexpected event deliv- ered the king of Prus^a from the ruin that seemed to threaten him at the close of his last campaign. Eliza- A. D., beth, the empress of Eussia, died, and was sue- 1762. ceeded by her nephew, Charles Peter IJlrik, who now mounted the Russian throne by the name of Peter 111.^ and who entertained a romantic admiration of the Prussian king, but an unquenchable hatred against Denmark. He immediately re-demanded Schle&- wig, which Adolphus Frederick had renounced in 1750. Denmark peremptorily refusing his demand, Peter III. 376 niSTOEY OP SCANDINAVIA. marclied an army to Germany to attack Denmark, and, as he declared, entirely to turn away the Danish royal family, against which he cherished the most inveterate hatred. Meanwhile Denmark had made strenuous military preparations to meet the threatening tempest, Frederick Y. launching his fleet in the Baltic, numbering thirty- six men-of-war excellently equipped, and marching to Mecklenburg, his army consisting of seventy-one thou- sand men, commanded by the French general St. Ger- main, who, upon request of the Danish king, had un- dertaken to conduct the military operations. The Russian and Danish armies approaching each other in Mecklenburg, a bloody battle was impending, when the sudden intelligence was conveyed to the Danish court, that Peter III., who, by his imprudent reforms, had given offence to a great body of his subjects, had a. D., been dethroned, mainly by his wife, and killed 1*^63. in prison a few days after his deposition. It has, how- ever, not been fully ascertained, whether he was tho victim of disease or violence. Be it as it may, his death delivered Denmark from the imminent danger that threatened her, the more so, as the empress, Gatha- rina IL, who now usurped the Russian throne, renewed friendship and peace with Denmark, and resolved to observe a strict neutrality. l^evertheless, it was easy to foresee that the peace with Russia was not to be trusted, as long as the dispu- HISTOEY OF SCANDINAVIA. 377 table point concerning Schleswig was not settled. The celebrated Bemstorff, therefore, deserved highly of Denmark for getting this point satisfactorily deter- mined. After long negotiations he was happy enough to adjust a treaty, by which the House of Holstein re- nounced all claims to the former Gottorp part of Schles- wig, and Denmark obtained the ducal part of Holstein in exchange for the counties of Oldenburg and Del- menhorst, but had, at the same time, to pay the great debt of the house of Holstein, and to resign the diocese of Liibeck, which Frederick Y., with great expense, had purchased for his younger son, the crook-backed prince, Frederick^ whom the king had by his second queen, Juliane Marie, of Brunswick-Liineburg-Wolfen- buttel, to whom he had been married on the eighth of July, 1752. This treaty being subscribed to a year after the death of Frederick Y., was first ratified some years after, when the Russian crown-prince Paul, in whose behalf his mother, Catharina II., had concluded it, was past minority. On the same occasion was Hamburg ^ after some controverted points were settled, unbound from her dependence on Holstein, and declared a free imjperial city. Frederick Y. bought that part of the island of Aro which belonged to the dukfe of G-liicks- burg, with the proviso that he paid the debt contracted, amounting to about one million of rix-dollars. During the reign of this king, as during that of his predecessor, large sums were spent in promoting do- 378 HISTOET OF SCANDINAVIA. mestic manufactures in Denmark ; but however well- meaning these endeavors might be, particularly origi- nating from the great Bemstorff, their consequences were not profitable nor permanent ; the manufacturing of many things, as silks, and other fine manufactures, with which many thousands in Copenhagen were occu- pied, was unnatural to Denmark, and only brought to pass by large expenses, and by forbidding the import of foreign articles. These being cheaper, were, of course, imported into the country in great quantities, and greedily sought after, ignoring the severe punishments inflicted upon those who were found guilty of such importations. Of greater use was the foundation of the armory near Elsenore, and of the cannon foundry and the powder mills near Fredericksvoerlc, by which the army was pro- vided with arms and ammunitions. In spite of the high tariff placed upon trade and other ways of living, in order to create for manufactures and home-bred com- modities a home market, nevertheless the great juris- consult, Henry Stamjpe^ who was attorney-general, and exercised a beneficial influence upon many branches of the state affairs, effected a modification of the pressing restrictions which hitherto had been placed on commer- cial and mechanical corporations. Also trade and navigation were highly patronized under this king. Already Christian YI., towards the close of his reign, had contributed not a little to increase the Danish com- HISTORY OF SCANDINAYIA. 379 merce in the Mediterranean, and in his name a treaty was concluded with Algiers, confirmed by Frederick Y., who meantime had ascended the throne, and on the whole, continued his father's endeavors, concluding commercial treaties with Morocco^ Tunis, Tripoli, the Tukish Sultan, Mustapha III., Genoa and Naples. Hereby a foundation was laid for the important con- veyance of freight, which Denmark had in the Medit- erranean, but the immediate trade with Africa became of no consequence, though Denmark spent immense sums on equipping merchantmen for that purpose; while on the other hand the East and West Indian trade flourished, and, at length, was raised to a height hitherto unknown, and could not fail to be an inex- haustible source of wealth to the nation ; and it cannot be denied, that during the reign of Frederick V". a variety of excellent laws were enacted for the encour- agement of trade. But the JmoJicial affairs grew still worse during the reign of this king. In the first eight years the debt was reduced to one million of rix-doUars, but afterwards grew, year by year. The reason was the great expenses in fitting out the army and the fleet on account of the Prussian seven years' war, and yet more, the necessary preparations for the war against Russia; finally the king's splendid court, as also the considerable amounts of money spent on supporting manufactures, mechanical occupations, and expensive commercial undertakings. Another hardy enterprise, on which was spent more 380 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. than a million of rix-dollars, was the attempt at break- ing and cultivating the vast heaths of Jutland, bj Ger- man colonists. The attempt, however, falling short of success, contributed, nevertheless, to make the cultiva- tion of potatoes more known in Denmark, which now produces the finest kinds of this vegetable. The public treasury was also very much encumbered by the purchase of the possessions which belonged to the duke of Ploen, and of the allodial estates of the duke of Gliicksburg. To remedy the increasing scarcity of money, it was, therefore, resolved, upon the propo- sal of Count Schimraelmann, who, in the latter part of the reign of Frederick Y., tried to put the finances upon a better footing, to dispose of the large estates which the crown possessed. These estates hitherto having only yielded very small revenues, were now sold with great profit, and amounted to considerable sums ; moreover, an extra tax was imposed, which, to many, became very burdensome, every person, after having attained to the twelfth year of age, without respect of person, being forced to pay a tribute of one rix-doUar yearly. But although this taxation was complied with, with- out the faintest murmur on the part of the people, and afforded the king the most abundant supplies for the accomplishment of all his designs, and for the enjoy- ment of the pleasures of his splendid court, the disor- der of the finances was, nevertheless, so great, that at the expiration of the reign of Frederick Y. the debt of HISTOEY OF SCANDINAVIA. 381 the state had reached the immense amount of twenty millions of rix-doUars ; a debt which ever since has been too heavy a bm:'den for Denmark to get rid of, the king himself being most to blame in this matter, as his desire to imitate the luxurious court of Louis XY. of France, had highly contributed to exhaust the wealth of his kingdoms. The severe restrictions placed on the peasantry by Christian YI. continued yet during the reign of Frede- rick Y., and became yet severer than before, a law being enacted, that the country lad, from the very time he had filled his fourth year, should be bound to remain in his native country. The peasants groaned yet under all the miseries flowing from the despotic power of the nobility. The severe treatment to which they were exposed occasioned many to concert measures for run- ning from their native place and emigrating from the country, notwithstanding they, if apprehended, had to undergo the severest punishment. Many estates, there- fore, were so deserted that the government found it necessary to permit the administration of alms-houses and orphanotrophies to convey poor children to the noblemen to farm their estates. The sale of the large estates belonging to the crown, also, had unfavorable consequences on the peasants, who in very few places were able to buy their farms them- selves. Many new manors, therefore, were erected on the crown estates disposed of, and numerous farms 382 HISTORY OF SCANDmAVIA. pulled down, the peasants often, under these new mas- ters, not getting so good terms as dm*ing the royal ad- ministration. But notwithstanding these encroachments so highly unfavorable to the peasantry, an active interest com- menced just at this time to manifest itself for this class of society, and caused the attention of the government to be drawn to their pitiable condition, and to the gross deficiencies and abuses which prevailed among all the agricultural classes. The enlightened Count, A. G. Moltke^ before mentioned, was desirous of making the best possible improvements in agriculture, and pre- vailed upon the king to give the liberty of the press to such authors who published books on state affairs and apiculture; on which occasion several writings and treatises were issued, not only throwing Hght upon the bad condition of agriculture, but also proving this to be founded in the many restrictions and oppressions placed on the peasantry. A royal coihmittee was ap- pointed, which particularly had to attend to the eco- nomical part of agriculture, causing several laws to be enacted aiming at abrogating that hitherto existing com- munity of ground, in so high a degree detrimental to agriculture. The new spirit of liberty, which in view of the pea- santry began to stir, did also appear in the efforts of several noble-minded lords to improve the economical situation of their peasants. Amongst these, Bernstorff, minister of state, deserves to be mentioned, who, upon HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 383 advice of Ms nephew, A. P. Bemstorff, parceled the grounds, and abrogated all community on Ms estates, and granted his peasants freedom from bond-service. Frederick Y., though not a man of letters himself, was, nevertheless, a munificent patron of science and the arts. The Academy of Soro, the re-establishment I A.D., of which Christian YI. had prepared, was re- 1*747. called to life and inaugurated, which is especial- ly to be ascribed to HoTberg bequeathing his immense riches of estate and money and his large library to this institution. There lived under Frederick Y. and the following king many celebrated men of learning, of whom I shall enumerate a few of the most eminent and remarkable. In the science of law Kofod Ancher and Andreas Schytte excelled, not to forget Henrik Stampe^ before named, who all made an equally eminent figure in the political as in the literary world, their works being the fruit of mature study, and written in a refined and classical style. As historians, we have to mention the fundamental investigator, Langebeh, who has gained a great reputation, both at home and abroad, by his work, Scriptores rerum Danicarum Medii ^v% and Peter Suhm^ whose favorite subject was the Northern mythol- ogy, on which he had published a work of deep erudi- tion, which entitles him to the character of a thorough historian. Erik Pontoppidan^ above named, continued to enrich the literature by eminent productions ; for in- stance, his work. Exploits of the Danes abroad, writ- 384 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. ten in Latin, acquired for him a great fame. Pro- fessor Oeder has, by his work. Flora Danica^ distin- guished himself as a great botanist. Cramer was a famous ecclesiastical orator — even known abroad. The German poet, Klojpstock^ who was supported bj Frede- rick Y.j by his immortal works is known to the whole civilized world. In point of fancy and imagination hardly any poet has gone beyond him ; and his poetry exhibits the most beantiful examples of the true pathetic. His lyric poem, Messias^ has raised him an everlasting monument. The Danish poet, John Her- raan Vessel^ born in Norway, 1742, died in Co- A.D., penhagen, whose genius and humor are never I'^Ss. to be forgotten, has delivered masterpieces in dramatic literature, all distinguished for a correctness of Ian- guage, a harmony of numbers, and a brilliancy of metaphor hardly ever surpassed, not to mention the striking wit which he in a mas':erly manner knew how to apply. The great politicians, also, Schlegel, Mallet, Roger, and Meverdil, ought to be cited. Reverdil was appointed teacher in French to the young crown-prince. Christian, and afterwards availed himself of the great influence he exercised upon his pupil, to act in behalf of the oppressed peasantry ; in which respect Oeder, also, the great botanist, merits an everlasting remembrance. The great statesman, Bernstorff, influenced the king to send the learned Professor Niebuhr to Arabia, whose re- searches have thrown a new light on mineralogy and HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 385 oriental history. The celebrated Icelanders, John Erich- son, Skule Thorlacius, Grim Thorkelin, and Sandvig, applied themselves diligently to examine the northern -tntiquities. Sandvig has made himself famous by his rransiation of the Edda, or sacred book of the Scandi- lavians, whose author, Snorro Sturleson, lived in the beginning of the thirteenth century, and was supreme judge of Iceland. Mallet, above named, has given an abridgment of this romarkable book, and shown that Snorro had composed it with the sole purpose of preserv- ing the memory of the ancient Scandinavian poetry, and of the wild and massive mythology therewith insepa- rably connected. During the reign of Frederick V., two important societies were formed in Copenhagen, and Throndhjem, Norway : the Society of Belle' Lettres, and the Lite- rary Society of Norway. Physics and cameralistics, for which CDunt A. Gr. Moltke had great affection, were vigorously pursued. Upon the proposal of Oeder, a cabinet for natural curiosities was erected in the palace of Charlottenborg, more professors being appointed to Je^lTer lectures on the sciences of nature. Oeder laid th© ground-plot of a botanic garden, and commenced to publish his famous work. Flora Danica, i. e., a descrip- tion of Danish herbs. Frederick^ Hospital, founded during the reign of Frederick Y., was not only a highly beneficial institution, but also of great importance for the study Qf medicine. The fine arts were promoted by 386 BieTORY OP SCANDINAVIA. enlarging the school of painting and drawing, erected by Christian YI., and by changing it to an academy of sculpture, painting, and architecture, in which the im- mortal Thorwaldsen^ who in sculpture stands unrivaled among the moderns, afterwards displayed his rare talents. After a reign of twenty years, Frederick Y. died on the 14th of January, 1766. Although not dis- a.d., playing any considerable degree of self-activity, ^'^66. he entirely possessed the affections of his subjects by his engaging affability, which in him deriving its origin from a native goodness of heart, was very different from that colored complaisance, the usual courtly engine foi' acquiring popularity, and which, therefore, was the sub«. ject of panegyric among his people, and has continued t« be the object of honorable mention by posterity. He appeared just, liberal, and humane ; and when a war- rant for the execution of a criminal was brought to him to be signed, his courtiers often saw him walking lonp to and fro on the floor, before afiixing his royal signa ture, entertaining a continual doubt of his right to take human life. HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 387 II. 1766—1863. Christian VII. — Alterations among the Higher Officers of State — Care for the Peasantry — The King's going abroad — Struensee and Brandt — Ove Guld- berg, Minister of State — The Queen-dowager, Juliane Marie — Prince Fre- derick — Deed of Exchange with Russia — A. P. Bernstorif— The Armpd Neutrality — The Finances — The Press — The Peasantry — Care for the Danish Language and Literature — The Charter of Naturalization — Crown Prince Frederick, afterwards Frederick VI. — A. P. BernstorfF — Henrik Stampe — Reventlow — C. Colbjornson — Hostilities with Sweden — Neu- trality during the French Revolutionary War — Independence of the United States acknowledged by Denmark — Tripoli — Hostilities with England — Renewal of the Armed Neutrality — Horrible Battle at Copenhagen — Co- penhagen cruelly Bombarded, and the Fleet carried away — War with Sweden — Peace of Jonkoping — Prince Christian August, of Augustenburg — His Death — War with Sweden, Russia, and Prussia — Alliance with Prance — ^Fierce Fight at Sehestedt — Peace of Kiel — Norway Lost — Eman- cipation of the Peasantry from Feudal Bondage — Other Important Altera- tions in Different Branches of the Government — Care of the King for Public Instruction — University and School Affairs — Literature — Pecuniary Af- fairs — Representative Council — Christian VIII. — School Affairs in Copen- hagen and in the Country — Iceland — The Danish East India Possessions disposed of — Care for the Danish Language in the Northern part of Bchleswig — Railroads — Frederick VII. — Horrible War with the Rebel- lious Duchies — Marriage of Princess Alexandra with Prince of Wales. Christian VII. ^ a son of Frederick V. and his first queen, Louise, succeeded his father to the throne of both kingdoms, in the seventeenth year of his a. D., age. Soon after his accession. Christian YII. ^^^^ married Caroline Mathilde^ a sister of the magnani- mous ki^ig of England, Greorge III. ; and the engaging 388 HISTORY OP SCANDINAVIA. manners of this young princess, only sixteen years of age when married to the king, won her the favor of the Danish king and people. Shortly after Christian YII. had mounted the throne several alterations amongst the higher officers were made. The well deserving Count Danneskjold Samso, who, during the reign of Christian YL, had so gloriously managed the naval affairs, hut under the whole royalty of Frederick Y. had heen removed from any share in the government, now regained the administration of the navy, and was again introduced into the privy council. Prompted by Reverdil, who was now appointed secre- tary of the cabinet council, the young king, by nature possessed of uncommon endowments of mind, took an energetic care of the peasantry, which be rightly re- garded the majority of the nation. A committee, in which Reverdil and Henrik Stampe presided, was appointed to propose improvements in the condition of the peasants, who, in the whole county of Copenhagen, were emancipated from bond-service, and declared owners of their farms. Soon after, however, new alte- rations were made at the court. Reverdil was dis- charged, the deserving Danneskjold Samso was sud denly, without any fault, deposed from all his offices, and banished from Copenhagen ; likewise St. Grermain, before mentioned, who for some years had commanded the land force, was dismissed. After Reverdil's dis- mSTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 389 charge, Count Hoick exercised a detrimental influence upon the morality of the young king, and led him into dissipated habits. A.B., Soon after the king undertook a tour through 1768. Europe, for the purpose of acquiring more in- struction and experience, and bringing back to his sub- jects the improvements of more refined nations. Having established a regency, to direct the government during his absence, he departed from his dominions in the train of his courtiers and numerous attendants. In Altona the young king contracted familiarity with the talented physician, Jolut Frederick Struensee^ who was appointed to accompany the king as physician in ordinary. Shortly before the king left Denmark, his queen, Caro- line Mathilde, had on the 28th of January, 1768, been delivered of the crown prince Frederick, afterwards king of Denmark and Norway, by the name of Frederick VI. From Altona Christian YII. went to England, where he, by his handsome appearance, natural wit and enga- ging manners, won universal favor, the University of Oxford even conferring upon him the honorary diploma of doctor juris. On account of his talents and insin- uating manners, and of his availing himself of every opportunity to please his royal master, Struensee became a great favorite with the king, and upon returning he monopolized the favor of the king and the queen to such a degree, that he was raised to the office of prime minis- 390 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. ter, or rather, sole ruler of Denmark and Norway, ex- alted to the rank of a count, and decorated with the order of the Elephant, exercising an omnipotent influ- ence, and being able to undertake a complete revolution of the state affairs ; the easier, as the king himself, by- dissolute, licentious manners, had fallen into a temporary insanity. To accomplish his schemes, Struensee availed himself of his intimate friend, Enevold Brandt^ who entertained the greatest familiarity with the king, had likewise been exalted to the rank of a count, and decorated with the order of the Elephant, and mastered Christian Yll. so completely as to make him comply with his humor ; Struensee and Brandt thus being the real rulers of the kingdom, the king himself only nomi- nally. The old, generally-esteemed Bernstorff, being a stumbling-block to Struensee's carrying out his plans, was suddenly removed, through the interference of Count Ranzau Ascheberg^ also striving for power and influ- ence. The privy council was annulled, and its a. d., members, among whom was baron Thott and 1770. count A. Gr. Moltke, dismissed ; a cabinet council being erected instead of it ; which, however, signified nothing, Struensee himself deciding all matters of consequence, without any consultation either with the king or with the royal colleges, and soon gaining such an a. D., ascendency as to be authorized to pass com- ^''''*- mands in his own name wifh the same validity as if HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 391 Ihey were subscribed by the king himself. Jealous ot the unheard-of power and influence extended to Struen- see and Brandt, count Ranzau Ascheberg soon became one of their most mortal enemies, and afterwards priv}» to the horrible conspiracy, which brought them to trial as criminals, and to suffer a dreadful death. Intoxica- ted with joy at the immense influence they exercised, they did not suspect that fearful event which was at hand. Struensee's administration was ngorous, and, in many respects, \rery useful, many alterations which he made being highly laudable, while others were of doubt- ful utility, and some altogether injurious. One of the greatest benefits which the ministry of Struensee effect' A. D., ed w^as the liberty of the press. Immediately I'^^O- after he had assumed his power, a royal rescript emanated, giving every individual right to express his opinion on the whole conduct of the government, with- out reserve, by word or writing ; the press should be open to every thing, but after publication, such writings as offended in the particulars, should be subject to the penalties of the law ; thus, at length, that tie was no\^ untied, which for two centuries had retarded the free progress of literature and science, and furnished unjust officers with the most powerful impulse to every species of malversation. A better regulation of tW finances was a main object of his attention, and to accomplish his plans in this HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA respect, he employed the skillful Oeder^ and his efficient brother, Peter Struensee, counselor of state. A col- lege of finances was erected to undertake the adminis- tration of all the revenues and expenses of both king doms, which formerly had been divided between different colleges ; a more economical system was adopted and a fixed sum of money assigned for the expenses of the royal court. As to the conferring of badges of honor and honorary titles, it was resolved henceforth to ascertain more minutely than before the worthiness of the persons on whom those titles were to be conferred, and no more to allow servants of the nobility offices in the kingdoms, the practice ^f which already long had intruded upon the patience of the people. In reference to the magistrate of Copenhagen, im- portant alterations took place, all the members of the magistracy being deposed and the council of the thirty- two men removed, after which the whole administration was regulated in a new and better way. Of great importance was the erection of the municipal court, from which the defendant could appeal to the supreme court, if not content with the sentence of the municipal court. Formerly the law-suits in Copenha- gen had been divided between many different tribunals ; a great hindrance for quick and due procedure. It was also forbidden by law to put the criminals to the rack to compel them to confess their crimes. mSTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 393 Struensee was also highly desirous of improving the condition of the agricultural classes. In the beginning of the reign of Christian YII. something had been done for this purpose, but afterwards this important matter had again been dropped, only some few laws being passed as to improvements in agriculture, while the personal condition of the peasantry continued as before. But, prompted by Struensee, a new committee was appointed, in which Oeder, uniting a deep insight into agricultural affairs with ardent love of th« peas- antry, presided. Upon the recommendation of this committee a law was enacted, that the bond-service should be adjusted to their acres of land, as also other regulations favorable to the peasantry. Besides that, it was proposed by this committee, shortly before Struen- see's declension, to emancipate the peasantry from all feudal bondage. It also conduced to the advancement of manufactures in Denmark, that the Moravian brethren, distinguished for their industry, were permitted to settle in Chris- tiansfeldt, in the duchy of Schleswig. Struensee's attention was also directed to the many deficiencies in the regulation of the University, and to remedy them he called down from Norway the learned bishop Gunnerus of Trondhjem, who, with deep inspec- tion, elaborated a proposal for a reformation of the IJniversity, which, however, at struensee's declension, shortly subsequent, was laid aside. 394: HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. But although these excellent improvements met with great approbation amongst the sensible and educated people, nevertheless, he incurred their displeasure and censure for having made them too precipitately, without preparation and assurance for the future. All eyes were bent jealously upon him, and misfortunes were accumulating fast upon his head. During the continu- ance of Struensee's useful designs, his friend, Count E nevoid Brandt, a man of weak intellect, and without any vigor of mind, had plunged into the pleasures of the court, and in the midst of luxury and festivity indulged the king's passions, often taking advantage of his famil- iarity with him to forget the distance between himself and his royal master, while many looked jealously upon him, and he stood over a hidden volcano. To return to Struensee ; several of his institutions gave great offence to the manners and habits of his age ; for instance, that he abrogated by law (26th of October, 1770) the following holy days : the third Christmas, Easter, and Pentecost days, the Epiphany, the Purifica- tion of St. Mary the Virgin, the Annunciation of the Blessed Yirgin, St. John Baptist's day, and St. Michael's and All Angels, alleging that they were only used for idleness and vices, and not for true worship ; that he annulled all difference between legitimate and illegiti- mate children, and finally commanded to bury all corpses early in the morning, aiming thereby, it should be observed, at diminishing that luxury and funeraJ HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 395 pomp which long had taken place ; all of which gave the more offense as Struensee was a known despiser of all religion and a man of immoral principles. He is also blamed for having introduced the corrupt- ing system of raising money by lotteries, and there soon appeared a general dissatisfaction with the reign of Struensee, the more as he was a professed despiser of the Danish language. The royal orders were issued in Grerman, the royal colleges had to present their pro- posals in G-erman, and applications and supplications from private people had to be written in Grerman, if they might expect them to be taken notice of. Struensee had formally monopolized the favor of the young queen ; wheresoever she was, he accompanied her ; he approached her without sufficient respect, and he was generally charged with having defiled the royal bed, which, however, never was clearly proved. Many officers had been despotically deposed from their offices, often without any pension ; his haughtiness had given great offense to the Danish nobles, and the most influ- ential families of the country had lost their influence. During some agitations arising from a few mariners and workmen, Struensee proved himself faint-hearted, which inspired his enemies with courage to precipitate him from his high place. His friend. Count E nevoid Brandt, was charged with having taken advantage of the king's momentary insanity, even so far as to have beaten his majesty- 396 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. A conspiracy was formed against them, the principal leaders of which were the king's stepmother, the queen- dowager, Juliane Marie, and her son, the crook-backed prince, Frederick, both of whom, during the ministry of Struensee, had been neglected and stripped of all influence ; Ove Guldberg, private secretary with Prince Frederick, whose teacher he had been ; the two counts, Ranzau Ascheberg and Osten, Colonel Koller, GreneraJ Eichstadt and Commissary- General Bering skj old ; who all had before enjoyed the king's bounty, but by the influence of Struensee and Brandt had lost \\>. It was resolved to involve the unfortunate young queen, Caroline Mathilde, in their fate, preparations being made to strike a decisive blow. The plot was laid with a depth equal to the atrociousness of a. d., the design. In the night, between the 16th and i'^'^^. 17th of January, the infernal scheme was carried out. Soldiers appeared in the streets and round the royal palace of Christiansborg, barricades were erected, popu^ lar commotions took place in the capital, and the cry, " Down with the traitors ! " resounded throughout Co- penhagen. Struensee and his friend E nevoid Brandt, not at all suspecting the peril to which they were expo- sed, were suddenly arrested at midnight, by virtue of an order which had been extorted from the imbecile king. While this was passing, Ranzau Ascheberg and KoUer, guided by numerous soldiers, repaired to the royal palace, entered the queen's bed-chamber and dragged her HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 397 naked out of her Led and commanded her to follow them. Pleading her complete innocence and appealing to her royal dignity, she cried : "I will speak with the king, my royal consort ; " but they answered : " His majesty is asleep, we dare not awake him ; " after w^hich they placed her by force in a carriage, and sent her, a prisoner, to the fortress of Kronborg, near Else- nore, where she remained for six weeks. Dread of British vengeance saved her, perhaps, from personal violence. While a prisoner in Kronborg, she was, under the pretence of having committed adultery with Stru- ensee, divorced, by a judicial sentence, from the imbecile king. Christian YII., and then permitted to retire to Hanover, where, from 1772 to 1775, in a small town called Zelle, the remainder of her life was spent in comparative obscurity, pious contemplations, and in the exercise of secret charity. She died at the age of twenty-four. Even when breathing her last she assert- ed her innocence of the crime with which she had been charged, declaring solemnly that she had been sacrificed by a base plot. When she was carried away by force from Copen- hagen, her little son, the crown-prince Frederick^ after- wards king by the name of Frederick F/., was only four- years of age. She saw him no more. She is buried in a plain vault in the church of Zelle, with the laconic inscription on her coffin : " Carolina Mathilda, Regina Danise et Norvegise." 398 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. While this was passing with the young queen, Stru- ensee and Brandt were sitting in their prisons, wrapped in gloomy thoughts and awaiting their horrible sentence of death, at the circumstances of which abominable tragedy we cannnot but shudder. They were insulted with the mockery of a trial, and their sentence was : '' Struensee and Brandt have forfeited honor, life, and property; their right hands shall first be stricken off, then their heads ; their bodies be divided into four parts and exposed on the wheel to public view;" to which cruel sentence the deranged king was easily brought to affix his signature. Dr. Hee, minister of the church of the mariners, and Dr. Miinter, minister of the Grcrman church, and father of the learned bishop of Copenhagen, Dr. Frederick Miinter, were commanded to prepare the victims a. d., for death. On the 28th of April, the cruel 17^2. sentence was literally carried into effect. Struensee, whose religious views had taken a happy change under his imprisonment, when ascending the scaffold, cried out : " The power of the blood of Christ speaks comfort to me." This horrible scene excited horror and detestation in all the courts of Europe, calling it the Danish judiciary murder. The hard-hearted queen-dowager, Juliane Marie, who was seen looking from a window of her palace upon the dreadful spectacle, now usurped the royal authority for a long time, after having removed HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 399 her rivals, and the young and talented nobleman, named Bernstorffy a nephew of the before mentioned count, was appointed minister of foreign affairs, which he conducted with excellent discretion. Struensee thus removed, the former principles of government were introduced, the privy council was re- established by the name of council of state, the royal colleges were replaced on their old footing, most of Struensee's institutions being abrogated, the good as well as the bad, and nearly all the men whom he had employed in carrying out his reforms, deposed and removed, although many of them were highly efficient and deserving officers. Besides the queen-dowager, Juliane Marie, baron Otto Thott, Schack Rathlau, and count Schimmelmann, exercised until 1784 the most important influence upon the government; while, on the other hand, Eanzau Ascheberg, and several others of the most efficient coadjutors in removing Struensee, were soon dismissed. Only Ove Guldberg was gradually raised to greater and greater dignity and influence, his authority becoming so considerable that this whole period has been called the period of Guldberg. Andrev) Peter Bernstorff, a nephew of the elder Bernstorff, skillfully administered, (1773- 1780,) as above mentioned, the foreign affairs, but afterwards laid down his office, not approving of the principles which G-uldberg followed. But the adminis- tration of Bernstorff is remarkable for the fact that the 4:00 ffiSTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. treaty which his uncle, in 1767, had concluded with Russia, concerning the exchange of the ducai part of Holstein for Oldenburg and Delmenhorst, was a.d., now accomplished, the crown prince of Russia, i'^'^^- Paul Petroimtch^ now passing his minority. Denmark hereby coming into an undivided possession of Holstein, the motives for future disputes with Russia were removed; the more so, as the house of Holstein-Kiel renounced its claims to the duchy of Schleswig. The counties, Oldenburg and Delmenhorst, were, by Paul Petrowitch, resigned to the young Frederick August^ a prince of the younger line of the house of Kiel, and on this occasion elevated to a grand duchy, by the title of the Grand Duchy of Oldenburg. Six years after, also, the Griiicksburg posses- a. d., sions, at the death of the last duke, by inheri- i'^'^^- tance devolved to the Danish crown ; all the small par- cels which by earlier divisions had been separated from the crown were reunited to it, except the possessions of the duke of Augustenburg. In 1775, twelve years from the peace of Paris, by which Nova Scotia, Canada, Cape Breton, and all othei islands in the gulf and river St. Lawrence were ceded to the British crown, the American revolutionary war began, which, by the indefatigable efforts of the noble George Washington, and many other patriots, termi- nated in the final separation of the United States from the British empire. Several of the European maritime HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 401 powers sharing in this memorahle war, the Danish and Northern commerce was highly molested by the priva- teers of the belligerent powers, France, Spain, and especially England, To remedy this evil, A. P. Bern- storff labored energetically for effecting an alliance between Denmark, Sweden, and Russia, to protect the neutra. commerce. His endeavors met, for a while, A. D., with difficulties, but at length a treaty was con- i^so- eluded, called the Act of the Armed Neutrality, by which these three maritime powers jointly engaged themselves in maintaining the axiom, that a free ship makes free cargo, or that all merchandise, when not contraband, freely and without any control, could be carried on neutral vessels, to and from the countries of the belligerent powers. This alliance, entered upon by several states, exercised a highly beneficial influence upon the Danish commerce, England now altering her policy in this respect, and France and Spain acknow- ledging the principles of the armed neutrality. Espe- cially the lines of transportation in the Mediterranean and the West Indies were very flourishing, which latter was carried on to a great extent, and with considerable profit. For the advancement of the commerce, a chan- nel was formed between the bay of Kiel and the Eider river, a conjunction being thereby effected between the Baltic and the North Sea. But, nevertheless, finan- cial affairs grew still worse during this period. In the first years several considerable expenses occurred, which 4:02 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. increased the debt, but even in the following years the debt was continually increasing, notwithstanding the sources of wealth were pouring in abundantly. In the year 1784 the debt, which from 1766-1772 had been reduced to sixteen millions, amounted to twenty-nine millions of rix-doUars. The government tried to remedy the scarcity of money by redeeming the private bank, which, during the reign of Christian YI., had been esta- blished, and changing it to a royal bank. This altera- tion, though undertaken diametrically opposite to the charter of the bank, and detrimental to the shareholders, made it possible for the government, when want of money might happen, to issue out bills without having a corresponding value of silver ; which expedient, in the following time, was used to such an extent as to ruin altogether the pecuniary affairs of the country. The period of Guldberg is distinguished by a great care for the Danish literature. Gruldberg himself was a man of extensive learning, and an active promoter of scientific undertakings. The Danish language, which long had been neglected, and during the ministry of Struensee entirely trampled under foot, regained esteem. In the army the Grerman drill words were exchanged for Danish ; at the court the Danish language was spoken ; the Latin schools were reorganized, on which occasion the mother tongue and history of Denmark were introduced as the objects of instruction. Also, the University was reformed, though not to that extent HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 4-03 which bishop Grunnerus, during the ministry of Struen- see, had in view. The charter of naturalization^ issued during the period of Gruldberg, bears a strong witness to the patriotic mind of the government. By this law, which the king enjoined his successors to regard as an unalterable radical law, it was determined, that only Danes, Norwegians and Holsteiners should have access to the offices of the state ; such men, however, excepted, as by rare talents, uncommon knowledge, or great wealth, might be of great service to the kingdoms. Notwithstanding science and the arts being protected and promoted, the government, nevertheless, during the ministry of Gruldberg, was very disaffected toward the liberty of the press. That liberty which, under Struen- see, had been given to every individual to express his opinions without reserve, by word or writing, ceased A. D., unfortunately again altogether. A law was now i'^73. enacted, forbidding to insert in the newspapers or periodicals anything concerning the government and public institutions, the mayor of Copenhagen being en- titled to punish the violators of this law, either by fine or imprisonment, without allowing any appeal to the tribunals. Also, against larger works, a high degree of arbitrary power was exercised, the government encroach- ing upon them, either through immediate orders from the cabinet council, or in other ways preventing them from being published. Id reference to the peasantry, also, during the ministry 404 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. tf Gruldberg, principles were established diametrically opposite to those of the former government. Gruldberg himself v^as fully convinced, that the yoke of the pea- santry could not be taken off v^ithout entirely subverting the state. The committee which, under Straensee, had been appointed to propose improvements in the condition of the peasantry, was dissolved, professor Oeder^ its most active and skillful member, being discharged, with the notification, that he had forfeited the king's favor. The law concerning the bond-service, so favorable to the peasants, which had been enacted during the ministry of Struenseo, was annulled, the bond-service again being made indefinite, and replaced on its old despotic footing. The pressure on the peasantry also grew still worse by the erection of many new manors, which came up by continually disposing of the crown estates. Neverthe- less, after count Joachim Gotshe Moltke had been appointed president of the exchequer, a law for the abrogation of the community of ground was enacted, highly important and beneficial for the agricultural classes. The revolutionary war in America, of seven years' duration, had been waged vigorously, and successfully in its results to the cause of freedom. Misfortunes seemed to attend almost every scheme undertaken by England for coercing the Americans into obedience. The great continental powers, jealous of the maritime and commercial prosperity of England, and dissatisfied HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 405 with her policy, ardently desired her humiliation, ami rejoiced heartily at every misfortune that befel her, and the northern kingdoms shared in the universal joy, and mentioned Washington's name with respect and admira- tion; and when the proclamation of the cessation of hostilities was made to the army, on the 19th of April, 1783, Sweden had already, by virtue of the articles of peace, signed on the 30th of November, 1782, acknow ledged, 5th of February, 1783, the independence of the United States ; whereupon Christian VIL, on the 25th of February, 1783, for Denmark and Norway, subscri- bed to the independence of this great Union. Already, the year before, Holland had, 19th of April, 1782, ac- knowledged said independence. The expenditure of blood and money which this war had cost England was enor- mous. Of course, also, the United States had suffered during the war ; the trade and the commerce of the country were almost destroyed, and agriculture was greatly interrupted and depressed, and the great Union was burdened with an immense debt, from which they, however, soon recovered, by maintaining a strict neu- trality, and engaging themselves in an extensive and profitable carrying trade. Crown-prince Frederick, son of Christian VII. and the unfortunate queen Caroline Mathilde, had now A. D., grown up and been confirmed by the court chap* '784. lain. Dr. Bastholm, whereupon he conducted the reign ; his father, Christian VII., being so mentalJy 406 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. deranged as not to be able to rule the kingdoms. A few days after his confirmation, the crown-prince removed Ove G-uldberg, whose ministry ceased pursuant to an order in writing, signed by the imbecile king and the crown-prince, who now created a new ministry of state, into which were admitted the great and liberal jurisconsult, Henry Stampe, and the celebrated diplo- mate, Andreas Peter Bernstorff, who, after an absence of four years, returned to Denmark to conduct again the foreign affairs. The peaceable terms on which Denmark was with Sweden, were for a little while interrupted, Sweden having attacked Russia, which Denmark, according to an earlier alliance, had to assist. Consequently a. d., a Danish army made from Norway an inroad '^'^^^• into Sweden, and, commanded by crown-prince Frede- rick, advanced briskly into the Swedish frontier-pro- vinces, which were unable to make any resistance, the Swedish troops having pitched their camp in Finland, in order to attack the Russians. A victory was obtained over the Swedes at Qvistrum Bridge^ by the Danes, who advanced upon G-othenburg ; but England interfering, and threatening Denmark with war, the hostilities soon ceased. This short campaign, however, had cost Den- mark the considerable sum of seven millions of rix dollars. Shortly after, the unfortunate Louis j^^^ 21 XVI. of France was guillotined in Paris, and the A. D., democratic spirit, which had called forth the revo- ' 407 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. *^* lutionary war of America, was borne back to France b} her chivalrous sons, who, in aiding the oppressed Ame- ricans, had imbibed their principles. The ancient con- stitution of France was overthrown, and the French Revolution was hurried forward, involving most Euro- pean powers in a sanguinary war. But Denmark, tlirough A. P. Bernstorff's wise diplomacy, being happy enough to maintain an unshaken neutrality, abundantly enjoyed the blessings of peace, carrying on the most flourishing commerce. The East India and Cliina trade was so profitable, that for many years merchandise was yearly brought to Copenhagen, to the amount of five millions of rix-doUars ; and the carrying trade in the Mediterranean, together with the North American and West Indian commerce, was likewise pursued with great profit. The trade, however, in the Mediterranean, was for a long time greatly molested by the Dey of Tripoli violently outraging the Danish merchantmen. But, not- withstanding peace having long reigned, the Danes had not degenerated from the ancient Northern bravery. The undaunted Admiral, Steen Bille, gained a complete A.D., victory over a superior Tripolitan fleet, and com- 1797. pelled the Dey to pay respect to the Danish flag, thus securing to the Danish trade in the Mediterranean due freedom and progress. The victory gained, the Dey presented Steen Bille, to show him his esteem, with a costly sabre. But, in the course of the French revolutionary war, ^^° mSTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. Denmark had a difficult game to play, frequent col- lisions occurring with the belligerent powers, especially with England, who despotically treated the neutral merchantmen. England now extending the list of con- traband goods, by which before only munitions of war were meant, to meal, grain, and other bread-stuffs, and claiming the right of searching neutral ships for contra- band articles, and of seizing vessels not laden with exceptionable cargoes, attempted to forbid Denmark to enjoy free navigation from one port to another, and to bring meal and grain, her most important articles of exportation, to France or other countries, which were waging war with England. Nevertheless, the wise ]3ernstorfF succeeded in getting it determined, that all effects conveyed by Danish merchantmen, excepting only warlike stores, should be free, and in maintaining the peace and dignity of Denmark and Norway, a. d., But, unfortunately, BernstorfF died amidst these i'^^^- critical circumstances. To protect the merchantmen against future outrage, Denmark now commenced to convoy them by ships of war ; but England stubbornly claimed the right of searcliing even such merchantmen as were convoyed. Mutual recriminations were, therefore, almost constantly passing between the Danish and the English govern •nents, the former complaining, that great numbers of Danish vessels, not laden with contraband goods, had "been seized and carried into the ports of England ; the HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 409 latter accusing the former of supplying the enemies of A. D., England with naval and military stores. A 1800. slight collision in the English Channel, between Freia, a Danish man-of-war, and a superior English vessel, which, after a brave resistance, at last captured her, together with the merchantmen sailing under her convoy, increased the hostile feelings of the two nations ; a war being about to break out, when fortunately a Convention was concluded, pursuant to which England returned the captured vessels, and Denmark promised not to convoy her merchantmen by ships of war until the matter in question was settled. In the meantime, Napoleon, since the 10th of No- vember, 1799, seated on the consular throne of France, was successfully planning a union of the northern A.D., powers against England, and on the 16th of 1800. December, a Maritime Confederacy was signed by Russia, Sweden, Denmark, and soon after by Prussia, on principles similar to the Armed Neutrality of 1780, and its effect would have been, if fully carried out, to deprive England of her naval superiority. Denmark having lately concluded a convention with England, was not inclined to accede to this new confederacy, but gave way, however, to the wish of the Russian emperor, Paul, who was highly exasperated at England ; the Danish government now ordering her armed vessels to resist the search of the British cruisers, and the Russian emperor issuing an embargo on all the British ships in his harbors. 410 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. Still, England maintained her superiority at sea, and, iletermined to anticipate her enemies, despatched, as soon as possible, a powerful fleet to the Baltic, a. d., under the command of Sir Hyde Parker and i^^i- Nelson. Passing through the sound at Elsenore under a tremendous fire from the Danish batteries, on the 30th of March, the English fleet, numbering fifty-one men-of-war, came to anchor opposite the harbor of Copenhagen, which was protected by an imposing array of forts and floating batteries ; but the Danish men-of- war were old and almost unmanageable, commanded by admiral Olfert Fisher. It is an interesting fact, that Charles G-. Sommers, a Baptist minister in the city of New- York, still living, was in Copenhagen on the eventful day of the 2d of April, 1801. I cannot refrain from quoting the following graphic words from the " American Pulpit," published by Henry Fowler, Professor of the University of Ro- chester, N. Y. : ""Within two miles from Copenhagen the British fleet came to anchor, in the evening of the first of April. Here these mighty battle-ships lay all night, in a fore- boding silence, broken only by the dash of waves against their huge black sides, or by sound of revelry, and low murmur of preparation, which ever and anon issued from the open port-holes. In the British fleet it was a night of wild joy and hope, and glorious antici- pation of the morrow's victory, with the thrilling excite* HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 411 ment which nerves the arm and steels the heart of soldier and seaman in the prospect of desolating contest, But the gloom of night, which settled over the doomed city of Copenhagen, was hut a faint image of the fore- hodings shutting down so darkly on the hearts of all its desperate defenders. Ahout ten o'clock on the ^ -^ ^ following morning (Good Friday), Lord Nelson's A. D., ships had taken their allotted places, and at the ^^^^' signal opened their tremendous fire on the Danish armament. It was returned hy the shot of one thousand guns, which spoke in terms not to he misun- derstood, of the desperate hravery with which the Danes would defend their native land, and of the terrible destruction through which the British flag must pass, ere it waved in triumph over the citadel of Copen- hagen. For more than five hours did these two mighty combatants, the flower of the English navy, and the concentrated strength of Denmark, wage upon each other a warfare of magnificent bravery, but of awful carnage. It was one of the hardest fought battles that humanity ever has been called to mourn over. Young Sommers was witness of it all, in its terribleness, its havoc, and its magnificence. When Nelson came on shore, Sommers had a good sight of him. Villemoes, too, he often saw, and describes him as of a very modest and retiring appearance, of whom the following is told A Danish youth of seventeen, named Yillemoes, par- ticularly distinguished himself on this memorable day 412 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. Be had volunteered to take the command of a floating battery, which was a raft, consisting merely of a num- ber of beams nailed together, with a flooring to support the guns; it was square, with a breastwork full of port-holes, and without masts, carrying twenty- four guns and one hundred and twenty men. With this he got under the stern of the Elephant, below the reach of the stern-chasers, and, under a heavy fire of small arms from the marines, fought his raft till the truce was announced, with such skill and bravery as to excite Nelson's warmest admiration. Nelson requested of the crown-prince of Denmark, that Yillemoes might be introduced to him ; and shaking hands with this young northern hero, told the prince, that Yillemoes ought to be made an admiral. The prince replied : ^ If, my Lord, I am to make all my brave officers admirals, I should have no captains or lieutenants in my service.' '^ After a continued fight of five hours the Danish fleet was almost altogether destroyed, but Nelson had under- gone so great a loss as not to be able to continue the battle, his largest men-of-war being in a dangerous situation. The formidable fire from the Danish batte- ries being silenced, Nelson sent a white flag ashore, and negotiations were transacted. Nevertheless, it is not to be denied, that the victory in this horrible engagement rested with the English, but the Danes had fought with such courage and obstinacy as to procure them everlasting honor, to which Nelson's words to the orowa fflSTORY OF SCANKNAVIA. 413 prince bear witness : " Your royal higluiess ! I ha^e been in one hundred and five engagements, but tnat ot Copenhagen was the most terrible of them all." fSix thousand of Denmark's bravest sons were taken Irom her ; the English loss was two thousand two hundred men, but many of their men-of-war had blown up. Against each other were arrayed men who knew no inspiration equal to that of their country's call, and paid no heed to personal safety, when her safety was endangered. Nelson, a man of refinement of manners, humanity, and with studied courtesies of polished life, was, after the battle, cordially received in Copenhagen ; and as an instance of his courtesy, it is related, that in the very midst of the battle, when the work of carnage and destruction was the hottest around him, and he judged it expedient to propose a cessation of hostilities, a wafer being brought to him to seal his communication to the Danish authorities, he rejected it, directing the wax and a taper to be brought, saying: " "What ! shall I send my own spittle to the crown-prince?" An armistice was now concluded for fourteen weeks, during which time Denmark abdicated active participa- tion in the Armed Neutrality. This armistice soon led June 24 *^ ^ Complete peace, when the Russian emperor, A. D., Paul, the founder and head of the Northern Con- ^^^^' federacy, who had provoked the indignation of the nobles and the people, was murdered by a party of 414 mSTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. conppiratorSj who placed upon the throne his son^ Alexander J., who immediately resolved to abandon tho armed neutrality, and to cultivate the friendship of Grreat Britain. Sweden, Denmark, and Prussia followed his example, and thus was dissolved the League of the North, the most formidable confederacy ever arrayed against the maritime power of England. Denmark soon retrieved the consequences of this war, and her commerce continued to flourish as before ; but the incessant wars in the north of Germany occasioned immense expenses, Denmark deeming it necessary to keep her army in Holstein to protect the frontiers. Meanwhile Napoleon had rapidly extended his suprem- acy over tho continent of Europe, and when the a. d., G-erman empire was dissolved, and fourteen i^^^- princes of the south and west of Grermany were induced to form the Confederation of the Rhine, and place them- selves under the protection of .France, that feudal obligation in which Holstein had been to the Grerman emperor ceased, and Holstein was now incorporated as an inseparable part of the Danish monarchy. Denmark having hitherto sought, as far as possible, to keep out of the terrible war in which the French Revo- lution had involved most of the other states of Europe, was suddenly thrown into the middle of the great movements, which then shook Europe ; and the blessed oeace which Denmark, except a few short interrupt lions, had enjoyed since the year 1720, was now ex- HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 415 changed for a seven years' war of the most lamentable consequences. It was generally believed that Napoleon intended to blockade all the harbors of the continent against Grreat Britain, and that he would compel Denmark to give up her neutrality, and probably avail himself of the Danish navy to execute his old project of an invasion. To prevent such an enterprise England sent, without any previous declaration of war, a powerful armament against Den- mark, under the command of admiral Gambier and general Cathcart. An imperious demand for the in- stant surrender of the Danish fleet and naval stores, to be retained as a deposit by the English until the con- clusion of the war, being peremptorily rejected, the Danes were briskly attacked by land and sea; but as their army was in Holstein to protect the frontiers, and was prevented by English men-of-war, cruising round in the Belts, from coming to the assistance of the capital, they could only make a very weak resistance. Sept 2-5 After Copenhagen had been furiously bom- A. D., barded for three days, general Peymann was ^ ■ constrained to submit to the demands of the British, and the Danish fleet was, six weeks aft0r, removed, while the indignant people could scarcely be prevented from avenging the national insult, even by the presence of a superior force. A militia, consisting principally of men who had never stood under fire, commanded by general Castenskjold, tried at Kjog'e, 4:16 mSTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. four Danish miles from Copenhagen, to make head against the British troops, but were immediately routed. The enemy carried away thirty-three men-of-war and SPiveral frigates, besides a great store of ammunition. ' Here I may quote the following graphic account from the American Pulpit : "It was six years after the horrible battle of 1801, that a British fleet suddenly appeared off Elsenore, the toll-gate city of Denmark. It amounted to nearly a score of line ships, a large number of frigates and gun-boats, with transports car- rying some twenty thousand men. As they swept into the straits under a light wind, with all sails spread, flags, pennants, and streamers flying from mastheads^ bows, and sterns, every yard throughout the whole fleet manned with seamen, Mr. Sommers describes it a mag- nificent sight. And when the bands of eleven regiments struck up the national air : * Rule, Britannia, Britannia rule the Waves,' the effect was thrilling. With his usual enterprise in search of incident or information, Sommers jumped into a skiff" with a companion, and pulled off* for the Prince of Wales, a ninety-eight gun ship. Groing on board, he was most kindly received, and invited below to a repast with the officers. He frankly inquired where they were going with such a fleet. An officer replied: '^ We do not know; sealed orders have been given us, which will be opened this afternoon; and we hope it is not to Copenhagen." But alas, it was. That afternoon the fleet weighed HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 4:17 anchor for that unfortunate capital, and the next morn- ing the Looming of cannon was heard at Elsenore, twenty- four English miles distant, and Copenhagen was bombarded. " This attack was made under the command of Lord Grambier. It was done for the purpose of getting pos- session of the Danish fleet, which lay dismantled in its harbor. This fleet the English government was inform- ed by their active minister abroad, Jackson, was to come into possession of the French, which John Bull could not, and would not allow. The fleet was captured ; English sailors swarmed on board of the stripped vessels, rigged them, fitted them for sea, and the two fleets passed over to England. In this engagement, the enthusiasm of young Sommers would not allow him merely to sit quietly on the end of a ship-crane, but he must assist in the defence of Denmark, his adopted country. So he joined the company which manned the old fort of Kronborg, the guns of which swept the straits, and there played away at the ships as they passed." This act of violence against Denmark, called so by the whole of Europe, furnished the Russian emperor with a pretext for breaking off" his connection with G-reat Britain. He complained, in strong language, of the disregard which England had ever shown for the rights of neutral powers, and the unscrupulous use that had been made of her naval supremacy, and many of 418 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. the maritime states seconded his remonstrances. Den- mark, though deprived of her navy, resented the blow inflicted on her by England, by throwing herself without reserve into the arms of France. Shortly after, a. d., Denmark declared war against Sweden, whose i^^^- king, Gustavus IV., a son of- the celebrated Gustavus III., who, in 1792, at a masked-ball, had been mur- dered by Captain John Jacob Ankarstrom, was in the closest connection with England, and strove for the possession of Norway. A few days after the breaking out of the war with Sweden, the imbecile Chris- ad., tian VII. died in Rendsburg, Holstein, and his ^^^^ son, who, since 1784, had ruled Denmark and Norway as crown-prince, ascended the throne of both kingdoms by the name of Frederick VI. The kingdoms were, at that time, in a very critical situation, involved in a double war, and on account of the loss of the fleet not able to undertake anything of consequence against England, their most dangerous enemy; their commerce was weakened by England's capturing many hundred merchantmen, and their agri- culture was greatly interrupted and depressed. The capital had suffered greatly by the English bom- bardment ; and some years before, 1794, it had been greatly injured by a fire, which even consumed the splendid palace of Christiansborg, considered one of the most costly and beautiful in Europe. French reinforcements arrived in Denmark under the HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 419 command of Charles John Bernadotte, prince of Pon- tecorvo, one of Napoleon's most celebrated marshals, and preparations were made to make a descent upon Skane in Sweden. The reinforcements consisted mostly of Spanish soldiers, who mutinied, and the expedition was abandoned. But on the Norwegian frontier, the war was waged very successfully by the skillful, tal- ented, and generally beloved prince. Christian August^ of Augustenburg. Meanwhile the eccentric Gustavus Adolphus IV. , who, by his imprudent reign, had brought Sweden into the most miserable condition, had been deposed on the 13th of March, 1809, and his uncle, Charles XIIL, raised to the Swedish throne. After his accession to A. D., the crown of Sweden, peace was concluded with 1809. Denmark, in Jonkoping, by which everything remained as before the war, and with Russia the same year, in Frederikshamn, by which peace Sweden lost Finland, which for six hundred and fifty years had belonged to Sweden — the most unfortunate peace Swe- den has ever concluded. Charles XIII. being old and childless, the Swedes A, D., elected prince Christian August, of Augusten- 1^10- burg, successor to the throne. By the name of Charles August he arrived in Sweden, where he, by his mild and unaffected deportment, made himself highly beloved ; but while he was reviewing a regiment of hussars in Skane, at Quidinge Heath, he died suddenly, 420 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. not without some suspicion of poison. Count a.d. Axel Fersen^ suspected of having poisoned him, i^i^- was, when the body of the dearly beloved crown-prince was escorted to the tomb, cut to pieces by the mob of Stockholm. The Swedish senate feeling convinced that a tried warrior was, under the sad circumstances, neces- sary for Sweden, tendered the succession to Charles John Bernadotte, who had won their favor by the leni- ency and prudence he had displayed some years before in the North of Grermany. Bernadotte, willingly accepting the glorious offer, to the secret annoyance of Napoleon, who had long been jealous of his military fame and independent spirit, arrived in Sweden in October, 1810, by the name of Charles John. To return to Denmark : against England the war could only be waged very weakly, Denmark being deprived of her fleet ; and the few men-of-war which had escaped the attention of the English in 1807, were suc- cessively captured, amongst others, the Prince Christian, which, after a most heroic resistance under admiral lessen, was entirely cut up on the northern coast of Sjelland. But, notwithstanding Denmark had nothing but a few small vessels and gun-boats, which had been built by patriotic private people, to oppose the English men-of-war cruising all the time round in the Danish rounds and belts, the Danish sea- warriors often battled bravely against the enemy, and caused him, in the course of the war, many severe losses. But an attempt fflSTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 421 made by the Danes to recover the island of Anholt^ in the Cattegat, was defeated hy the English garrison ; a great loss to the international commerce. Sweden could scarcely he said to he at war with Great Britain. Bernadotte soon discovered that subser- viency to France was inconsistent with the interests of his adopted country, and he secretly entered into nego- tiations with the Russian emperor for restoring their mutual independence. In the year 1812 the situation of Denmark became yet more critical. On the 24th of June, 1812, Napoleon crossed the Memen at the head of '' the Grand Army^'' and entered upon his ever-memorable Russian campaign. On the morning of the 7th of September the gTeat battle was fought at the small village of Borodino^ seventy miles from Moscow, where neither side gained a decisive victory. Napoleon now approached Moscow, the ancient capital of the Czars, revered by the Russians as Jerusa- "xem by the Jews. The citizens resolved not only to abandon their beloved metropolis, but to consign it to the flames ; and Napoleon, not able to check the conflagra- tion, had to undertake his perilous retreat. Exasperated at Napoleon, and to acquire assistance against this his enemy, and, if possible, to break him entirely, the Russian emperor, Alexander, although there was at that time peace and amity between Denmark A. D., and Russia, ofi'ered Sweden his aid in depriving 1813. Denmark of Norway. The following year Den* 422 fflSTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. maiK was summoned to share in the war against Napo- leon, and resign Norway to Siveden. This iniquitous request left nothing to Denmark but to take a yet closer part with France, whereby all the powers which were allied against France now became Denmark's enemies ; and after Napoleon, on the 18th of October, 1813, had been signally defeated at Leipsic, an immense army of Swedish, Prussian, and Russian troops, commanded by the elected crown-prince of Sweden, Prince of Ponte- corvo, now called Charles John, rushed upon the fron- tiers of Denmark. The Danish army, which had pitched its camp in Holstein, had to retreat, but fought bravely against superior numbers. A division of the army had on its retreat been cut off from the fortress of Rends* hurg^ but, after an honorable and obstinate battle a. d., at Sehestedt, won the field. ^^i^- Denmark having now, through seven years, endured a desolating war, could no longer afford to con- j^^^ ^^ tinue the contest, and Frederick YI. submitted to A. D., conclude the peace of Kiel^ by which Denmark '^^^^' resigned Norway to Sweden. Thus the close union which, for four hundred and thirty-four years, had existed between Denmark and Norway, was dissolved, and Denmark lost a large kingdom, the inhabitants of which had always obeyed the Danish kings with love and loyalty ; and the allies have incurred just censure for aiding in this forcible annexation of Norway to Swe- den, against the earnest remonstrances of ths inhabi* HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 423 tants As a sort of compensation for the loss of Norway, Denmark obtained Swedish Pomerania, which was afterwards exchanged with Prussia for the duchy of Laiienhurg and a sum of money. Peace was also con- cluded with England at Kiel, by which Denmark had to concede Helgoland, a rocky island in the North Sea, to Great Britain. Nevertheless the Norwegians tried to defend their independence under the Danish hereditary prince, Chris- tian Frederick^ who gave Norway a free constitution, and was proclaimed king, but never acknowledged by any European state. The Swedish crown-prince, Charles John (Bernadotte), now marched his victorious army into Norway, and the Swedish fleet conquered Frederickstad. The fortress of Frederickshald was be- sieged, and the Swedish army advanced upon Christiania, the capital of Norway. The superiority being too large, the Norwegians hastened to secure their persons and August pi'op^i'ty ty a capitulation in Moss^ upon condi- A. D., tion that Norway should belong to Sweden, and ^^^^' Christian Frederick immediately leave Norway ; the Swedish king, however, confirming thai: free consti- tution which Christian Frederick had given to Norway. Although Norway is now under the same crown with Sweden, it is in reality little connected with the latter country. Its democratic assembly, called the Storthing-, meets for three months once in three years, by its own fight, and not by any writ from the king. If a bill 424: HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. passes both divisions of this assembly in three successive Storthings, it becomes a law of the land without the royal assent ; a right which no other monarchico-legis- lative assembly in Europe possesses. In the meantime the fate of France was decided ; Napoleon was, on the 2d of April, formally de^ a. d., posed, and, by a treaty between him and the i^i^- allies, promised the sovereignty of the island of Elba and a pension. But when he suddenly landed at Frejus, (March 1, 1815), and soon again found himself at the summit of power, and re-ascended the throne of France, Denmark took, part with the other European powers in fighting against him ; and after having lost the memo- rable battle of "Waterloo, nine miles south of Brussels (18th of June, 1815), Napoleon a second time abdicated the throne of France, and was banished by the allies tc St. Helena, where he died on the 5th of May, 1821. At the general congress of the allied powers, a. d., which assembled at Yienna, the Danish king, i^^^- Frederick YI., was present, and subscribed to the incor- poration of the duchy of Holstein into the Grermanio Confederation. Of Schleswig not a word was spoken, it being considered an inseparable part of the Danish body. Since that time the peace of Denmark has not been interrupted until 1848, when the rebellious duchies tried to shake oif the Danish yoke, and erect themselves into independent states, and waged a sanguinary three years' war against the Danish king, being assisted by more than twenty thousand Prussians and Hanoverians fflSTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 425 Of the favorable period previous to the "breaking out of the war, the government had availed itself, to make important improvements in agriculture and in other matters. When crown-prince Frederick, in the year 1784, during his father's imbecility, assumed the reins of government, the peasantry was in a most lamentable condition, and agriculture very defective. Community of gi'ound still prevailed in most places, although in 1781 a strict law had been enacted against it, but on account of prevailing prejudices, it had been very difficult to carry this law into execution. Not less detrimental for the advancement of agriculture was the bond-service, with a few exceptions, yet in use. The number of owners of farms decreased more and more, and the tenants were in most places impoverished and oppressed. Many sorts of grain were not cultivated at all, and when sterile years happened, the country could not supply itself with provisions. Public instruction was yet at a very low ebb, though Frederick lY. and Christian VI had made active efforts for improving it. As far as the personal relation to the nobility was concerned, the tenants were subject to the greatest despotism. When the nobleman was just and well-minded, the tenants did tolerably well ; but if he would intrude upon them, it was difficult for the peasants to be protected against oppression and injustice. After military service of many years, the country lad was obliged to return to that estate from which he was enlisted, and then to take 426 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. what farm soever the nohleman might please to give him, and on whatsoever terms. The hond- service being indefinite, the nobleman exercised the most unlimited power over the tenants' time and labor, and was autho- rized to lash them and punish them with the wooden horse and jail ; a right which the nobility often exer- cised in its full extent, and occasionally with circum- stances of peculiar atrocity. But the crown-prince, a warm and munificent patron of the peasantry, appointed (1784) a committee, consist- ing of Christian Frederick Ditlev Reventlov, Andrew Peter Bernstorff, and Chr. Colbjornsen, who, by their skill and activity in improving the condition of the agri- cultural classes, have acquired an immortal name. The beginning was made in the counties of Kronborg and Fredericksborg, near Copenhagen ; the ground was parceled, bond-service abrogated, the tithes changed to a money tribute, and the farms were given to the pea- sants as property. As the result of this reform, a general improvement took place among the peasantry. Next year a a, D., law was immediately enacted, which forbade the i*^^^- nobility to exercise any despotism over them, their mutual rights and duties being exactly fixed. The noblemen were now forbidden to inflict punishment upon the peasants, either by stripes or imprisonment, and it was decided that the farms, previous to being given to the peasants, should be examined by umpires ; HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 427 controversies respecting the farming out should be deci- ded upon by the magistracy, and no longer left to the sentence of the despotic nobleman. Yet more important was the emancipation of the June 20 P^o^santry from feudal bondage. A law was A. D., enacted enfranchising all the peasantry who were ' under fourteen or above thirty-six years of age, and all others from the first of January, 1800. This memorable law restored personal liberty to the Danish peasantry, and made the peasant a free citizen of the state, as well as the other inhabitants of the country. The government also extended its care to the peasantry of the duchies, where an abominable slavery resting upon the peasantry, and depriving not only the males but also the females of personal liberty, was entirely abolished. All these thorough reformations in the condition of the agricultural classes, met, however, with great oppo- sition from a great part of the nobility, an application signed by one hundred and two noblemen being tendered to the crown-prince, to repeal the new laws, which they particularized as detrimental to the country, and repug- nant to their own privileges ; but, fortunately, the crown- prince had firmness enough to answer in the negative, and the government continued to follow the humane principles it had adopted. Those inequalities in burdens and privileges among the citizens of the state, which through centuries had been kept up, were now succes- 428 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. sively diminished. The great privilege which the nobiUty had of appointing clergymen and judges on their estates, gave no assurance that these important offices would "be filled by qualified persons, and had often occasioned the grossest abuses. No sooner, therefore, had the a. d., crown-prince ascended the throne, than he i^^^- changed this detrimental privilege to a right of nomi- nating (jus proponendi)^ upon the practice of which, moreover, many restrictions were placed. The Jews, in Denmark as well as in most other states, deprived of all civil privileges, and excluded from exer- cising any profession and filling any offices, were now placed nearly on equal terms with the other inhabitants, and Frederick VI. already, when crown-prince, testified to his humane and philanthropic principles, by a. D., putting a stop to the slave-trade in the Danish ^'^^2. West Indies ; and it is remarkable that Denmark and the United States preceded England in declaring the slave-trade unlawful. But the example thus set forth has afterwards been followed by all the great maritime countries of Europe and America. At length, in the year 1807, under the G-renville administration, an act for the abolition of the slave-trade passed the British legislature, to which the impulse was given in the year 1784, when Dr. Peckard, vice-chancellor of the Univer- sity of Cambridge, proposed as the subject of a Latin essay, for which a gold medal was to be given, an an- swer to the question : Anne liceat invitos in servitutcm HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 429 dare? or, ''Is it right to make slaves of others against their will?" But, although hoth the king and the people of Denmark have manifested the strongest repug- nance to the traffic in human heings, this trade lingered in her colonies in the Vilest for years after it had been declared illegal. So difficult is it to enforce just law^s in distant possessions, demoralized by a vicious and crimi- nal system. Besides the institutions above mentioned, Frederick YI. made, in other respects, many important improve- ments. The criminal code was highly improved by a new law on theft. The tribunal of inquisition, also called the sharp examination, the branding, and the barbarous running the gantlet, were abrogated. Of great importance for commerce was the new tariff, which regulated the commercial affairs according to sounder principles than before. Useful alterations were also made in the organization of the army ; the enrollment of foreign soldiers was abrogated, the army now consist- ing exclusively of the native subjects, while formerly G-erman soldiers comprised a considerable part of the Danish army. The military officers' higher scientifio education was provided for by the erection of a Military Academy^ where the young engineers learn mathematics, and to unite mobility of manoeuvre with rapidity of fire and precision of aim. That the peasantry might enjoy the right fruit of the many improvements which had been made for their 430 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. advancement, Prederiok YI. deemed it necessary tho- roughly to organize and ameliorate the public instruc- tion. To train up qualified teachers for the peasantry, normal schools (seminaries) were established in various sections of the country ; many new schools were built, and money was assigned for the salaries of the teachers. A. new school-law was enacted, and every peasant was enjoined to send his children to school for instruction. The Polytechnic School, founded upon the recom- mendation of the celebrated natural philosopher, Hans Christian Oersted, has exercised a censiderable influ- ence in promoting the study of the science of nature, and spreading useful knowledge and greater skill amongst mechanics. The University and the learned schools were thoroughly reorganized, mainly to be ascribed to the active and skillful Frederick Christian, duke of Augustenburg, who, in the beginning of the present century, was appointed patron of the University. The examinations were made more strict, and a special examination was enjoined upon those, who intended to be teachers in the learned schools, called Examen philologicum. The Academy of Soro, consumed by fire in 1813, was rebuilt and recalled to life in 1822, and solemnly inaugurated in 1827. It deserves g^ ^ ^ also to be remarked, that Frederick YI. founded A. D., the University of Christiania, in Norway, which the Norwegians, therefore, call the Fredericks Uni* versity. HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 431 Although Frederick VI. had not himself had the benefit of a thorough education, we have to observe how much literature was indebted to him for its ad- vancement and dissemination in Denmark. Classical learning, the art of criticism, poetry, and history, began from his time to make a rapid progress. The two learned bishops of Copenhagen, Frederick Munter and Peter Erasmus Moller, enriched the historical, antiqua- rian, and theological literature with invaluable treasures. Mtlnter is also celebrated for his extensive knowledge in the oriental languages. Malte Conrad Bruun, who, for having by his writings offended the government, was banished, acquired in Paris an immortal name as the greatest geographer of the world. Rask is cele- brated as a great linguist. Brondsted has immortalized himself by deeply searching into the curiosities of the Greek antiquities. Finn Magnusson and C. Rafn^ both yet living, unite deep knowledge in the antiquities of the North, with perspicuity of narration and force of language. The study of jurisprudence was vigorously promoted by Kongslev, E. Colbjornson and F. Schlegel ; that of medicine by Tode, Saxtorph, F. L. Bang, Winslow, and Herholdt. H. C. Oersted is known over the whole civilized world, for his deep knowledge, and discoveries in physics. Tetens, Bugg-e, and Degen have signalized themselves as great mathematicians, and Abildgaard and Viborg, as superior veterinarians. Bertel Thorvaldsen has placed himself at the head 4:32 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA of all the sculptors that ever the world produced, Oehlenschlceger has won a great name as a poet, and the strict unity of his pieces demonstrates a thorough ac- quaintance with the rules of the classic tragedy. His genius was original, and he disdained to imitate. Coeval with Oehlenschlseger was his friend, the illustrious theologian and poet of Sweden, "bishop Esajas Tegner. He was born on the 13th of Novem- ber, 1782. In the year 1824 he was appointed bishop of Yexo, and justified this promotion by the most zealous guardianship of the educational institutions of his large diocese. His spirited speeches on public occa- sions often excited an extraordinary sensation, and his eloquent address to the assembly of the Swedish clergy, in Yexo, in 1836, has not been confined within the limits of his diocese, but convinced all classes, that he no less deserved consideration as a deep and fearless theologian, than as an accomplished and nearly une- qualed poet. In his charming poem, Frithiof^s Saga, he has bequeathed a poetic inheritance to posterity, never to be lost, in which he, in a masterly manner, resolved the epic form into free lyric romances. The noble, the high-minded, the bold, the great features of all heroism, are not wanting there. His is, therefore, a perpetual glory, ^^ cut neque profuit quisquam lau* dando. neque vituperando quisquam nocuit:'' Hans Christian Andersen has, by his poems and novels, made an agreeable impression upon his readers, and has acquired a great name in Europe and even now mSTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 433 in the United States. His productions are not the fruit of deep study or learning, hut of native talent ; and it is to he ohserved to his honor, that in all his works, good- ness and virtue are inculcated, as he himself is the impersonation of goodness and morality. This charac- teristic distinguishes him from the many worthless novehsts, who, in a variety of licentious novels, have prostituted excellent talents in the service of vice. As Latinist, J. N. Madvig stands nearly unsurpassed, and has acquired such a renown, that the great Grermau philologers, when uncertain how to interpret a difficult passage in the Latin classics, write : " Consulamus junior em Madvigium DanimP Dr. Jacob Peter Mynster, hishop of Sjelland (ob. 1854), has, as a learned linguist, theologian, and talented pulpit-orator, gained a name never to he forgotten. The truth of Chris- tianity, which he, after a deep philosophic searching, had embraced with all his heart, appears eloquently and powerfully embodied in his edifying sermons and theological writings, in the clear reflections of which a rich fullness of sublime thoughts and a deep insight into the human heart are manifest. The strength of his pious and devout feelings warmed his audience ; a mild, but ministerial earnestness gave his words dignity^ and in short, he had a strong and vigorous intellect, rendered, by scientific culture, capable of clear discrimi- nation, correct analysis, and happy combinations. Hia views of the Christian doctrines were clear and decided; ^^^ HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. he received the great system of evangelical truth in its simplicity, and he defended that truth with modesty and gentleness. In all his preparations for the pulpit, his great and leading desire and purpose were to set forth Christ, the great high-priest of our profession. "When he departed this life, the great theologians of Grermany wrote : '' Who can predict the day when Mynster's name shall be forgotten?" Nicolai Frederick Severin Grundtvig, still livings equally remarkable as a pulpit- orator, poet, and deep historian, has exercised a mighty influence upon the religious and literary life, and in his learned explana- tions of the massive Northern mythology, he is generally considered unrivalled. As elegant and thorough histo- rians, L. Englestoft, E. Werlauf and C. Molbeck in Denmark, and Geyer in Sweden, deserve to be men- tioned, who all have sought to inspire their readers with esteem for history, to warm their hearts and strengthen their moral power. But I shall not close this hasty sketch of Scandina- vian literature, without mentioning Henry Nicolai Clausen^ supreme theological professor at the University of Copenhagen. Richly endowed with gifts and graces, he has published, both in Latin and Danish, many learned works, which have gained him a great number of disciples and admirers, both at home and abroad. He ascended, in early youth, to the post of a theological professor, and there he has stood, from week to week HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 43 » during a period of nearly thirty-two years, reflecting from his own clear and polished mind the light of divine truth, and communicating it to his numerous disciples, who, after having sat at the feet of this approved master in Israel, have come forth from his instruction able minis- ters of the New Testament. Besides his theological erudition he has excited admiration by managing the Latin language with an uncommon degj-ee of volubility .and genius, and, on the whole, I can convey but a faint idea of that portraiture of the Christian and the learned professor, which his life has exhibited. There have rarely been combined such simplicity and spirituality, such youthful elasticity and manly vigor, such gentle- ness of manners and decision of character, as are seen in him. The seven years' unfortunate war, terminating in so heavy losses, had excessively enervated the state. Agriculture was in a most lamentable condition, com- merce almost annihilated, industry was stagnant and nioney matters deranged. The interest of the public debt remained unpaid, the certificates of it depreciated every day, and many, who held them, were obliged to sell them for almost nothing. To remedy these evils, A. D., the surplus revenue from the duties on imports, 1818. and the change of the royal bank to a national bank, administered without the control of the govern- ment, were appropriated. This measure immediately restored public credit, certificates of public debt rose to 436 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. par, and those who had purchased low realized immense fortunes. Business of all kinds revived, and the country entered upon a career of prosperous activity and enter- prise. Nevertheless, the national debt yet amounted, in 1847, to one hundred and six milHons of rix-dollars. Sweden having also suffered very severely by her war with Russia and Denmark, was, however, this year^ happy enough to get rid of her inefficient and demorali- zed king, Charles XIII., who expired in February, 1818, and John Baptista Julius Bernadotte, prince of Ponte- corvo, who already (21st of August, 1810,) had been elected Swedish crown-prince, ascended now the throne oi Sweden and Norway, and was solemnly crowned on the 11th of May, 1818. His personal influence, due alike to his diplomatic wisdom, his virtues, and his eminent military talents acquired in Napoleon's school, became of the utmost importance to Sweden. During the twenty-six years of his wise adrninistration, all differ- ences with foreign nations had been settled ; public and private credit was restored, and ample provision made for the payment of the public debt. When ascending the throne, he assumed the motto: "The love of my people is my reward," and he fully realized it. This celebrated monarch, to whom Sweden is indebted for her present influence and temporal happiness, was born on the 26th of January, 1764, in the city of Pau in the southern part of France, and married to Eugenia Bern- hardina Desideria, daughter of a rich merchant in HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 437 Marseilles, by whom he only had one son, prince Oscar, afterwards the talented and highly beloved king of Sweden and Norway, by the name of Oscar I, Although, as above mentioned, the kingdom of Den- mark had commenced to enter upon a career of activity and enterprise, its rapid thriving was highly retarded by a series of unfavorable years, through which the grain prices were so low, that the king had to lighten the taxes for the peasants. The flourishing commerce which Copenhagen had carried on with China, America, and the East and West Indies, an^ which had been a ricr: .-soiirce of wealth for the whole kingdom, had, during the war, been utterly ruined, and since that time the commerce of Copenhagen has not been of any conse- quence. Only in the last decennary of the reign of Frederick YL, the country recovered a little strength, the commerce of the cities increased, and on account of the improvements which had been made in agriculture and in the condition of the peasantry, the productions of the country increased to such a degree that the exports almost doubled ; even in industry and home trade a brisker life began to stir up. But the very last part of the reign of Frederick YI. has* been remarkable for an institution which became of great influence upon Denmark's felicity and advancement. Since the introduction of the absolute power, 1660, the people had been deprived of all influence upon the legis- lation and the rule of the state ; this was altered by the 438 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA introduction of a council representalwe of tlie people Already, in the year 1720, Sweden, under Frederick of Hesse Cassel, had become a hereditary monarchy, with a representative Diet consisting of four chambers, formed respectively of deputies from the nobility, clergy, burgh- ers, and peasants, and in a great part of Europe the people had obtained either a deciding or an advising influence upon the government ; and the Danish people, influenced by the European culture and by the increas- ing enlightenment, had gradually come to such a matu- rity as to make its eo-operation in the government highly desirable. Frederick YL, though as fond of his sove- reignty as a baby of his puppet, resolved, nevertheless, to meet the demand of the time by the introduc- ^ 28 tion, both for Denmark and the Duchies, of a A.D., council representative of the people ; a resolution ^^^^' received with every demonstration of joyous enthusiasm throughout the whole kingdom. .All measures respect- ing government, all questions regarding public affairs, all propositions for the public good, might take their rise indifferently in this council and be discussed there, and then presented to the king's consideration. But being only a deliberative assembly, the king was not compelled to admit the proposals of the council, but had promised to take all proposals, which had taken their rise from this council, into serious consideration, and make them laws, if his wisdom thought it proper or pru- dent to do so. This inestimable privilege of the Danish HISTORY OP SCANDINAVIA. 439 subjects was productive of very much good, and made Frederick VI. yet more beloved and popular than he already, by his unassuming manners, his national and sincere mind, had been, when, at the age of seventy- two, and after a remarkable reign of fifty-five years, first twenty-four years as crown-prince, then thirty-one Dec. 3 y^ars as king, the Lord removed him from this A. D., scene of trial to inherit life everlasting. His ^^^^' people mourned for him, but offered thanksgiv- ing to Grod that he had raised up for them so good and so faithful a steward, who had always been found wil- ling to share their hardships. Twelve {feasants from the county of Copenhagen asked permission to bear the royal coffin, on which was written '' The memory of the just is blessed." Prov. x. 7. His queen was the virtu- ous and intelligent Marie Sophie Fredericka, a princess of Hesse Cassel, who survived him thirteen years. Hav- ing no sons by her, he was succeeded in the reign by his cousin, Christian Frederick, ascending the throne by the name of Christian VIII. Enriched by nature and cultivation, he was, when assuming the reins of govern- ment, considered one of the most enlightened monarchs of Europe ; and added to this his prepossessing appear- ance and engaging manners, and that, from his shoul- ders and upward he was, like Saul, higher than any of the people, he was received everywhere with the greatest enthusiasm and veneration, Denmark flattering herself with the prospect of enjoying golden days under his 440 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. sway, and of profiting by the liberal spirit to which he, twenty-five years ago, had testified in Norway. Puffed up, as we have noticed before, by a transient gleam of prosperity, he had in Norway, 1814, assumed the title of king, but was after a little while, by Bernadotte, whose star was then on the ascendant, compelled to resign the crown of Norway. But, however short his reign was in Norway, he has left behind him an undying monument in the hearts of the Norwegians, by giving them the free Constitution above mentioned, by which he sowed the seeds of freedom, and produced a rich harvest in the blessings of independence, which spread quickly over the whole kingdom. The Danish people, on good grounds expecting that the new king. Christian VIII., would bless them with a like freedom, were nevertheless highly deceived in their expectations, as the king, having confined all his ideas to the power, dignity, and splendor of the crown, deci- dedly declined giving a free constitution, asserting that the people had not yet attained to such a degree of intel- lectual maturity as to be capable of duly enjoying the blessings of freedom. A spirit of opposition, which con- fined itself to complaints under this reign, began in the next to break out into active efforts. But, although declining to bless Denmark with the privilege of liberty, and unwilling to renounce even, the smallest particle of the royal prerogatives, he was in many other respects a useful ruler. He reformed the laws, encouraged com mSTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. - 441 merce ; and science and the arts, which the king himself loved dearly, were munificently patronized by him. During his reign Dr. Hans Larsen Martensen, now bishop of Sjelland, commenced to draw the attention of the learned of Europe to his brilliant talents. After having, in the year 1832, passed his theological examination at the University of Copenhagen, to the greatest satisfac- tion and admiration of his examiners and the faculty, he went to Berlin, where he deeply profited by the instruc- tion of the great theologians and philosophers, Neander, Marheinecke, Schelling, and Twesten, and joined their scientific debates. Upon his returning, Christian YIII- appointed him theological professor at the University, where Martensen, to the most crowded and refined audience, delivered his spirited lectures on the strict conjunction of the scientific theology with philosophy, and on the exegesis of the New Testament. His bril- liant gifts as a public orator induced the king to appoint him court chaplain, expecting in him an able champion and defender of the Christian faith. The king was not disappointed in his expectations. In the king's chapel he mounted the pulpit, where he did not shun to de- clare the whole counsel of Grod, proclaiming His severity m due conjunction with His loving- kindness. Peculiarly skilled in setting forth the awfulness of Sinai, and in \aunching forth the terrors of the law, he never fails in the tender presentation of the great sufferings and love of our Saviour, and of the attractions of his cross to 442 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. dying men. In the year 1846 he published his Dog^ mattes, a clear and learned work, which immediately was translated into G-erman, and received with great applause among the learned theologians of Grermany. Christian YIII. not only patronized literary men, but also directed his royal attention to other branches of his kingdom's welfare and advancement. Railroads were laid down in Holstein and Sjelland, the Sound Dues at Elsenore were reduced, the public and learned schools were re-organized, a new seminary (normal school) was erected in Jutland, Iceland was given a council repre- sentative of the people, and the East India possessions no longer being of any pecuniary profit to Denmark, were disposed of to England. Many circumstances had long contributed to check the prosperity of the Danish East India Company, but none more than the pertinacious jealousy of the Dutch, who excluded them from the most profitable branches of trade ; and Christian YIII., there- fore, did well in selling them. But, although the kings of Denmark were not successful in carrying out any considerable commerce there, they have honorably dis- tinguished themselves by their zeal for the propagation of the Grospel ; and, notwithstanding their limited means, they have diffused the principles of true religion through a considerable portion of the south of India and of the east of Africa. In North Schleswig, where the Danish language was used in divine service and school-teaching. Christian fflSTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. US VIII. commanded it to be used also in lawsuits and public affairs, instead of the Grerman language, before used, as he also in other ways has promoted the interest of the mother-tongue. During his reign the neigh- boring kingdom, Sweden, lost, on the 8th of March, 1844, her great and talented king, Charles John XI Y., once, as we know. Napoleon's celebrated marshal. He was succeeded in the Swedish throne by his son, Oscar L, born, on the 4th of July, 1799, and married to Josephine Maximiliane Eugenie^ princess of Leuchten- berg, daughter of Napoleon's step-son, prince Eugene. By her King Oscar has four sons and one daughter. Sweden thus now ruled by French blood, and no more by the descendants of the celebrated house of Yasa, has, nevertheless, not had any reason of complaining over it, Charles John XIY. being an excellent king, and his son, Oscar I., having wielded the sceptre with clemency, wisdom, and justice. In the year 1859, Sweden and !N"orwaj had to mourn for the loss of this high-minded and accom- plished monarch. His son, the crown prince Carl Eugene, then ascended the throne of the twin-king- doms, on the 8th of July, of the same year, under the name of Carl the Fifteenth, whose genius and talent for government, combined with knowledge of the eminent masters of antiquity, will enable him to redeem the expectations of his dear Swedish and Norwegian subjects. 444 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. Christian YIIL, although declining to give Denmark a free constitution, thought, however, at the close of hia life, of meeting the demand of the time, and had him. Jan. 20, ^®^^' delineated such a one, when, in an earlier A. D., hour than he and his people expected it, death • claimed him. He was married to CaroliTie Amalie^ a princess of Augustenhurg, and sister to the rehellious duke who mainly involved Denmark in the horrible war with the Duchies. She is still living, and has, loving her God and her Eedeemer, done, and is doing, very much to promote a true religious life. After the death of Christian YIII., the crown was placed on the head of his only son, Frederick VII. ^ horn on the 6th of October, 1808. No sooner had he ascended the throne, than he yielded to the clamors of his subjects, dismissed his father's old aristocratic min- istry, appointed a new one, and gave Denmark the long desiderated free constitution, which made him very popu- lar and beloved, Denmark now being no more an abso- lute, but a constitutional monarchy. The Constitution, freed from all those despotic restraints with which it had been fettered by the Act of Sovereignty in 1660, was now fixed on a basis more favorable to the people's liberties than had ever been known in the annals of the nation. Undeniably, a few men, who had put this important wheel in motion, had made patriotism a cloak for their views of private interest, and made a great harvest ; but, be it as it may, it is sufficient to say, that, HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 445 under the influence of this Constitution, of which Den- mark now, together with the United States and Norway, has to hoast, the condition of society, whatever fluctua- tions it must, from the constitution of our frail human nature, be liable to, has been such as to answer all the wishes of the good, the virtuous, and the industrious part of the community, and its restraints have proved grievous to the overweening nobility alone, on whom restraint was necessary. Frederick YII. mounted the throne under critical circumstances, but before entering on the abominable war with the Duchies, wrought by the treacherous policy of the rebellious duke of Augustenburg, it will be neces- sary to cast a brief glance at the affairs of Europe. A revolutionary spirit pervaded, in the year 1848, nearly all Europe, like an epidemic fever. Louis Phi- lippe, of France, having acquired a high reputation for wisdom and firmness, was, however, far from finding his throne a bed of roses. In the beginning of his reign, zealously supported by the middle classes, who looked upon him as their guarantee for constitutional freedom, he soon lost their favor, as they believed themselves deceived in their expectations, and an all-pervading feeling of discontent taking place, led to the Revolution of February, 1848. On the 23d of February, crowds appeared in the streets of the capital, barricades were erected, and the cry : "To arms ! Down with Louis Philippe ! Down with the Bourbons ! " resounded 446 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. throughout Paris. The troops allowed themselves to be disarmed by the mob, who then demanded the abdica- tion of the king, who, with his queen, escaped to St. Cloud, and thence, in disguise, to England. Royalty- had vanished, and France was again a Republic. 'No sooner had the accounts of the affairs in Paris reached G-ermany, than popular commotions took place, and the people demanded a political constitution, that should give them a share in legislation, establish the liberty of the press, and otherwise secure them their rights. The grand-duke of Baden had to yield to the demands of his people, and appoint a ministry from the popular party. The king of Saxony was compelled to grant the requests of his subjects. At Munich, the capital of Bavaria, the people stormed the arsenal, and forced from the king the concessions in question. The elector of Hesse- Cassel yielded, after a severe conflict. The king of Hanover also yielded, when he saw that resist- ance would have cost him his throne. Frederick William rV., of Prussia, vainly and foolishly resisted a popular revolution in Berlin. In Vienna, the capital of Austria, the citizens, headed by the students of the University, sympathized with the Parisians, and expressing them- selves openly upon the great subject of reform, pre- sented their petition for a constitutional government, a responsible ministry, liberty of the press, and religious freedom. After a formidable struggle in Vienna, during which many victims fell, the Emperor was comuelled, . HISTOEY OF SCA^'DI^^AYIA. 4A7 on the loth of 3Iarch. to comply ^th the demands of the people. Also, the subjects of Ferdinand II., king of Naples and Sicily, had revolted early in 1848, and their request for a constitution ^\-as granted. That victory which had followed the popular commotions of France and G-ermany, was an inducement for the two southern duchies of Denmark, Schlesicig and Holstein, to revolt. The duke of August^nhurg had already long, through speeches and periodicals, sown that seed of resistance and discord which now commenced to break out into acts of violence. The two Duchies, long, mthout any reason, dissatisfied with the Danish rule, and irritated by the refusal of the king to accede to any of their imperious demands, declared the new ministry appointed by Frederick YII. hostile to their privileges A.D., and themselves independent of Denmark. On 1848. fj^e 24th of ]\Iarch, 1848, a message was written from Rendsburg to Copenhagen : '' Schleswig-Holstein twenty-four hours ago became an independent state, shook oiT the Danish yoke, and appointed a provisional government." On the 2oth of March, the duke of Augustenburg arrived in Rendsburg, where the provis- ional government resided, and the "insurgents assembled under the command of his brother, Prince Frederick. On the 26th of March, there was written : ''The king of Prussia has ordered his army to check the Danish troops, if they make their appearance." The king of Denmark, Frederick YIL, of course not 4:48 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. evincing any inclination to abate his pretensions to the Duchies, giiaranteed him by England and France, and decidedly declining the admission of Schleswig into the G-ermanic Confederation, to which it had never belonged, marched his army into Schleswig, where it arrived be- tween the 28th and 29th of March, under the command of the generals Hedemann and Meza. Meanwhile Grer- man volunteers, amongst whom were many enthusiastio young students, resorted now from all parts of Germany to assist the rebellious Duchies, whose interest they joined. The first battle between the Danes and the Schleswig-Holsteiners was fought at Bau, near to F lens- burg, on the 9th of April, 1848. The battle was a. d., brief, but for its duration sanguinary enough; ^^*^- the insurrectional troops were entirely routed, and eight hundred prisoners of war carried to Copenhagen. From Prussia numerous troops now arrived, under the com- mand of Greneral Bonin, declaring that any attack of the Danish army on the Schleswig-Holsteiners would be regarded a declaration of war against Prussia, a. d., Easter Day, 23d of April, 1848, eleven thousand is^s. Danes, while preparing to attend divine service, were unexpectedly attacked by nineteen thousand Prussians, close by the city of Schleswig. The combat was very obstinate ; the Danes, although fighting as madmen, and with the greatest contenipt of death, were defeated, and (jreneral Hedemann had to yield to superior numbers ; but, as the E-oman senate formerly thanked Yarro, quia HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. ^4:9 de repuhlica non desperasset^ so Frederick YII, rendered thanks to his soldiers for that bravery they had display- ed at Schleswig — a good omen of future success. Norway and Sweden now sided with the Danes, and two thousand Norwegians and Swedish volunteers arrived in Schleswig, to join the Danish army. Shortly after the unfortunate battle of Easter Day, the Danes gained a glorious victory at Dtlppel, 28th of May, a.d,, over the Prussian general, "Wrangel, though hav- i^^^- ing a difficult game to play — twelve thousand Danes against sixteen thousand Prussians. Proposals of medi- ation were now made by Russia, which sided with Den« mark, and on tne 26th of August an armistice was A.D., agreed on. The insurgents, nevertheless, con- 1848. tinning to cherish a revolutionary spirit, and the partisans of anarchy taking advantage of the popular A. D., excitement, the king of Denmark declared, 26th 1849. of March, the armistice invalid, ordered the for- tress of Fredericia to be more strongly fortified, and his army to enforce the royal authority, and prepared to strike a decisive blow against the insurgents, who at first gained some advantages at the towns of Ulderup and Kolding, and threw a strong garrison into Fred&. rioia, which they seized. The Danes, seeing that no moment was to be lost, determined to defy the whole A. D., strength of the insurgents, and on the 6th of July 18^9- the Danish army attacked the Schleswig-Hol- steiners at Fredericia. The garrison was numerous, tha 450 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. resistance obstinate, and the insurgents fought as lions • but the Danish artillery made so dreadful a havoc in the hostile line, that after a most sanguinary combat, of more than eight hours' duration, the insurrectionary army was irretrievably ruined ; six hundred of their best troops were left dead on the field, and two thousand were taken prisoners. The Danes lost three hundred men, and sixteen hundred severely wounded, but had to mourn over the loss of Olaf Eye, a native of Norway, one of their most gallant officers. Prussia having more seemingly than sincerely assisted the Schleswig-Holsteiners, now settled (10th of a.p, July) the preliminaries to a peace with Denmark, i^^^- and a convention of truce, pursuant to which the king of Prussia promised to withdraw his forces, and no more to act in concert with the insurgents, whose affairs seemed to be more and more on the decline. Their chief leaders, the Duke of Augustenburg, and his brother. Prince Frederick of Noer, to the latter of whom the insurgents had committed the command of their army, had, in a military point of view, accomplished very little, Prince Frederick being a wretch without spirit, courage, or tactical ability, who, after the lost battle of Bau, fled into the city of Flensburg, narrowly escaping being made prisoner ; and the duke, for his personal safety, select- ing the securer occupation to travel round to fan the flame of insurrection. The revolutionary spirit con- tinued, and Schleswig-Holstein was in a ferment HISTORY OF SCAKDINAVIA. 451 Througli immense exertions tlie insurgents raised an army of thirty thousand men and eighty- two field-pieces, under the command of General Willison, and formed a bold plan for carrying on the war against Denmark ; hut the end of the mighty power, which the rebellious Duchies had tried to wield, was fast approaching. As it was impossible, save in blood, to quench the re- volutionary spirit, and compel the Duchies into subjeo- ticn to their hereditary monarch, Frederick YII. ordered an army of thirty-eight thousand men and ninety-six great guns, to march out of the camp under the com- mand of the noble and undaunted warrior, G-eneral A. D., Krogh, and the brave Assistant- G-eneral, Schlep- 1850. pegrel On the 13th of July, 1850, the rebel troops crossed the Eider river, frequently skirmishing A. D., with the Danes, until, on the 24th of July, the 1850. royal army gained, at the town of Idsted^ the most brilliant victory that had been obtained during the war, over the united forces of the Schleswig-Holsteiners. This dreadful battle, lasting two days without intermis- sion, and attended with a most cruel carnage, cost Den- mark three thousand six hundred and fifty-seven men and one hundred and forty oflScers ; amongst whom were the magnanimous G-eneral Schleppegrel, and the skillful tactician. Colonel Lsessoe. The insurgents were, however, not yet tranquil! zed, but, to the inexpressible astonishment of every one, formed a new plan for the destruction of the Danes On 452 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. A. D., the 29th of September, 1850, they laid a terrible 1850. siege to the city of Frederickstad, situated on the Eider. Through five days they showered fire-balls upon the unfortunate town, and vast clouds of smoke arose in awful sublimity over the bloody scene, until the Danish artillery, commanded by the courageous Nor- wegian, Greneral Helgesen, after having made a most dreadful havoc amongst the insurgents, compelled them A. D., to raise the siege and order a retreat. Finally, 1851. next year, on the 1st of February, 1851, after almost one continued battle of three years, the insurrec- tion ceased, the royal authority and the whole state thus again being considered re-established. But the turmoil of the war had not diverted the new ministry's attention from the internal aflairs of the country. The free constitution, which the king had promised his subjects, had been elaborated and finished, to which, on the 5th of June, 1849, the royal signature was affixed ; and the same year the possessions on the coast of Gruinea, proving unprofitable to Denmark, were disposed of to England for the amount of ten thousand ^pounds sterling. Frederick YTI. having, when crown-prince, been twice married — first to the Danish princess, Wilhelminft, daughter of king Frederick YL, and then to princess Caroline Charlotte Mariano, daughter of the grand duke of Mecklenburg- Strelitz, but on account of domestic disagreement, divorced from both of them — was, 7th of HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 453 August, 1850, bv tjie bishop, Dr. Mynster, solemnly joined in a morganatic marriage to Louise Christine, Countess of Danner, nee Miss Rasmussen. She had for some years back, kept a millinery shop in Copen- hagen. ♦ The insurrection having been crushed (1st of Feb- ruary, 1851), the cessation of hostilities taken place, and the king of Denmark thus having regained his authority over the Duchies, a treaty was concluded in London, on the 8th of May, 1852, between a. d., Denmark^ Sweden^ Norway^ England^ Austria, i^^^. France, Russia, and Prussia, which yet more firmly than before by the peace of Fredericksborg in 1720, guaranteed the integrity of the Danish monarchy. The line of Augustenburg was set aside because of the duke's treacherous conduct, and the succession to the crown of Denmark, and to the ducal dignity of the three duchies, — Schleswig, Holstein, and Lauenburg, — settled on the loyal Prince Christian, of the Sonderburg-Gliicks- burg line, and his male heirs, upon whom in the next year, 1853, according to a law passed in the diet and Subscribed to by the king himself, the title of Prince of Denmark was conferred, his civil list being fixed to the amount of .^0,000 rix-dollars annually. Though a recon- ciliation was thus established, the revolutionary spirit stijl fermented in the minds of the Schleswig-Holsteiners, waiting only for a favorable opportunity to break out into a new rebellion. The perfidious Duke of Augustenburg, of 4:64: HISTORY Or SCANDINAVIA. course, deprived of his ducal possessions, and now an exile traveling round in Europe with the stigma of Judas Is- cariot on his forehead, is still fanning the flame of re- bellion ; and what the future conceals in its bosom He only knows, who, ts David sings, "shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath, and turn their hearts whithersoever he will." An event of no ordinary importance to Denmark took place March 10, 1863, when the Danish princess a. d., Alexandra Caroline Mary Charlotte Louise Julia, i^^^- born in Copenhagen December 1, 1844, daughter of the intelligent and refined Prince Christian of Grliicksburg, proclaimed Prince of Denmark July 31, 1853, was mar- ried to Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, the heir-appa- rent to the throne of England. February 26, the joung and amiable princess left the shores of the Baltic, where her infant years had been watched by parental care, to become the wife of the future king of Great Britain, accompanied by the warmest wishes of the whole Danish nation for cloudless days in the illustrious country of her adoption; and on the momentous 10th of March, which bound them together for better and for worse, fervent orisons to the royal throne of mercy went forth from the king's costly palace, from the nobleman's stately manor, from the clergyman's quiet parsonage, and from the thatch-covered cot of the poorest husbandman, for bless- ings to be vouchsafed to this union. The magnificent and hearty reception which the Danish princess had in England could but immediately convince her that she HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA, 455 was already the darling of this great nation, that they cherished her as the apple of their eye, and that they united in prayers for Heaven's blessings on her bridal contract. And that such a benison will be bestowed, and that the union of Albert Edward and Alexandra will be as peerless in bliss as in splendor, all Britons seem to be glad both to hope and to believe. On the 15th of November, 1863, King Frederick VIL died from erysipelas. By his mildness of temper and decision of character, and by his readiness to identify himself with the nation, he had gained the attachment and respect of his subjects, who with heartfelt grief re- ceived the sad intelligence of the sudden termination of his earthly career. Frederick YII. dying without issue, the throne of Denmark devolved, by virtue of the treaty of 1852, and of the law of 1853, to Prince Christian, the father of the Princess of Wales and the new King of Greece, who immediately .was proclaimed King of Denmark, and Duke of Schleswig, Holstein, and Lauen- burg, under the name of Christian IX,, whose national mind and clear intellect will, no doubt, easily enable him to redeem the expectations of his subjects, and manl} and justly to encounter every contingency. He began his reign with the menace of a second " occupation '* impending over the southern provinces of his kingdom. " May the cloud hanging over him be dispelled !" This was the prayer of the whole kingdom. But, alas! alas! the cloud was not dispelled, but war 4:66 HISTORY OF SCANDINAYIA. gathering blacker and blacker, and the so-called second Sleswick-Holstein war commenced. And here is the proper place, I think, to take a retrospective view of this intricate controversial point, and to bring together all the feeble and scattered rays which may throw any light upon it, serve to bring order out of confusion, and view the whole question in its naked reality. The history of the two dukedoms — Sleswick and Holstein — is like the history of human achievements, a history of great results from small beginnings. For centuries Sleswick has been subject to the rule of the Diinish kings. Sleswick was anciently called Angliay held as a Danish province of the Danish Crown, ruled according to the code of the Jutland law-book, given by the Danish king, Waldemar the Second, in the year 1239, up to this very day, an almost entire Danish- speaking province, with the exception of the southern districts, where only Gernjan is spoken, and considered by all European Powers and treaties an inseparable part of the Danish body. Holstein, anciently called North- alhingiaj being, it is true, a male fief of the German em- pire, was at times subject to the Danish kings as Counts of Holstein, at other times to counts independent of Denmark, until the year 1459, a.d., when the Danish king and his successors' male descendants were elected Dukes of Holstein, an election ratified by the German Emperor, Erederick the Third, who then, upon the rtJiiuest of the Danish King, Christian the First, elevated 2 F 3 HISTOET OF SCANDTNATIA. 457 Holstein from an earldom to a dukedom. Violently to wrest these two provinces from the Crown of Denmark, to annex the entire Danish province, Sleswick, to the German Confederacy, to which it has never belonged ; and by its close annexation to Holstein, to create a large sa called Sleswick-Holstein Dukedom, which was to be entirely severed from the Danish Crown, for all time to come, was, as we have seen, the object of the scandalous crusade waged against Denmark in 1848, and the two subsequent years, by the treacherous Duke of Augusten- burg, the ringleader of the rebellion, and supported well nigh by all Germany. The knavish duke, though nearly related to the Royal Danish house, and having sworn the usual allegiance to the Danish king, had already long — through a host of periodicals, in which stupendous lies, gibings, and mockeries were summed up, the most unerring arrows in the hands of revolu- tionists at every era, sown that seed of discord, which no\^ commenced to break out into acts of violence. This ungodly crusade was, however, crushed by the un- daunted bravery and perseverance of the Danes, and resulted in the maintenance of Denmark's independence, nationahty and ancient territories, the result thus prov- ing that the Danes, only a handful of people when com- pared with all Germany, had not degenerated from the well-known bravery, constancy, and intrepid spirit of tneir fearless ancestors, the grim-visaged Seakings and bearded Vikings, the result at the same time confirming 458 HISTORY OF SCANDINAYIA. the truth of the words of the royal sage of Israel, that the battle is not always to the strong, but to whomsoever the Lord wdlleth to exalt. But a new crusade from Ger- many, based upon the same villainous principles as the former one, recommenced, at the close of 1863, to threaten Denmark's integrity and nationality, and con- summated, this time, I grieve to say, its nefarious designs. Little Denmark, being rendered no assistance from her allies, and although wont to defend herself bravely against two, and not yield to three, as the old sagas tell, could not withstand the innumerable com- pany of Prussians and Austrians inundating the Danish dominions, and committing the most merciless devasta- tions and cruelties. But I now propose to enter upon the survey of the merits of this intricate historical question, and to let history speak somewhat in detail ; and an intelligent reader may judge for himself. However, I shall not attempt to give a sketch of these two disputed pro- vinces, before the dawn of authentic history, as I would then be obliged to cite a number of hypotheses, that, after all, would prove inconclusive. Charlemagne had with violence compelled the Holsteiners, then called Saxons, to embrace Christianity, and thus deprived the people of its independence. But the daring and efficient Godfredj King of Denmark, protected Holstein, and commenced war. Making large progress, and even threatening to visit Charlemagne in his residence, Aix- HISTORY OF SCAN DIN AYIA. 459 la-Cliapelle, the Emperor was happy enough to get rid of that intelligent and brave enemy — Godfred, unfor- tunately, being treacherously killed by one of his own people. His successor, Hemming^ made peace with Charlemagne in the year 811, by which peace the river Eider, which separates Sleswick from Holstein, was appointed the limit between Denmark and Germany ; and in the year 920, Thyra Dannebod, the queen of the Danish king, Gorm the Old, founded the celebrated Dannevirke, a fortified wall of earth and stones across Sleswick, strengthened by moats and tower bastions, to protect Denmark against inroads of the Germans. The aforesaid Godfred had erected a similar fortification, called KuTvirhe ; but the invasion of the German Em- peror, Henry the Eowler, had proved that Denmark needed a stronger bulwark, wherefore the queen, Thyra, erected the famous Dannevirke. But, Sleswick border- ing on Germany, the German emperors were continually eager of getting possession of this fertile province, when finally in the year 1026, Canute the Great, King of Denmark and England, visited the Emperor Conrad the Second, and induced him to renounce both for himself and his successors, all future claim to the Margraviate of Sleswick, as it then was termed. In the twelfth century Sleswick was mercilessly dealt with by the Venders or Vandalians — a rapacious set of pirates occupy- ing the coast of the Baltic, right from Denmark up to the Gulf of Finland — till at length the warlike Danish 460 HISTORY OF SCANDINAYIA. priace, Canute Lavard, a son of the Danish king, Eric the Good, conquered the Venders, and not only secured the Margraviate of Sleswick to the Crown of Denmark, but prevailed upon the German emperor, who by virtue of his dignity as Roman emperor, was acknowledged the secular head of the whole Christian world, to elevate Sleswick to a dukedom ; and Canute procured for him- self the dignity of a duke, and the ducal dignity of Sleswick has since invariably been invested, either in the Danish king himself, or in whomsoever of his rela- tives he was pleased to invest it, the dukes, of course, always taking the oath of allegiance to the Danish Crown.* Thus the Danish king, Canute YL, made his brother Waldemar Duke of, Sleswick; Eric Ploughpence made his brother Abel Duke of Sleswick, and so forth. Nevertheless, this system of dividing Sleswick amongst the king's brethren or relatives, a system adopted and adhered to for a long series of years, was pregnant with the most ruinous consequences to the solid interests of the Danish body, contributing very much to the diminishing of the royal power ; for Abel, recently men- tioned, and his successors, tried now to make Sleswick an hereditary and independent possession in their family, all of which resulted in a series of destructive internal wars, Sleswick thereby more and more being alienated from the kingdom. Abel soon assumed a hostile posi- tion to his brother Eric, the king, the more, as he * See Suhm's and Allen's History of Denmark and the Duchi&t. Eoyal Library of Copenhagen. HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 461 claimed the Dukedom of Sleswick as an independent sovereignty. Abel assassinated the king, who left no male issue ; and the States, though detesting Abel on account of the unnatural crime he had committed, chose him king, to avoid a civil war. By this means they also indisputably reunited Slesmck to the Crown ; and, had the royalty remained in Abel's family, Sleswick would, of course, have been with the Crown, and all future contests prevented. But Christopher I., the third son of Waldemar the Victor, was happy enough, after AbeFs death, immediately to be acknowledged king ; although the throne was promised to Abel's sons, Waldemar and Eric. Both parties exerted all their power to gain the ascendancy. The king encompassed Sleswick with his army, and claimed as uncle the guardianship of Abel's children, whom the mighty counts of Holstein supported. Seasonably for the king, some German princes offered their mediation, a peace being concluded on these terms, that Christopher, the king, should have the guardian- ship, but restore the dukedom of Sleswick as a fief to Waldemar, the eldest son of Abel, when he had attained his majority. After the demise of this Waldemar, the kingdom was soon alarmed by a dangerous irruption of Eric, the second son of Abel, because the then King of Denmark, Eric Glipping, would not comply with giving him Sleswick as an hereditary fief, but only as a per- sonal. The young preposterous claimant, assisted by the Counts of Holstein, commenced a war, in which the 462 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. royal troops were totally defeated at Loheath, 1261, close by the city of Sleswick. The king re-entered the dukedom with a powerful army, seized upon the fortress of Tonder, which he razed, and constrained the rebellious duke to submit, who lost his dukedom ; and Sleswick remained for thirteen years united with the kingdom, until unfortunately again Waldemar, a son of the rebel- lious Eric, was, according to the aforesaid ruinous system of division, invested with Sleswick as a fief. But, not content with it, he now also laid claim to Aro, Alsen, Femern, three islands in the Baltic. He fell, however, into the hands of the king, had humbly to throw himself at his feet, resign his brazen-faced claim, and confess in writing to his want of loyalty. Thus Denmark had for a num- ber of years been the theatre of continual domestic wars with the rebellious dukes. In the year 1372, there was a good prospect of getting the dukedom of Sleswick reunited with the kingdom, as Henry, the then Duke of Sleswick, was old and childless.' Upon this important point, the efficient king, Waldemar IV., directed all his attention ; but he only survived Henry so short a time, that the question could not be decided, but had to be deferred to the following reign. The great Queen MargaretJia, the daughter of Waldemar IV., styled the Semiramis of the North, now ascended the throne, and aimed all her efforts at regaining the dukedom of Sleswick, which circumstances had compelled her in the beginning of her reign to resign to Gerhard IV., HISTORY OF SCANDINAYIA. 463 Count of Holstein. But the prosecution of her plan for the perfect reunion of Slesvvick was unfortunately interrupted by her death, 1412 ; and her imprudent and weak successor, Eric of Pomerania, had no vigour of mind to restrain the turbulent spirit of the three sons of the deceased duke, who, taking advantage of his inability, endeavoured to withdraw themselves from his authority, and to be enfeoifed with Sleswick. At the diet of Nyburg, in the isle of Funen, the king sum- moned the young dukes to appear, and opened the assem- bly himself with a full explanation of the dispute. When he had finished his speech, the Archbishop, in a fulmina- ting harangue, declared that the dukes had no right whatever to be enfeoffed with Sleswick, but that it should be annexed to the Crown of Denmark. No sooner had the archbishop pronounced this sentence, than the eldest son of the deceased duke, Gerhard, threw himself at the king's feet, and besought him to grant the investiture of the dukedom as a fief The king's reply was in the negative. The three young dukes now began to concert measures for taking it by force ; and, although Eric of Pomerania had the military power of three kingdoms — Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, at command, he was defeated near Immervad, in Sleswick. Although this defeat did not terminate the war, it pro- duced a truce, in order to settle preliminaries for a peace. Umpires were chosen, and the whole question was again canvassed. The young dukes embraced every oppor- 464 HISTORY OF SCANDINAYIA. tunity to frustrate the intention of the truce, and chose to decide the difference by the sword. The king, per- ceiving their aim^ now took the course of appealing to the German emperor, Sigismund, and repaired to Ofen, Hungary, where the emperor then resided. Construing the appeal in favour of the king, the emperor declared that all Sleswick should henceforward be annexed in full right to the Crown of Denmark, and that the dukes, Henry, Adolphus, and Gerhard, had, by their rebellious conduct, divested themselves of their rights to Sleswick. The king now believing the whole dispute to be settled, resolved upon a pilgrimage to Palestine. But after returning he found the ancient leaven of contest revived, and violently fermenting in the minds of the dukes, who, making alliance with the Hanse towns, a mighty league in the northern part of Germany, continued the war ; and, although Eric collected all his strength to oppose the dukes, and even gained a complete victory over the Hanse fleet, yet at last the dukes got the better of him, and weakened the kingdom by the most destructive ravages. However, their attempts to seize upon Copenhagen failed, the city being saved by the bravery and intelligent preparations of Eric's queen Philippa, 8l daughter of Henry Y. of England. At length the war with the Danes was ended by the treaty of Wordinghurg, in the isle of Zealand, 1435, a.d., by which Adolphus, the only one yet alive, should enjoy, during his life, the dukedom of Sleswick, and his heirs, for two years after HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 465 his decease, Denmark thus again being dispossessed of Sleswick. Finally a surer prospect than ever before of reuniting Sleswick permanently with the kingdom, and thus of terminating the incessant contests, presented itself at the death of this Adolphus, called Adolphus VIII., who died without issue, 1459. But Christian Z, then King of Denmark, the first king of the House of Oldenburg, instead of incorporating Sleswick as an escheated fief, very unwisely engaged himself in negotia- tions with the nobility and clergy to be elected Duke of SlesAvick and Count of Holstein, to which latter, how- ever, Otho, of Schaumburg, was more entitled ; where- fore the Danish king had to purchase Holstein for the sum of 43,000 florins, and to buy oif the pretensions of Gerhard and Maurice, nephews of the late Adolphus,. for an equivalent of 40,000 florins. Thus Christian I. became Count of Holstein, which now the German em- peror, upon the king's request, elevated to a dukedom,, the representatives of the political body of Holstein binding themselves to choose their following dukes amongst the Danish kings and their successors' male heirs, according to the Salic law. This year 1459 is, therefore, an essential year in the history of Denmark and the dukedom of Holstein, the stipulation showing that the kings of Denmark should be dukes of Holstein, as long as they left male issue. Of Sleswick not one word was spoken in this stipulation, it being regarded for centuries back as pertauiing to the Danish body* 4:66 HISTORY OF SCANDINAYIA. One should now think that the ruinous consequences which the system of dividing Sleswick among the king's brethren and relatives had had, would have taught the following kings a lesson ; but no, they all seem to have been blindfolded and deaf to the lessons of experience, for Christian III. undertook, 1557, a new division amongst his brethren, although the old and expert general, John Ranzaw, strongly advised against this imprudent step. His son, Frederic 11. , continued the fatal division, and so it went on. Owing to these divisions and parties, the affairs in Sleswick continued to take a disastrous turn for Denmark, and occasioned sanguinary national wars, the king often not knowing how to keep the rebellious dukes within due bounds. At length all controversy concerning Sleswick was brought to a close by the treaty of 1720, when Sweden, who had sided with the then rebellious duke, Frederick, pledged herself no more to assist the duke, and England and France guaranteed to Denmark the dukedom of Sleswick, binding themselves to defend Denmark's right to this entire Danish province against all who directly or indirectly should dare to invade it. And seven years after, 1727, a special treaty was signed by the two powers, England and France, to which Russia acceded, binding themselves to oppose by an armed force, hy sea and by land, all and sundry the powers tvho should dare attach the Danish dukedom of Slesivick. As to Holstein, being a male fief of the German empire, it HISTOEY OF SCANDINAVIA. 467 had, of course, its final court of appeal in Germany; while Sleswick, held of the Danish crown as a Danish province, was never called to a German diet, and in law questions the appeal has invariably been to its own Supreme Court. Hence it follows that Holstein is a German province, but whose duke is, according to the stipulation of 1459, above stated, the king of Denmark and his male heirs. Various changes, however, took place in the sequel, in consequence of the division of the ducal Holstein families into different branches^ and the sub- sequent extinction of collateral lines ; and it was not before the year 1750, that all Holstein came per- manently under the Danish sway, when Adolplius Frederick J the elected successor to the Swedish throne, and the head of the younger line of the dukes of Hol- stein, engaged himself to exchange the ducal part of Holstein for the two counties of Oldenburg and Del- menhorst, Denmark thereby coming into an undivided possession of Holstein. Some years after, 1779, a.d., the Gliicksburg possessions of Sleswick, at the death of the last duke, devolved by inheritance to the Danish crown, and all the small parcels of Sleswick, which by earlier division had been separated from the crown, were re-united to it, except the possessions of the duke of Augustenburg, which remained in his family as allodial estates. As duke of Holstein, the king of Denmark had a seat in the German diet ; but on the dissolution of the German empire, 1806, that feudal obligation, in 468 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. which Holstein had been to the German emperor^ ceased, and Holstein was incorporated as a part of the Danish monarchy. However, on the formation of the German Confederacy in the year 1815, at the General Congress of the allied powers at Vienna, the king of Denmark, Frederick F/., was present, and subscribed there to the re-incorporation of Holstein into the Germanic Con- federation, upon condition that he and his male heirs should continue to be dukes of Holstein, and as such be members of the confederacy, having three votes in the full Council, and binding themselves, if need be, to fur- nish a contingent of 3,600 men, and to rule Holstein as a male fief of Germany, according to its peculiar German laws, all of which that noble and simple-hearted monarch faithfully fulfilled, no complaints of oppression being ever made by the inhabitants of the dukedom. At the Congress at Vienna, no single syllable was spoken of Sleswick, it being considered an entire Danish province, and an inseparable part of the Danish monarchy. Since the Congress of 1815, the peace of Denmark was not disturbed till 1848, when the treacherous duke of Augustenburg — the only surviving lineal descendant of the dukes of Sleswick, and brother of the queen- dowager of Denmark — revolutionized the two dukedoms, and tried to shake off the Danish yoke, as he was pleased to call it, and erect for himself an independent Sleswick- Holstein state. That victory which in the beginning of HISTORY OF SCA^^DINAYIA. 469 1848 had followed the popular commotions of France and Germany, was a bait for him to induce the duke- doms to revolt. A sanguinary threo years' war was waged against Denmark, the insurgents being aided by more than 20,000 Prussians and Hanoverians. What did England do ? Did she act according to the great covenants of 1720 and 1727? ''All the time it was said " — vn-ites the able English historian, Mr. Laing — "England is negotiating ! Mirabile dictu! What was there to negotiate about ? Negotiating I while she was bound by sacred treaties to protect the dukedom of Schleswig from all invasion." France acted no better. Russia was the only power which did something to \dn- dicate Denmark's right. Little Denmark had to do it almost alone, and struggled hard, but successfully, to maintain her integrity. England and France remained quiet beholders of all the innocent blood that manured the fields of Fredericia, Duppel, Idsted, and so on. Denmark had, I repeat it, to do it alone ; did it, defeated the insurgents and the German troops almost in every engagement, crushed the rebellion, regained the authority over the dukedoms, and May 8th, 1852, a treaty, generally called the London Protocol, was con- cluded in London between Denmark, Norway, Sweden, England, France, Austria, and Prussia, guaranteeing the integrity of the Danish monarchy, setting aside the line of Augustenburg, because of the duke's treacherous conduct, and settling the succession to the crown O: ^70 HISTORY OF SCANDINAYIA. Denmark and to the ducal dignity of the dukedoms upon the loyal Prince Christian^ of the Sonderburg- Gliicksburg line, and his male heirs. On the 15th of November, 1863, the king of Den- mark died without issue ; the throne, according to the aforesaid London Protocol of 1852, devolving to Prince Christian, who immediately was proclaimed king of Denmark and duke of Sleswick and Holstein, under the name of Christian the Ninth, But I must bestow a few words more upon Prince Christian, the present king, the father of the Princess of Wales, and also some upon the crafty Duke of Augustenburg, and my words concerning them I quote from the Edinburgh Review, They are too true and too good to be omitted here. *' The Prince Christian of Gliichshurg, as a descendant of Christian III,, stood high in the male succession, and most of them who stood before him had been guilty of treason in i848, and had rendered themselves liable to for- feiture of all their rights. Accordingly, renunciations were obtained from Prince Frederick of Hesse, from his sisters, from the emperor of Russia, and, finally, from the duke of Augustenburg himself, who, of course, had fled the country. For this, and for the cession of all claims to his estates, which were of small value to him,, as he had forfeited them by his rebellion, he received a sum of rather more than £400,000 sterling. It is a cunous coincidence that the Prussian plenipotentiary at Frankfort, who riegotiated thin 2 G HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 471 renunciation with the duke of Augustenhurg, was Herr von Bismark. In consideration of this enormQus indemnity y the duke made the following promise : — " ' We promise for us and our family, hy our princely word and honour, not to undertake anything whereby the tranquillity of His Danish Majesty^s dominion and lands might he disturbed, nor in any way to counteract the reso- lutions which His Danish Majesty might have taken, or in future might take, in reference to the arrarigement of^he succession of all the lands now united under His Danish Majesty^ s sceptre, or to the eventual organization of his monarchy, '^ , " In the vocabulary of the duke of Augustenburg, it is, of course, to be presumed that the word ^family' does not include sons, since it is just his son who is now revolutionizing Holstein. It is, however, right to say, that said son has protested against the above renunciation ; but it is also right to add that he kept his protest to himself till six years after the deed had been signed, and the money paid. The protest was issued on the i5th of January, i859J^ Thus far the Edinburgh Review. Pretty smart piece of business. And what did now the perfidious duke do ? After having pocketed the enormous sum of money, and after having given the above solemn and affecting declaration, he made it his business to travel round in Germany, and by fulminating harangues and periodicals stuffed with the most stupendous lies to fan the flame of rebellion against his fatherland, that had nurtured him, 472 HISTOET OF SCANDINATIA. intending to grasp the very first opportunity to recom- mence his former schemes for establishing for himself and family an independent Sleswick-Holstein dukedom. Such an opportunity offered itself when Frederick YIL, on the 15th of November, 1863, breathed his last. Instantly the crafty duke, in spite of the money paid him for the cession of all his claims, and in spite of his solemn declaration, put in claims in favour of his son Frederick — a worthy imp of a glorious father — in order to dislodge the new king. Christian IX., from his position as duke of the dukedoms. Alas ! he was this time too successful. The horsemen and all the host of the Prussians and Austrians rushed upon little Denmark, , under pretence of vindicating the rights of the dukedoms against Danish oppression — of vindicating the rights of the German Confederation by incorporating Sleswick (an entire Danish province) into said Confederation, and of making the son of the nefarious duke the duke of both dukedoms, but secretly intending, after the conquest hoped for, to overlook both the old duke and his son, and the Germanic Confederation, in the division of the spoil. Hoping that also this time no foreign aid would be rendered to Denmark, the Prussians and Austrians, confiding in the overwhelming forces they could bring to bear upon the conflict, and in their superior artillery, entertained a glorious anticipation of a complete victory. As the cause of their attack upon Denmark was given that the Danish Government had treated the dukedoms HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 473 as conquered provinces — had forced the Danish lan- guage upon the southern part of Sleswick, and intended to incorporate Sleswick into the monarchy. Be that as it may, Prussia and Austria had no business to inter- meddle with His Danish Majesty's rule of his own Danish province, Sleswick, as little as Denmark has any right to interfere with the French emperor's rule of his province, Alsace. To prevent a destructive war from breaking out, the Danish Government argued long calmly with them, and made even great and liberal con- cessions ; but all of no avail ; for as the fixed eye of prejudice and malice can see nothing but its own idea — however contrary to truth that idea may be, and how- ever clearly the actual truth may be presented to the view — so it was here. The Prussians and Austrians were deaf to all sound reasoning, marched legions upon legions of troops into Holstein, and threatened the Danish province Sleswick with invasion. The Danes, considering themselves most outrageously treated, and always wont to stare an enemy right in the face, bravely to attack two, and not yield to three, and expecting, according to the treaties of 1720 and 1727, and the London Protocol of 1852, British and French aid, rushed into the conflict with the thrilling excitement which nerves the arm and steels the heart of soldiers and seamen in the prospect of desolating contest. The Danish army marched down to meet the Prussian and Austrian legions, and the fleet was launched into the Baltic, and 474 HISTORY OF SCANDINATIA. the defence of the Danes ranges high, wrote the English journalists, in the annals of warfare. On February 2nd, 1864, they gave such evidence of old Scandinavian bravery as may be sought for in vain, even in the annals of the Romans and Carthagenians ; the innumerable multitude of Prussians and Austrians stormed, and stormed, and stormed, but were each time met with a most murderous fire from the Danes — eleven hundred Prussians and Austrians covering the battle-field. But now the Austrians and Prussians poured in like a host of locusts, and their artillery being much superior to that of the Danes, there was very little, or, so to speak, no prospect of success for Denmark. The enemy invaded Sleswick, and the Danish General De Meza gave up his strong position at the famous Dannevirke, of which the enemy took possession. For this he was highly blamed, and was superseded by General Gerlach. Everything had come to sad extremities. Nevertheless the Danes would not yet yield, but retreated in good order, in the heart of the winter, over the desolate heath of Sleswick, which for miles presents a desert of furze, fern, and stunted heath, fighting all the time bravely against vastly superior numbers, and hoping confidently, when worst came to worst, for British aid. But, alas ! they were greatly and bitterly disappointed. Certainly, the whole British nation was deeply interested in the fate of their ancient kinsmen ; the learned Earl of Derby opened his mouth boldly in favour of Denmark ; the HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 475 noble Marquis of Claiiricarde started a subscription in assistance of the wounded Danes and their families ; but the Government was but a quiet beholder of the dreadful tragedy. Lord Russell held out the most glorious promises — issued threatening notes against Germany : the English papers guided thereby wrote : " Take heed to yourselves ; believe, we are in earnest," and so forth. However, nothing was done for redressing the enormous wrongs inflicted upon little Denmark. A destructive doom seemed to hang over her. Never- theless, she was not dispirited, but kept on fighting valiantly by land and by sea, and in the month of May the Danish fleet gained a decisive victory over the Austrian fleet at Heligoland. But this was but a single shooting star on the beclouded firmament. Denmark could not abide the unequal contest. She was left alone — was overpowered by numbers, brutally treated, and had to yield. The Prussians went even so far as to invade the peninsula of Jutland, where they committed such acts of merciless ravage and depredation, unheard of even in the time of an Alaric and Tamerlane. How- ever, I shall pass over the details of the ruthless havoc they perpetrated — a havoc that continued until the peace of October 30th, 1864, was concluded, in which Denmark lost the fertile Sleswick, with its adjacent islands, which had belonged to her for centuries, and Holstein also, which was guaranteed her in the London Protocol of 1852. Treaties and guarantees seem now- a-days to be just as evanescent as the favour of princes. 476 HISTORY OF SCANDINAYIA. The peace docnment, dictated by Prussia and Austria, who soon, it is to be hoped, will fight amongst them- selves over their ill-gotten and nefarious booty, has the blasphemous superscription — " In the name of the holy and invisible Trinity." And, indeed, scarcely two years had elapsed, when Austria and Prussia, who could not agree amongst themselves as to the division of the spoil, were waging a war of awful carnage. The Austrians were worsted in almost every engagement, the battle at Sadowa sum- ming up the bloody tragedy. The Austrians had to submit to superior numbers and superior tactics, and to surrender the disputed and ill-starred duchies to Prussia. However, through the influence and media- tion of Louis N^apoleon, Paragraph 3, in the preHmi- nary articles to the peace-treaty, drawn up in July, 1866, at ISTicolsbui'gh, Moravia, came to read as fol- lows : " The Emperor of Austria resigns to the King of Prussia all the claims to the duchies, Slesvic and Holstein, which he acquired by the Peace of Vienna, October 30, 1864 ; yet with this proviso, that the north- ern Danish-speaking districts of Slesvic shall be given up to Denmark, if the inhabitants of said districts, by free suffrage, indicate it to be their wish to be united to Denmark." In the final peace-document at Prague, Bohemia, August 25, 1866, Prussia would fain have ex- empted herseK and skulked away from this inconveni- ent Paragraph 3, but ITapoleon would not yield, and HISTORY OF SCAI^TDINAYIA. 477 Paragraph 3 was accordingly verbatim entered into the peace-document at Prague as Paragraph 5. Eight years have now passed away since the peace of Prague was concluded, but the negotiations between Denmark and Prussia, concerning the ratification of Paragraph 5 of the Treaty of Prague, have hitherto proved abortive, Bismarck, the well-known great statesman, and equally well-known artful plotter, and, as we know, the Em- peror of Germany in re^ evading the question all the time and seeking miserable shifts and subterfuges to avoid the force of that, for Denmark, important Para- graph 5. Little Denmark is deeply agonizing ; yet its root is still whole and sound, and its hopes for brighter days it will not — it cannot — forego. " On the very verge of ruin," said once the great statesman Talleyrand, " the Almighty has always a miracle in His pocket to save Denmark." Acquiescing in this conviction, I look safely forward for the fate of Denmark, my native country, where my cradle was rocked, and where I received blessings upon blessings ; and the words by which the l^orwegian orator and divine, W. H. Wexels, concluded a speech he delivered on the subject of the deeply-wronged Denmark, I shall here allow myself to make mine : " Live the warrior Danes ; live the gifted and warm-hearted people of the champaign country ; live the cradle of all lofty Skaldic literature, gently wafted over from the Danish meadows to rocky Kor- 478 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. way and Scotland ; live it in spite of all direful Ger- man prophecies of destruction and annihilation ! " But before concluding, it will not be out of place, I think, to give some outlines of the history of Iceland, this remarkable volcanic island in the Arctic Ocean, and at the same time of the millennial celebration which took place there in 18 74:, and which created so much in- terest and sensation in the United States, yea, through- out all the civilized world. In the year 863 a. d., the famous Harold Hairfair^ of whom mention has been made on p. 65, ascended the I^orwegian throne. Before his time Norway was divided into thirty-one small States, against whose petty kings he immediately commenced waging war, till they all were subdued. But the ambition of that warlike prince gave birth to a conquest of a more peaceable kind, which, though almost unknown to the rest of the world, had, however, very interesting consequences in the history of the l^orth. For, not satisfied with hav- ing subdued the little tyrants, who had for a long time weakened ISTorway., he was eager of absolute and des- potic authority over his subjects. The greater part of the l^orwegian peers, perceiving that it was in vain to oppose their strength to his, determined to abandon a country where they were obliged to live depressed and obscure. It fortunately happened, that at this period Iceland began to be known. Some ancient Icelandic documents inform us that the first ]S"orthman who HISTORY OF SCAJS^DIKAVIA. 479 landed on the shores of that island was Waddod^ a celebrated sea-rover, who in the year 859 entered one of the friths and ascended a high mountain, but discover- ing no traces of the country being inhabited, set sail again, after giving it the name of Snaeland (Snow- land). Four years afterwards, 863, Gardar^ a Dane, but of Swedish extraction, was driven by a storm to Iceland, which by circumnavigation he ascertained to be an island, and called it Gardarsholm (Gardar's isle). The favorable account he gave of it on his return hav- ing excited the spirit of adventure amongst the ITorth- men, Flohi, another famous sea-rover, went out with the intention of settling there, but all the cattle and sheep he had taken with him having perished during the Winter, and the Spring being unusually cold, and the bays and estuaries covered with ice, he returned in the Summer to jN'orway, and bestowed the name of Island (Iceland) on the island, in which he had passed such a gloomy season, and which he declared to be un- inhabitable either for man or beast. But in the year 8Y0, Ingolf^ a Norwegian chieftain, wintered in Iceland, and was so pleased with the wild and picturesque appearance of the country, that on his return to ^N^orway, he being discontented, like the other chieftains, with the king, Harold Hairf air's despotism, resolved to emigrate thither. It is, however, said, that the fear of being punished for a murder he had com- mitted, was, equally with the tyranny of the king, a 480 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. motive for Ms flight ; but this latter inducement was certainly that which engaged a multitude of noble fami- lies in Norway to join him. These illustrious fugitives having embarked, Ingolf, whom they had chosen for their leader, conducted them in the year 874 to Iceland, and from this year its discovery and colonization are dated. As soon as they discovered it at a distance, Ingolf, according to an ancient and superstitious cus- tom, threw the sacred columns of his temple into the sea, determining by the direction of this floating guide, to land where the gods should seem to point out. But the waves carrying the floating guide out of sight, they were obliged to disembark in a gulf towards the south part of the island, which still bears IngoK's name. They found the island uninhabited, and covered with dense forests of birch-trees, through which they could not penetrate but by cutting their way before them. Be that as it may, but certainly there are now no for- ests in Iceland, nor any birch-trees, except here and there a few short and slender shrubs. J^evertheless, the trees, which are still found buried in the ground, and frequently among the rocks, should forbid us too hastily to reject the evidence of the ancient chronicles, when they describe the country as different from what it is at present. See " Torfaei Historia ITorwegica." His words are these : " Should any one object, that modern Iceland does not correspond with the ancient descriptions of it, it may be justly answered, that this HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. 481 island lias greatly degenerated. This I can affirm, from what I have been an eye-witness of myself." In- deed, none but E'orthmen, inured from infancy to a rude climate and the perils of a sea-faring life, would have thought of settling in such a country, which is thus described by a modern English writer, Hendersonj in his work, entitled " Journal of a Residence in Ice- land in 1814 " : " In no quarter of the globe do we find crowded within the same extent of surface such a num- ber of ignivomous mountains, so many boiling springs, or such immense tracts of lava, as here arrest the atten- tion of the traveler. The general aspect of the coun- try," thus Henderson continues, " is the most rugged and dreary imaginable. Everywhere appear marks of confusion and devastation. There are no less than thirty volcanoes in the island, the HeMa being the principal one, from which streams of melted substances have been poured forth over the surrounding regions. Tracts of lava traverse the island in everj^ direction ; the lavas around Hekla are well known, and the whole plain between that and the sea is filled with the same substance. Another proof of the universality of vol- canic agency, and of the continued existence of subter- raneous fires in Iceland, is the multiphcity of hot springs, of which the Geyser is the largest. Many of these throw up large columns of boiling water to an almost incredible height, and present to the eye some of the grandest scenes to be met with on the face of 482 HISTOEY OF SCA^DINAYIA. the globe. Numerous ridges of rugged and irregular mountains stretch across the interior. Between these ridges, in the vicinity of the coast, are rich and beauti- ful valleys, in which the inhabitants have erected their dwellings, and many of the low mountains are covered with grass, which affords Summer pasturage to the cat- tle. But the whole of the interior, as far as it has been explored, consists of a vast, inhospitable desert, with here and there a small spot scantily covered with vegetation." Such was the country that afforded the discontented Norwegian chieftains a secure retreat from what they termed the tyranny of Harold Hairfair. The coloniza- tion commenced in the year 874, and in little more than half a century the whole -coast of the island had been taken possession of. When a chieftain had taken possession of a district, he allotted to each of the free- men who accompanied him, a certain portion of land, erected a temple, and became the chief, the pontiff (sacerdotal magistrate), and the judge of his district. Such a chieftain was called a Godi^ and all to whom he had allotted land, were bound to accompany him on his journeys, and to pay a tax for the support of the temple ; and at the public assemblies these chieftains met with a great number of armed followers of free- men. The whole frame of society in Iceland was, in fact, aristocratic. The law recognized only four classes, as in Norway : Freemen^ Unfree^ Freedmen and Thralls ; HISTOEY OF SCAKDINAYIA. 483 but amongst the Freemen themselves a distinction was made between the pontiff-chieftains and the wealthy landed proprietors, called Stormen (great men) or Magnates, and a still greater distinction between these and the less wealthy freeholders. These independent chieftains, thus located on the coasts of Iceland, without any general law or central authority to control their actions, were constantly em- broiled in petty quarrels and strifes. The evil conse- quences resulting from this became at length so great^ that in the year 925, Ulfliot was sent to Norway to confer with Thorleif the "Wise, renowned for his knowl- edge of the laws and usages of the parent country, in order to prepare himself for the duties of a legislator for Iceland. After three years absence, Uliliot, called the Islandic Solon, returned, and convoked a general assembly, in which all his proposed laws were adopted, and a Republican form of government constituted, and from this year, 928, until the year 1262, when Iceland was subdued by the Norwegian king, Hakon Hakon- son, or Hakon lY., it was a Republic^ a Commonwealth^ during which this remote island was full of public- spirited men, and the old Northern language preserved unchanged for centuries, and Iceland became the cradle of a Northern historical literatm'e of immense value. The island was, during the Commonwealth, divided into four provinces or quarters, and each quarter into three districts. A few years later, however, one of the 484: HISTOEY OF SCANDINAVIA. districts was divided for the convenience of the inhabi- tants, thus making, in all, thirteen districts, which were sub-divided into parishes. Each of the districts had its temple (church) and its Thing (court), over which three pontiff-chieftains presided, who were to be chosen from amongst those the most distinguished for their wisdom and love of justice. These chieftains were at first elect- ed, but afterwards the dignity became hereditary. A district Thing was held annually in the Spring, and at- tended by all the freemen of the district. The Things were held in the open air, serving both for the discus- sion of public affairs and for the administration of jus- tice. For the latter purpose a circle, called the Doorrh- Ting^ was formed with hazel-twigs. Within this circle the judges sat, and in the middle stood a huge stone with a sharp ridge, on which the backs of criminals condemned to death were broken. Each of the three pontiff-chieftains summoned twelve doomsmen to sit with him within the forensic circloj which thus formed a court of justice, consisting of three judges and thirty- six doomsmen or jurymen. And here we have the trial by jnry, for which (as it is mentioned on p. 95) England and the United States are more indebted to Scandinavia and Iceland, than to their Saxon ancestors. Yet, all those thirteen districts were united in the Eepresentative Assembly of the Althing (the Supreme Court), which held its sessions annually in Summer in the Thingvalla, near Rejkiavik, the capital of the is- HISTOET OF SCANDINAYIA. 4:85 land. It was presided over by the Supreme Magistrate of the Eepublic, called the Logrogumadr^ i. e.^ laws'- narrations'-man, or in better English, the promulgator of the law, who was elected for life by the free suffrage of his fellow-citizens. Ulfliot, who had been so instru- mental in founding the Republic, was made its first President by the same IsTational Assembly that adopted his legislation. The office was, of course, regarded as the highest dignity in the State, and from the year 928, when the Republic was constituted, until its down- fall in 1262, thirty-nine Presidents governed this fa- mous Eepublic. The Althing, however, was no court of appeal, for it was optional with parties to bring their suits either before the Thing of their district, or before the Althing, and when judgment had been pronounced at the district Thing, there was no appeal to a suj)erior tribunal. Yet, the necessity of having a court of appeal was soon felt, and already in the year 1004 such an one was estab- lished, called the Fifth Courts which could annul the decision of the other courts on the ground of infor- mality, false evidence, and subornation of witnesses. Christianity was embraced by the Icelanders at the Althing, in the year 1000 ; but it was stipulated that the former religion should be tolerated, and Chris- tianity did not produce any alteration in the civil gov- ernment of the Commonwealth. The punishment of death was only inflicted for witch-craft and magic. The 486 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. punishment for other crimes were exclusion from so- ciety and exile. For graver crimes, snch as homicide and arson, the punishment was twenty years exile. During the period of a person's banishment, he was, in the most rigorous acceptation of the term, an out- lawed man. A prize was set on his head, and he might he killed with impunity, his property was confiscated, a portion, however, being reserved for the maintenance of his family, and the rest equally divided between the accuser and the Commonwealth. From this brief sketch of the civil institutions of the Icelanders, it will be seen that the form of govern- ment was strictly aristocratic, the administration of affairs being, in a great measure, in the hands of he- reditary pontiff-chieftains. But concerning the laws by which the Icelanders were ruled, it is impossible to ascertain what were the precise enactments which Ul- fliot, the founder of the Icelandic Republic, submitted to the approval of his countrymen ; for they were handed down by oral tradition for nearly two centu- ries, during which period the President of the Repub- lic had the very appropriate title of Law-saying-man / for he had to recite and expound the laws to the N^a- tional Assembly at every Althing. But the necessity of having a written code was deeply felt, and in the year HIT, the laws and judicial decisions were commit- ted to writing, and after being thoroughly revised by the ablest jurists, they were publicly discussed at thf^ HISTOKr OF SCANDINAVIA. 487 Althing, when those that had been approved of by a majority of the Thingsmen, were digested into a regu- lar code or collections of laws, into which subsequent laws and judicial decisions were from time to time incorporated, and which remained in force until the downfall of the Republic. This code was called The Gragas,^ and is, no doubt, one of the most remarkable ancient documents of the kind in existence. Every judicial proceeding has its prescribed form, and the manner in which the indictment and defence are to be conducted, witnesses summoned, evidence given, and verdict pronounced, are detailed with the greatest mi- nuteness ; and it is universally taken for granted, that in no code of the Middle Ages do we find such rigor- ous enactments for the protection of person and prop- erty, nor such detailed police regulations as in this Ice- landic code. But when the Icelanders, in 1262, had to acknowledge allegiance to the J^orwegian king, Hakon lY., and the large island thus ceased to exist as a repub- lic, then ceased, also, publicity in the administration of affairs, the interest for the celebrated code ceased, be^ cause it was set out of force, and the Icelanders' deeply- rooted love for their historical and romantic Sagas ceased also, at least in a great measure, because after the fall of their glorious Commonwealth, in which all * Some say that this name was given the code because grey goose-quills were generally used for writing Icelandic manuscripts ; others, because the manuscript copy of this code was bound in grey goose-skin. 488 HISTOET OF SCANDINAVIA. their interest had been absorbed, tbej felt weary and languid. A little more than a century after — in 1380 — Iceland fell, together with ]^orway, to Denmark ; when Olaf Y., elected King of Denmark, after the death of his father, Hakon YI., became King of E^or. way also, and Iceland has since the year 1380, up to this very day, been subject to the Danish crown. But, although the extinction of the Republic lessened the interest for poetry and history, the inhabitants of that remarkable island had had from the earliest times too deeply-rooted a fondness for poetry and history to lose it altogether, and they continued, therefore, to keep up an intercourse with the other people of the JN'orth, that they from them might learn whatever passed abroad. Only they were not so productive among themselves as before the downfall of their Common- wealth. However, the odes of their ancestral Skalds (poets) were continually in everybody's mouth, and the Icelanders even at the present day exhibit a lively interest for the ancient manuscripts of which the island abounds, and which are often to be found even in the poorest huts. With the introduction of the Eeformation, 1536, a new era began — that of modern Icelandic literature — which has produced several writers of considerable eminence. John Yidalin, Bishop of Skalholt, 1720, who is called the Icelandic Cicero, his sermons being, it is said, as jremarkable for their elegance of diction, as they are HISTORY OF SCANDmAVIA. 489 for their Christian piety. And in the present century Sigurd Petursson and John Thorlakson have acquired great celebrity as poets of no ordinary talents ; the former for original poetry, and the latter for having dressed in an English garment Klopstock's " Messiah," and Milton's " Paradise Lost." In Grreek and Latin the Icelanders have always excelled. Thus, the writer of this work distinctly remembers, when he was ma- triculated at the University of Copenhagen, and had to pass the so-called " Exam en Artium," that four Ice- landers from the Latin school at Iceland, who presented themselves for passing this Examen Artium, were far superior to all of us in the classical studies. ' But the millennial festival of Ingolf's landing, 874, when a thousand years ago, he with his J^orwegian fugitives fled from Europe, and landed in Iceland, has created such an interest, yea, even sensation, that some details wiU scarcely be unwelcome. Little Eejkiavik, the capital, was in a state of great excitement and greedy expectation. Flags floated from all the larger buildings, and a crimson canopy was prepared for the royal landing. For His Danish Majesty, King Chris- tian the Ninths had promised to honor the millennial festival with his regal presence, and, at the same time to bring with him a new Constitution for Iceland, which he did, and which went into force August 1, 1874. On his landing. His Majesty was given the usual cannon salutation, and received by the dignitaries of the island, 490 HISTOEY OF SCANDmAVlA. the Governor, tlie Bishop, the Rector of the Latin School at Rejkiavik, and the Sheriff. However, the most noteworthy concerning Christian the l^inth's pres- ence in Iceland is, next to the Constitution he brought with him, that he is the first crowned head that ever visited this remote island. After a short stay at Rej- kiavik, the king went to Thingvalla, where, as we have seen, in ancient times the Althing (the Supreme Court) was held, and where it still holds its sessions. Here he was bid welcome by a song in the Icelandic lan- guage, composed by the present poet of Iceland, Mathias Jochumson, which Bayard Taylor, the famous American traveler and gifted poet, has thus translated : I. With strong foot tread the holy ground, Our snow-land's King, the lofty-hearted, Who from thy royal home hast parted To greet these hills that guard us round ! Our freedom's scroll thy hand has lent us. The first of kings whom God hath sent us, Hail ! welcome to our country's heart I II. Land's-Father, here the Law-Mount view ! Behold God's works in all their vastness ! Where saw'st thou Freedom's fairer fastness With fire -heaved ramparts, waters blue ? Here sprang the Sagas of our splendor. Here every Iceland heart is tender, God built this altar for His flock ! in. Here, as in thousand years of old, The same words sound, a voice unended, As when their life and law defended The spearmen with their shields of gold : HISTORY OF SCAi^DINAVIA. 491 The same land yet the same speech giveth, The ancient soul of Freedom liveth, And hither, King, we welcome thee ! lY. But now are past a thousand years, As in the people's memory hoarded. And in God's volume stand recorded Their strife and trial, woes and fears ; Now let the hope of better ages Be what thy presence, King ! presages, — Now let the prosperous time be sure ! V. Our land to thee her thanks shall yield, A thousand years thy name be chanted. Here where the Hill of Law is planted, 'Twixt fiery fount and lava-field : "We pray. All -Father, our dependence, * To bless thee and thy far descendants, And those they rule, a thousand years ! This beautiful song the king received with visible joy, as also with emotion of feelings, and Bajard Tay- lor, who, together with two other Americans, Cyrus W. Field, of submarine telegraph notoriety, and Dr Hayes was present at this millennial festival, writes, that the king's mild, frank, and handsome face attracted the people. He paid a visit to old Bjarne Thorsteinson (father of the present Sheriff of Iceland), who is ninety- four years old, and has long been bhnd. Entering un- announced. His Majesty greeted the old man, taking his hand : " Who are you ? " said the latter. " I don't know you ; what is your name ? " "I am called Chris- tian the ISTinth," said the king. " Well, then," the old 492 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA. man remarked, " if you take a blind man by surprise, king, you must expect to hear such questions." The next day, August 2d, was the day for the millen- nial celebration. The programme for the day, writes Bayard Taylor, consisted of commemorative services in the Cathedral, where the Bishop of the island preached, of a banquet in the Hall of the College, and of a popu- lar festival a mile from the town, where there was dancing and great flying fires, and where the king and Prince Waldemar, his youngest son, walked around without any ceremony, exchanging a few words with each person as they passed. The sumptuous dinner which was given, was such, writes Bayard Taylor, as Iceland could scarcely furnish ; and, in fact, almost every dish came in cans from Copenhagen. The service of silver, the porcelain, and the wine-glasses were also Danish. The king finally rose, and briefly expressed his thanks for the kind reception he had received, and hoped that the Constitution he had brought with him would contribute to the prosperity of the island, and closed with the toast : " Long live old Iceland !" where- upon the full force of the band struck in with the loud cheers that followed, and shores and harbor rang with the thunder of cannon, and all the inhabitants knew that the king had drunk to the weal of Iceland. The Constitution which the king brought with him is mainly due to the persistent urgency and representa- tions at Copenhagen of John Sigurdson^ a public-spirit- HISTOET OF SCANDINAYIA. 493 ed man, and dear to all the people of Iceland. That this document was saluted with universal joy, is not to be wondered at, since it cannot be denied that al- most up to this very day Iceland has been, at least to some extent, step-motherly treated and slighted by the Danish government, especially since the year 1660, when Denmark became an absolute monarchy, and since which time the Icelanders virtually lost every vestige of their ancient independence. l!Tevertheless, the Icelanders have always felt happy and gleeful among themselves in their quiet domestic life and patriarchal simplicity, priding themselves in their legendary jokes, in their strong local peculiarities, in their home-bred feeKngs, in their honest fireside de- lights ; happy in dwelling on their old and glorious Sagas, and on the ancient Skalds, who wandered from house to house singing the chronicles of their ances- tors ; happy in playing chess, their favorite game, which has been known to the Icelanders as long as this ingenious game has been known to the world. And even at the present day an Icelander, IE it in any way be possible, is sure to return and spend his old age amidst the volcanic fires and eternal snow-storms of his own dear island ; and when an Icelander has visited more genial climes, he exclaims, when he returns and views the bleak and dreary scenery around him, ''After allj Icelcmd is the test land that the sun shines upon ! " -J J : ,^ -% \^. ^^' ^~ %^^ %/: ^^ 9 1 ^, .^ ^-^-^^^ ^ oo .0 o: ^o• ^ "^t:^^- ^^1^^^^^"\'^ .-Jy^ ri'Sik ... . ./ %■ . •-\o-^-- ». . f 'f' '2^ 'P -:j A^ . •» ,^