Lyla Lindsey
The Second Schleswig War, also known as the German-Danish War, was fought between Denmark and the combined forces of Prussia and Austria. The war began on 1 February 1864, when Prussian and Austrian forces crossed the border into the Danish fief of Schleswig. The war was the culmination of a complex set of issues arising from the relationship of the duchies of Schleswig and Holstein to Denmark, to each other, and to the German Confederation. The conflict was also influenced by the rise of Danish and German nationalism and a dispute over the succession of the duchies. The death of King Frederick VII of Denmark in 1863 triggered a crisis, as the new Danish monarch, King Christian IX, ordered that the new constitution should apply to Schleswig and Denmark but not Holstein, which was a breach of the 1852 London Protocol and gave Prussia and the German Confederation a casus belli against Denmark.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 1 February 1864 |
| Reason | To settle the Schleswig-Holstein question |
| To resolve succession disputes concerning the duchies of Schleswig, Holstein and Lauenburg | |
| To resolve a constitutional dispute | |
| To thwart Prussian ambitions in the duchies | |
| To avoid tolls charged by Denmark on ships passing through the Danish straits | |
| To construct the Kiel Canal | |
| Outcome | Denmark ceded the Duchies of Schleswig, Holstein and Saxe-Lauenburg to Prussia and Austria |
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What You'll Learn
- The death of King Frederick VI of Denmark in 1839 triggered a succession crisis
- The November Constitution of 1863 tied Schleswig more closely to Denmark
- Austria and Prussia wanted to thwart Danish control of the Danish Straits
- Denmark's cession of the Duchies of Schleswig, Holstein and Saxe-Lauenburg
- Otto von Bismarck's desire to achieve the annexation of the duchies to Prussia
The death of King Frederick VI of Denmark in 1839 triggered a succession crisis
Princess Caroline of Denmark and Frederick's divorced wife, Vilhelmine, were the semi-Salic heiresses of Frederick VII. They were followed in the line of succession by Princess Louise Auguste of Denmark, who had married Frederick, Duke of Augustenburg. However, her claim to Denmark would only come into effect after the deaths of Caroline and Vilhelmine, who were both still living in 1863.
The death of Frederick VI in 1839 also meant that the throne would pass to a female heir, as Frederick VII was the last of Frederick III's male line. This complicated matters, as while Denmark's throne could devolve to or through a female heir according to "semi-Salic" succession, there were conflicting interpretations of that provision and of Denmark's claim to its applicability to the duchies of Schleswig and Holstein.
In November 1863, Frederick of Augustenborg claimed the twin duchies in succession to Frederick VII of Denmark, who was the last king of Denmark who, by primogeniture, was also sovereign Duke of Schleswig and Holstein. The resulting divergence of hereditary claims to the duchies eventually developed into the Second War of Schleswig.
The crisis was further exacerbated by the fact that Danish nationalism was on the rise, and there was talk of a common Scandinavian front against Germany. This, along with the disputed succession, a clash of Danish and German nationalism, and a threat to the international balance of power, led to the German-Danish War of 1864.
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The November Constitution of 1863 tied Schleswig more closely to Denmark
The Second Schleswig War, also known as the German-Danish War, was the second military conflict over the settlement of the Schleswig-Holstein question. Located on the Jutland Peninsula in northern Europe, the duchies of Schleswig and Holstein had been ruled separately by Danish kings since the 15th century but had been united at various points in their history.
The death of King Frederick VII of Denmark in 1863 triggered a crisis, as the succession laws of Denmark conflicted with those of Holstein, and the status of Schleswig was uncertain. The new Danish monarch, King Christian IX, ordered that the new constitution should apply to Schleswig and Denmark, but not to Holstein. This was a clear breach of the 1851 peace treaty and the London Protocol of 1852 and gave Prussia and the German Confederation a casus belli against Denmark.
The November Constitution of 1863 tied the Duchy of Schleswig more closely to the Danish kingdom, which was viewed by the German side as a violation of the London Protocol. On 18 November 1863, King Christian IX of Denmark signed the so-called "November Constitution", establishing a shared law of succession and a common parliament for both Schleswig and Denmark. This was seen by the German Confederation as an attempt to fully reintegrate Schleswig into Denmark, which contradicted the objective of the union constitution that Schleswig should be treated constitutionally no different from Holstein.
The German Confederation asked Denmark to withdraw the March decree, but many developments encouraged Danish resistance. Prussia was also contesting with Austria for supremacy within the confederation, and the proclamation of Prince Frederick of Augustenburg's rule in the duchies was popular in Germany.
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Austria and Prussia wanted to thwart Danish control of the Danish Straits
The conflict between Prussia and Austria on one side and Denmark on the other was driven by multiple factors, including the Schleswig-Holstein question, a complex set of problems arising from the relationship between the duchies of Schleswig and Holstein and Denmark, the German Confederation, and each other. However, one significant factor was indeed the issue of control over the Danish Straits.
The Danish Straits were a strategically important waterway, connecting the Baltic Sea to the North Sea. Denmark charged tolls on ships passing through the Straits, which was a source of tension with other powers, particularly Prussia and Austria. The two countries sought to avoid these tolls by constructing the Kiel Canal, but this plan could not be realised as long as Denmark ruled Holstein, through which the canal would pass. Thus, the desire to gain control over the Straits and eliminate the tolls provided Prussia and Austria with a strong motivation to challenge Danish control of the region.
The issue of tolls charged by Denmark in the Straits was a significant grievance for Prussia and Austria, and it played a role in their decision to declare war on Denmark. By invading and gaining control over Schleswig and Holstein, Prussia and Austria aimed to achieve several objectives: they could construct the Kiel Canal, avoid the tolls, and establish a Prussian naval base in Kiel. This would enhance their military and economic position in the region, reducing Denmark's power and influence.
The broader European political situation also influenced the conflict. Britain and Russia, while generally supportive of Prussia, opposed the idea of Denmark losing control of the Straits. They recognised the strategic importance of maintaining a balance of power and preventing a strong power, like Prussia, from dominating the region. However, during the German-Danish War of 1864, Prussia and Austria found themselves in a favourable position, with Napoleon III of France drawing closer to Prussia, and Russia, weakened after the Crimean War, shifting its support from Denmark to the Austro-Prussian alliance.
In conclusion, while multiple factors contributed to the conflict between Prussia, Austria, and Denmark, the desire to thwart Danish control of the Danish Straits was a significant factor. The Straits were a source of tension due to the tolls charged by Denmark, and Prussia and Austria sought to gain control over this strategic waterway to advance their economic and military interests in the region.
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Denmark's cession of the Duchies of Schleswig, Holstein and Saxe-Lauenburg
Denmark's cession of the Duchies of Schleswig, Holstein, and Saxe-Lauenburg was the culmination of a complex series of events involving the relationship between these duchies and Denmark, as well as their ties to each other and the German Confederation. The roots of this issue can be traced back to the 15th century when these duchies were ruled separately by Danish kings but also had periods of unification.
The death of King Frederick VI of Denmark in 1839 triggered a succession crisis, as the succession laws of Denmark conflicted with those of Holstein, and the status of Schleswig became uncertain. This set off a chain of events that led to the First Schleswig War (1848-1851), which was caused by an uprising of ethnic Germans in the duchies, supported by the German Confederation. The Danes were able to suppress this rebellion, but it highlighted the ongoing dispute.
The Second Schleswig War (1864) was the second conflict over the settlement of the Schleswig-Holstein question. In 1863, King Christian IX of Denmark signed the "November Constitution," which established a shared law of succession and a common parliament for both Schleswig and Denmark. This was seen by the German Confederation as a violation of the London Protocol of 1852. The German Confederation responded by removing the Danish delegate for the duchies of Holstein and Lauenburg and calling for the occupation of Holstein.
The conflict escalated further when Prussia and Austria invaded Schleswig and Holstein in 1864. This led to Denmark's defeat and the subsequent Treaty of Vienna on October 30, 1864. As a result, Denmark ceded the Duchies of Schleswig, Holstein, and Saxe-Lauenburg to Prussia and Austria, with the enclaves in western Schleswig also being surrendered. The island of Ærø, the town of Ribe, and several parishes near Kolding were excluded from this cession and remained under Danish control.
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Otto von Bismarck's desire to achieve the annexation of the duchies to Prussia
Otto von Bismarck's desire to achieve the annexation of the duchies of Schleswig and Holstein to Prussia was a significant factor in the conflict between Prussia and Denmark, known as the German-Danish War of 1864. This conflict was the second of two wars over the settlement of the Schleswig-Holstein question, a complex issue arising from the relationship of these duchies to Denmark, each other, and the German Confederation.
Bismarck, the Prussian Minister President, played a pivotal role in these events. He had a strong desire to unify Germany under Prussian leadership while explicitly excluding Austria from the federation's affairs. Bismarck's ambition for annexation stemmed from a complex interplay of factors, including disputed succession, clashing nationalism, and a threat to the international balance of power.
The death of King Frederick VI of Denmark in 1839 triggered the initial crisis. The succession laws of Denmark conflicted with those of Holstein, and the status of Schleswig was uncertain. This dispute was further exacerbated by the rise of Danish nationalism and the idea of a common Scandinavian front against Germany.
Bismarck, a conservative Prussian statesman, rose to prominence in the 1860s, dominating German and European affairs. He engineered a series of wars that unified the German states, deliberately excluding Austria. Bismarck's actions in the German-Danish War of 1864, the Austro-Prussian War of 1866, and the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71, were instrumental in achieving his goal of annexing the duchies to Prussia.
In 1863, Prussia and Austria induced the German Confederation to refuse observance of the Treaty of London, which had established the order of Danish succession. This refusal led to the confederation's decision to enforce its Schleswig-Holstein policy through armed intervention. As a result, Prussia and Austria jointly conquered the duchies of Schleswig and Holstein from Denmark in 1864, agreeing to occupy them together. However, this joint occupation did not last, and the dispute between Prussia and Austria over the administration of these duchies ultimately led to the Austro-Prussian War in 1866.
Bismarck's diplomatic skills and strategic alliances played a crucial role in Prussia's success. He formed an alliance with Italy before the war with Austria, ensuring Italian support. After Prussia's victory over Austria, Bismarck insisted on a ""soft peace"" with no annexations to quickly restore friendly relations. This decision demonstrated his ability to balance power dynamics and maintain peace in Europe.
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Frequently asked questions
Austria and Prussia declared war on Denmark due to a dispute over the administration of the Danish fief Schleswig, and the duchies of Holstein and Lauenburg. The conflict was also driven by nationalist sentiments on both sides, with the Danes wanting to integrate Schleswig into Denmark, and the German elites in Schleswig wishing to be a part of Germany.
The war resulted in Denmark ceding the Duchies of Schleswig, Holstein, and Saxe-Lauenburg to Prussia and Austria, with the exception of the island of Ærø, which remained under Danish control. The war also had broader geopolitical implications, with Prussia and Austria vying for supremacy within the German Confederation, and Great Powers such as Great Britain, France, and Russia taking sides or attempting to exert influence.
The immediate cause of the war was the passing of the November Constitution of 1863, which tied the Duchy of Schleswig more closely to the Danish kingdom, which was viewed by Prussia and Austria as a violation of the London Protocol and a threat to their interests.
