Chapter 1 – Prelude to war
Before 1864, the Danish monarchy consisted of three main parts: The Kingdom Denmark and the Duchies of Schleswig and Holstein.
The less economically important parts Lauenburg (Danish since 1814 as a “compensation” for Norway), Iceland, the Faroe Islands and also the colony Greenland and the West Indies need to be added. This multinational state was known as the nation state Denmark.
The Danish Monarchy after a population census in 1860:
| Inhabitants | Area (km2) | |
| Kingdom of Danmark | 1.600.551 | 39.000 |
| Dutchy of Schleswig | 409.907 | 9.400 |
| Dutchy of Holstein | 544.419 | 8.417 |
| Dutchy of Lauenburg | 50.147 | 1.183 |
| The Danish Monarchy | 2.605.024 | 58.000 |
The Kingdom Denmark got a democratic and modern constitution with the fundamental law of 1864 but this did not apply to the Duchies! Here, the Danish king was in fact still the absolute ruler together with the consulting assemblies.
The Danish government created a common constitution for the Kingdom Denmark and the Duchy of Schleswig with the November constitution in 1863.
But the fundamental law was not extended to the Duchy of Schleswig though this had been the national liberal purpose since 1849. The government did not dare to take this step as long as the whole Southern part of Schleswig did not wish to be part of the kingdom – Southern Schleswig rather wanted to be part of the German Confederation.
Germany as we know it today did not exist in 1864. Germany was a huge rag rug of 35 smaller and bigger kingdoms, principalities and free cities, and was known as the German Confederation.
The Duchies of Holstein and Lauenburg were also members of the German Confederation which implied that the Danish King actually also was a German duke and; therefore, had also been member of the Confederation!
As the permanent chairman Austria was the dominating power. The extent of the German Confederation is marked red in the map. Note that in reality only a part of the Austrian empire belonged to the Confederation.
Prussia was Austria’s biggest competitor, especially since the industrialized Ruhr region (Rheinland-Westfalen) had become part of Prussia after the Congress of Vienna 1814-15. England had desired a strong Prussia as a counterweight to France.
Prussia longed for a gathered German Empire governed by Prussia – without Austria. This succeeded after the French-German War 1870-71. After this war, the dream of a German empire without participation of Austro-Hungary came true.
On 7 December 1863 the German Confederation (Federal Council) decided an execution of Holstein and Schleswig with federal troops which consisted of Austrian, Prussian, Saxon and Hanoverian troops. This was a reaction to the Danish November constitution which was against the regulations of the conference agreed on in London 1851-52.
On Christmas Eve 1863 12 000 Saxon and Hanoverian soldiers went to Lauenburg and Holstein. The Danish troops which were located in the two Duchies withdrew without any incidents.
Austria and Prussia demanded on 16 January 1864 that the November constitution should be withdrawn within two days – this was impossible. On 1 February 1864 the troops then moved forward to Schleswig. This was not anymore a decision of the Bundestag; instead, it was now said that war between the Danish monarchy and the allies Prussia and Austria had begun!
Historiecenter Dybbøl Banke
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