The
first Glücksburger king Christian 9th would not sign The
November Constitution, which Frederik 7th was not in time
for, before he died.
The constitution implied that Slesvig would become closer tied to
Denmark, and the king could see, that it meant conflict with Preusen and
Austria.
As the king was reluctant to sign the constitution, his Danish
disposition was left in doubt. Under great pressure from the people he
signed.
The result also came promptly. The night before the 1st
February 1864 the Preussers and the Austrians crossed The Eidern with a
large force and further on toward Dannevirke.
The superior force was too big, and the Preussers were equipped with
rifles to be loaded from the rear.
Cease-fire was achieved the 20th July, and the 30th
July the peace was signed in Vienna, where Denmark had to accept to
loose Holsten, Lauenburg and Sønderjylland up to Kongeåen, to Preussen
and Austria.
Denmark was reduced from 58.000 sq km to 39.000 sq km and 200.000 Danes
and Sønderjyder came under Preussen-Austria.
It was a national disaster.
Christian 9th called Europe’s father-in-law, was born at
Gottorp Castle the 8th April 1818, son of duke Vilhelm of
Slesvig-Holsten-Sønderborg-Glücksborg and Louise Caroline.
He was in 1842 married to Louise of Hessen-Kassel (1817 - 98). She was
daughter of count Vilhelm of Hessen-Kassel.
Queen Louise was called Europe’s mother-in-law. She made sure that her
children got a good education, and she managed to have her children
married into European monarchies.
Frederik
8th , later king.
Alexandra,
(1844 - 1925) in 1863 married to Edward 7th of England.
Vilhelm,
(1845 - 1913) king of Greece in 1863 under the name of Georg 1st.
Married to Olga of Russia in 1867.
Dagmar,
(1647 - 1928). Russian empress under the name of Maria Feodorovna, when
she was married to emperor Alexander of Russia.
Thyra,
(1853 - 1933) married to duke Ernst August of Cumberland.
Valdemar
(1858 - 1939) married in 1885 to Marie of Orleans. In 1887 he abstains
from being king of Bulgaria.
Many family parties were held at Fredensborg Castle, which was the place
of gathering, when the family from the empires of Europe gathered at
mother-in-law and father-in-law.
.
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Map
of Denmark
