Denmark/Danes:
Development of a Nation
How Denmark became Denmark,
and how the Danes became Danish.
 How
Danes as a people, and the country of Denmark as a nation-state,
evolved and materialized into current form, in terms of ancestral
bloodlines, the Danish language, borders, culture, and even how they
received their name.
Ancestral Background
Development of Language
Formation of Borders
Etymology (How Name Received)
Culture
 Denmark
in 2008
Danish
Ancestral Background:
- Germanic people from Scandinavia migrated to
the European mainland between 850 and 650 BC. Another migration from
Scandinavia would occur during the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD (a
break-off from the Swedes). This blend of original Germanic
immigrants and Swede break-aways would form the basis of the Danish
nationality.
Save as much as 70% on select National Geographic merchandise!
Development of
Danish
Language:
- Proto-Germanic (direct branch from
Proto-Indo-European).
- Proto-Norse, a branch from Proto-Germanic,
spoken in Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden, Denmark) in the 3rd
– 7th centuries.
- Evolved into Old Norse, spoken in Scandinavia
through 13th century.
- Old East Norse develops largely in Sweden and
Denmark, while Old West Norse develops largely in Norway and
Iceland. Danes and Swedes share common/similar language at this
point.
- Even as Old Norse branches off from
Proto-Norse, the Danish and Swedish languages begin diverging from
one another in the 13th century, developing into the
modern, distinct languages they are today. All Scandinavian
languages (Icelandic, Norwegian, Swedish, Danish) are mutually
intelligible.
Save 20% off and Free Shipping on Select Language Learning Software
Formation of
Denmark
Borders:
- North Germanics settle Jutland (the peninsula
comprising the majority of Denmark’s land mass) and the extensive
network of islands to the east, between Jutland and Sweden. They
develop a cohesive culture & language distinct from Swedes to the
north, and Germanic peoples to the south. Plus, the peninsula serves
as a natural geographically border. However, as far as organization,
they are still a collection of separate tribes. Jutes and Angles
from Jutland would leave to conquer Britain after the withdrawal of
the Romans in the 5th century.
- The Viking Age begins around 600, resulting in
a loose affiliation of Scandinavian peoples (Norwegians, Swedish,
Danish), facilitated by common language, culture and lineage. These
groups are still tribal, but the connection exists between those in
modern Denmark (Jutland and islands in Danish Straits) and
Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden).
- Danes successfully defend Jutland from
Charlemagne Frankish armies, establishing a border at the Eider
River in 811, dividing the regions later known as Schleswig (north)and
Holstein (south). This river remained the border between the Danes
and Germans for centuries.
- In 1027, Denmark and Saxony (Germanic duchy in
the Holy Roman Empire) agree to re-establish Eider River as border.
- By 1219, Denmark conquered the northern portion of
Estonia. In 1346, it sells these rebellious Estonian provinces (Harria,
Vironia) to the Livonian Order.
 The Duchy of Schleswig finds itself at odds
with the Danish throne in the 13th century, operating
somewhat independently, but still a fief to Denmark. As a result, it
begins forging closer ties with the Germans in Holstein across the
Eider River.- Harold I of Denmark (Jutland) converts to
Christianity, consolidating rule of Jutland for first time. It
includes the northernmost portion of modern Germany. The Kingdom of
Denmark is the first predecessor state to modern Denmark. Denmark
also begins to conquer the islands that are part of modern Denmark.
Most of these islands were added to the Kingdom of Denmark by the
late 13th century, finalizing the Danish Straits portion
(the islands) of modern Denmark.
- Queen Margaret of Denmark marries the King of
Norway, joining the two kingdoms under personal union in 1380. The
kingdoms were autonomous, but combined their respective foreign
policies. Sweden was mired by civil war, and the nobles sided with
Queen Margaret (King of Norway husband had since died), in joining
Sweden to the personal union as well, forming a pan-Nordic kingdom.
This was finalized as the Kalmar Union in 1397. Each kingdom was
autonomous, but foreign policy was dictated by the monarch. Norway
included Iceland and Greenland, and Sweden included western Finland.
The union was dominated by Denmark.
- By the 15th century, a German
infusion into southern Schleswig (people and culture) transformed it
into a largely German region, although still under Danish rule, but
as a semi-independent fief rather than a sovereign state. As a
result, Schleswig and Holstein were closely connected, culturally,
politically, economically, as both were decidedly German.
- The Swedes grew unhappy with the
Danish-dominated government, and the frequent wars they were dragged
into, compelling them into an armed revolt. Independence of Sweden
(and their territory in Finland) was achieved in 1523. Denmark and
Norway remain under personal union, as the Kingdom of
Denmark-Norway.
- After Denmark-Norway was defeated by France in
the Napoloenic Wars, it was forced to cede Norway to Sweden in 1814.
However, Denmark kept Iceland and Greenland, as they were considered
property of the monarch of Denmark-Norway. The monarch of the
Denmark-dominated union had always been Danish.
 After
the Napoleonic Wars, nationalism throughout Europe ran high, and
Denmark and Germany were not immune to this. With the dissolution of
the German “Holy Roman Empire” in 1806, Denmark had been governing
all of Schleswig and Holstein. With the formation of the German
Confederation, this was found to be unacceptable by the German
nation, as Holstein was included within it. The Danish King had
become Duke of Holstein, therefore had a place within the German
Confederation. But historically/culturally/economically, Schleswig
and Holstein were bound. Therefore, Denmark attempted to bring all
of Schleswig and Holstein under a more centralized Danish
government, rather than remaining under a medieval relationship as a
fief. When it was apparent that this was not feasible, it instead
advocated that Schleswig, which had long been considered Danish,
should be brought under the centralized Danish rule, separating it
from Holstein. This was also unacceptable to the populace of
southern Schleswig, which was mostly German, to the German
inhabitants of Holstein, and to the Germans throughout Germany. This
led to a Prussian-supported uprising in Schleswig. This became the
First War of Schleswig, ending in a stalemate between Denmark and
Prussia, returning circumstances to the status quo. In 1863, Denmark
finally annexed Schleswig, prompting the German Confederation’s
invasion in 1864. Prussia and Austria-led forces easily overwhelmed
the Danes, conquering all of Schleswig and Holstein, ending the
Second War of Schleswig with this new territory as part of German
possession.- 1920 – Allies conduct a referendum in Northern
Schleswig after WWI, finding the majority prefer to be annexed into
Denmark, as opposed to remaining part of Germany. This moves the
border south, increasing Danish territory, and permanently fixing
the Danish/German border.
- While Denmark had been occupied throughout
WWII, it lost its ability to administer to Iceland, enabling it to
break off as an independent nation (Republic of Iceland) in 1944.
Greenland remains a Danish possession, but begins to protest Danish
rule, which is claimed to be carried out with the best interests of
Denmark in mind, compromising the best interests of Greenland.
Greenland achieves the status as a self-governing province of
Denmark in 1979.
Maps.com – The World’s Largest Maps Store!
Etymology (How Name Received):
Believed to be derived from the word “Dani”, the name assigned to
Scandinavian people by Greeks and Romans. “Mark” could be from a German
word meaning “threshing floor”, in reference to the flatness of the land
in Jutland.
Danish
Culture:
Danish culture has developed along
neo-liberal lines, where freedom of opinion, amicability and equality
are valued above all else. This has fostered a reliance on government to
protect and propel Danish culture. For example, the arts receive an
unusually high ratio of government funding, enabling artists to focus on
their craft, and ensuring the production of artistic output,
irregardless of free market forces.
Denmark in 2008:
Economy: Strong, advanced
economy with high living standards. Net exporter of food & energy (oil &
natural gas), well-positioned for modern challenges of food and energy
shortages. Welfare state.
Government: Constitutional monarchy (democracy with monarch still
in place)
Religion: State religion is Danish National Church (Evangelical
Lutheran), which is partially supported by public funds. The monarchs
must be members. Clergy also perform certain government tasks, such as
caretaking for cemeteries and record keeping. 95% belong to DNC (less
than 5% active), 3% other Christian, 2% Muslim. Survey: 31% believe in
God, 49% some other form of intelligent design, 19% atheist/agnostic.
Highly secular country, although most are members of the state-sponsored
Church due to history. There is no financial incentive to belong, nor
penalty in not belonging.
Demographics: 91% Danish, remainder from other Europe, South
Asia, Middle East.
Foreign Policy: UN, NATO, not active in U.S.-led campaigns in
Iraq, Afghanistan.
Population: 5,484,723 (2008)
Genealogy Search:
For females, use maiden name
(last name before marriage) |
|
 |
|
