Denmark

Limited monarchy of w. Europe, occupying the peninsula of Jutland and adjacent islands; area 15,289 sq. miles. The surface is a plain. The coast is low and very broken. The industries are agriculture, fishing. and com The capital is Copenhagen, the government a const i tutional monarchy. The Cymri, who occupied Denmark 100 B.C., were followed by piratical Goths, of whom little is known till the mi ion of Anschar to S. Jutland 825. A long conflict between Paganism and Christianity ensued. The people were reduced to serfage by the introduction of a feudal system. Valdemar I. subdued Rugen and Pomerania, forcing them to accept Christianity 1168. The Baltic and its coasts were afterward almost wholly subjugated, but lost under Valdemar II., whose death 1241 was followed by 100 years of anarchy. Under Valdemar III. the lost territory was recovered. His daughter, Margaret, 1375-1412, by the Union of Calmar 1397 gained Sweden and Norway. Erik, her succe or, after a 25 years' war with the Counts of Schleswig-Holstein, lost all three crowns. Christian of Oldenburg was chosen king 1448. He bought the title of Count-Duke of SchleswigHolstein 1460, promising to keep these duchies united. Fifty years of international struggles ended in the separation of Sweden 1523. Under Frederic IV. the people rose against the nobles 1660. Christian VII. began to abolish serfage 1767. Under Frederic VI. the alliance with Napoleon brought Denmark to the verge of ruin, and at the Congre of Vienna 1814 she ceded Norway to Sweden. The direct Oldenburg line expired with Frederic VII. 1863, and Christian IX. succeeded, according to the Treaty of London 1852. A war with Pru ia 1864 resulted in the ce ion of the duchies. Pop., 1890, 2,185,335.