Respectability in an Era of Religious Revival: the Golden Age

Respectability in an era of Religious Revival: The Golden Age The battle for Copenhagen in 1801 and again in 1807, and the Napoleonic wars in Europe to 1815 barely registered in the life of this branch of the family. Antonius Thomasellis Preisler was born in Copenhagen at Den kgl. Fodselsstiftelsen for unwed mothers on Jan 28 1791. He was adopted as a baby by Niels Hansen and his wife Kirstine Jensdatter and grew up in the small place of Højby. Niels was a husmand med Jord og graver, a small holder who didn’t have a farm. To supplement a small income he was also graver employed to perform various administrative tasks about the church and graveyard including the maintenance and planting. Photograph from Jens Stolt on panoramio.com Rorup Kirk and Kirkeyard In 1801 Antonius is said to be ‘Fra opfostringen, Kustfond’ for bringing up and rearing with funds from the ‘kust’ which could be ‘kunst’ an art fund. Possibly as his father and mother had been performers or possibly due to his grandfather being an artist. There were funds for his support and also so he could be apprenticed to a trade to be hjulmager wheel maker, and find his way in life with a respectable trade. Gård i Højby was shared by Olav Sejeroe on panoramio.com. The most remarkable thing in the whole area is Bronze age mound Kongehøjen used for observations . 1 From Højby to the Rorup Kirke, this was far from a bustling city area (Google Maps) Possibly as a wheelmaker, Antonius had need of the local blacksmith to make rims. Why Kirke Saaby and not Roskilde, we don’t know, but it is at Kirke Saaby he meets the blacksmith Jens Clausen’s daughter Maren. He most likely had access to a horse and cart to travel there, as Antonius is from Højby over a 2hr walk away from Kirke Saaby. When he marries 17 November 1812, he is surnamed Nielsen son of Niels the man who brought him up, to fit into his narrow world bounded by seasons and the near-bye village. There would have been no sense there of the drama of Napoleon’s struggles with Russia, that in the end would bring relative peace to Europe and Denmark. Google maps 2 Antonius and Maren likely grew up without a sense of the turmoil, some distance from events. The era may be summed up in the introduction to the Golden Age Den danske guldalder. “Copenhagen, the centre of the country's intellectual life, first experienced huge fires in 1794 and 1795 which destroyed both Christiansborg Palace and large areas of the inner city. In 1801 (April), as a result of the country's involvement in the League of Armed Neutrality, the British fleet inflicted serious damage on the city during the Battle of Copenhagen. In 1807, on rumours that the French might force Denmark to close the Baltic to their shipping, the British once again bombarded Copenhagen, this time specifically its civilian population. Then in 1813, as a result of the country's inability to support the costs of war, Denmark declared a State bankruptcy “ Wikipedia Peter Anderson in his blog notes “Christian VII (29 January 1749 – 13 March 1808) reigned as King of Denmark and Norway from 1766 until his death. He was afflicted with serious mental illness. From 1784 until 1808, his son ruled as de-facto regent, becoming King Frederick VI upon Christian's death. He was a fairly liberal monarch, but perhaps not well suited to the challenges that the Napoleonic Wars would bring. The Danes saw action during the Napoleonic Wars, but most of it was away from the main theaters. In November 1800, Denmark renewed the Treaty of Armed Neutrality with Russia and Sweden, which pertained to freedom of shipping in the Baltic Sea. This was perceived as an act of hostility by Great Britain. The threat of invasion by Britain was real, and the Danes were totally unprepared. They raised several volunteer units, most notable the King's Livjager Corps,..In April of 1801 the British navy attacked the Danish fleet at Copenhagen. After a fierce battle in the harbor, none less than Admiral Horatio Nelson ignored orders from the fleet commander, Sir Hyde Parker to break off action. Nelson instead destroyed most of the Danish fleet. Danish losses roughly 6,000 dead and wounded, six times those of the British. The 1st Battle of Copenhagen shocked the Danes into putting their military on a more modern footing. Despite their defeat, the Danes retained a considerable Navy. Following the defeat of Prussia by Napoleon in 1806, Britain became concerned that Napoleon would invade Denmark, and seize the Danish fleet for his own use. In 1807, the majority of the Army, under the command of the Crown Prince, was stationed in southern Jutland, prepared to oppose a French invasion. Both France and England attempted to persuade the Danes to give up their neutrality, and support their cause, but neither was successful. On July 31, 1807 Talleyrand was instructed to tell the Danes to prepare for war against Britain or face invasion by a French Corps under Marshal Bernadotte. Instead, the British sent a fleet of 22 ships to attack Denmark, resulting in the 2nd Battle of Copenhagen, August 16 - September 5th, 1807. They demanded surrender of the Danish fleet to Britain. The Danes resisted, and the British fleet bombarded the city for three days. The bulk of the civilian population had been evacuated prior to the bombardment. The bombardment included Congreve Rockets, which started a number of fires, burning over 1,000 buildings, made worse by the civilian evacuation who would have fought the fires. The bombardment of the city killed some 195 civilians and injured 768. British troops under Arthur Wellesley defeated a Danish force, composed largely of militia, at the Battle of Køge. The Danes capitulated on September 7th, handing over their fleet to Britain for the duration of the war. Denmark thus became the firm if reluctant ally of Napoleon.” http://blundersonthedanube.blogspot.com.au/2013/09/danish-army-of-napoleonic-wars- part-1.html 3 With the city still recovering, Antonius’ father, Joachim Daniel Preisler an actor, died in Copenhagen April 2 1809 in poverty at Frederiks Hospital, near the place his son is born leaving 4 girls from 2 marriages, the eldest Johanne single at 29, the youngest Charlotte Emile a baby. Johanne never married and dies in 1815 and Charlotte Emile dies 13 in 1822, which many indicate they were poor. Joachim Daniel’s era, was the one of Struensee and of the mad King, but it was now ended and a new era was beginning. The whole nation was to be affected by the forces that propelled N.F.S. Grundtvig (1783-1872) to boldly denounce the clergy of Copenhagen in his first sermon in 1810. Grundtvig published that sermon and it offended the ecclesiastical establishment. In that year 1810 Grundtvig underwent a religious crisis and converted to a deeper Lutheranism. There was an emergence of deep spiritual and intellectual ethos. Not far away at an equal radius, in Roskilde, 3 June 1810 Ane Kirstine Redder or Ridder was born to a shoemaker and his wife of noble descent. She was to impact on their lives more nearly. Antonius, known as Nielsen, and Maren have a son Hans Christian in Kirke Saaby, Feb 16 1813. Hans Christian is a popular combination at that time, Hans Christian Andersen being born 1805. They must feel the need to move and enter a wider world. Though it is now a time of peace, Antonius seeks a role in the military, and by January 6 1815 when his daughter Marie is born he is an under constable in the military Garrison in Copenhagen (Garnison). Marie is Antonius’ mother’s and grandmother’s name. His mother Marie Christine Jensen had died when he was 6 years old in 1797. On Aug 14 1817 Ane Catherine is born to Anthon Celis Bombarier 1st Art. Corps, and Maren Jensdatter. This indicated he is now part of the Army. In 1819 Antonius would have been keenly aware of army action. Though the nations had signed treaties the people were in ferment with new ideas. E. O. A. Hedegaard writes of an episode where large portions of the Copenhagen garrison were set against rioters in the otherwise peaceful royal city. Hedegaard points out that after the Napoleonic wars in 1815, the majority of Europe was split, many disillusioned and poor. The extensive French occupation had created strong fractions and parties which by legitimate or violent means sought to destroy the power of lords and introduce democratic governance. This was evident in Germany, where student organizations were enthusiastic about political freedom, patriotism and nationalism. 4 German author August Kotzebue (1761-1819), who, as Russia's advocate penned reactionary writings with blazing criticism of youth's liberal and national ideas, attracted great hatred and was murdered in March 1819. The murder caused a riot in Germany and as often happened earlier and later in history, the mob had turned on Jews (perhaps perceived as liberal?) who were subjected to violent persecution. This riot reached Copenhagen where the poverty had formed a ground for violent, emotional discharges and this consequent irrational riot of 1819. Hedegaard tells of a well reputed silk and clothing manufacturer, Raphael at Østergade 67, who had set up a shop, elegant and advanced: mahogany wood with gilded columns. The display panel was made of glass with the company's name in gold-plated letters. Jacobsen's shop was similarly equipped in the same street.

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