Ole Humlum, Institutt for geofag, Oslo Universitet

1800-1815

Year 1800:

Britain faces a powerful combination of two of the main powers in Europe, and .

In union with Russia and , -Norway makes use of ‘neutrality’ to trade with both Britain and France under .

December 1800 Russia’s Tsar Paul ordered all British Ships in Russian ports to be seized and their crews made prisoner.

Because of Denmark-Norway’s neutrality union with Russia, conflict with Britain is the result. 1799-1801: Baltic freezes over The First Battle of Copenhagen 2 April 1801 After the First Battle of Copenhagen:

Summer 1801: the Swedish King Gustav IV considers occupying Zealand and Norway, but is too busy consolidating Sweden’s position in Pommerania.

1805: Sweden formally joins a coalition with Britain against France.

September 1807: general Bernadotte forces Sweden out of Pommerania.

October 1807: King Gustav IV Adolf again considers gaining Swedish control over Zealand and Norway (now compensation for Pommerania). Austerlitz 1805: Napoleon defeats .

Trafalgar 1805: Nelson defeats the French navy.

Jena/Auerstädt 1806: Napoleon defeats Russia.

From 1806: France controls continental Europe, and establish an continental blockade against Britain. Britain controls the sea, but is worried because – although neutral – the Danish-Norwegian navy is still fully operational.

Rapid consequences of Tilsit 1807:

1) Russia joins Napoleon’s continental blockade against Britain. 2) British navy may cut connection between Denmark and Norway. 3) French troops at Hamburg represent a threat for . 4) Danish army moved to southern Jutland to counter French threat. 5) Denmark-Norway in a very difficult position no matter what is done.

Knowledge on harsh winters !

The Second Battle of Copenhagen (the bombardment of Copenhagen) September 1807 was caused by the British Admiralty assuming that its fleet would be unable to remain in Danish-Norwegian waters throughout the winter 1807-08, based on experience from previous years.

A rapid solution in relation to Denmark therefore had to be found, and the bombardment was then decided. The Second Battle of Copenhagen 2-5. September 1807 Zoologisk Have

Tivoli October 20, 1807, most of the Danish-Norwegian fleet was taken over and sailed away by the British .

However, a few days later, in the , most of the ships were lost because of a strong storm.

All this of cause made Denmark- Norway allied with France.

King Frederik VI orders Martin Richard Flor to go to Norway 1807 1808-1811: British blockade of Norway 1808-1811: British blockade of Norway 1808-1811: British blockade of Norway Terje Vigen (Henrik Ibsen 1861)

Russian invasion of February 21, 1808

Danish declaration of war against Sweden March 14, 1808 Swedish invasion of Norway April 14, 1808 War between Norway and Sweden from April 14, 1808 of Norway British blockade 1808

Winter 1808-09 - 1811: Selskabet for Norges Vel: Initiativ 1809 fra blant andre biskop Fredrik Julius Bech, Jacob Rosted, assessor Peter Collett, Ludvig Stoud Platou, Martin Richard Flor og grev Wedel-Jarlsberg

Grev Wedel-Jarlsberg så det politiske potensialet i selskapet, og gjorde det til en forening for norske interesser i Helstaten Danmark-Norge. I 1810 tok selskapet initiativet til pengeinnsamling til støtte for eget norsk universitet i Christiania. Dette var en nasjonal samlingssak, og søknaden ble rettet til kong Fredrik VI personlig. Kongen ga til slutt etter, og universitetet ble stiftet i 1811. over BalticThe freezes Winter1808

Spring 1809 - 09: Swedish invasion of Russian invasion of Sweden Norway April 14, 1808 across the Baltic sea ice in March, 1809

Swedish retreat from Åland March 17, 1809 Russian invasion winter 1808-09 Swedish King Gustav IV Adolf forced to abdicate by an officer’s coup on March 13, 1809. The Swedish crown (now with limited powers) passed to his childless uncle, Charles XII.

An intense quest for a successor begun already in 1810. The successful candidate was Napoleon’s general Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte, who assumed the throne in 1818, under the name Karl XIV Johan. Storbrean with moraines in Jotunheimen December 1811:

During a very strong storm HMS St George and HMS Defence was wrecked on the west coast of Jutland on 24 December 1811.

Only 21 of their 1335 crew were saved. This is a greater loss than the 1912 Titanic disaster. British 1812: Norway blockade Serious because harvest at of sea

1812 early continues failure frost. in .

Napoleon’s retreat from Moscow, November 1812 Russian Cossacks in Hamburg, March 1813 1813, May 12: Denmark-Norway breaks officially with Napoleon’s France.

1814, January 14: Peace in Kiel. Denmark forced to give up Norway to Sweden, but keeps Greenland, Iceland and the Faroe Islands.

1814, May 17: Eidsvold; Norway declared a free nation, with liberal constitution. Danish Crown Prince Christian Frederik elected as king. The Norwegian constitution gave the Norwegian parliament (Stortinget) more power than any other legislature in Europe.

1814, July 29-August 10: Swedish military invasion followed by personal union.

1818, February 5: King Karl XIV Johan () crowned as King of Norway in Nidarosdomen, Trondheim. Demanded the Storting to give him power of absolute veto, but was forced to back down. A few consequences of Little Ice Age climate and especially sea ice in the Nordic countries 1800 to 1815

Norway: Liberal constitution Strong position of agriculture in Norway

Oslo

Copenhagen