Denmark
An historical timeline
Denmark is one of the oldest independent states in Europe.
Its temperate climate and pivotal trading-route location have helped establish it as an exporter of agricultural and industrial goods.
It is now self-sufficient in energy, and exports oil, gas and electricity. Its trading partners are mostly European, and the value of exports almost equals imports. Denmark is the world's largest exporter of wind turbines.
Government
Denmark is a parliamentary democracy with a royal head of state and runs as a capitalist system of economic liberalism. State and public authorities have considerable regulatory control, and they provide comprehensive public services.
Government initiatives have ensured that energy consumption has been reduced substantially while the growth rate and low unemployment have been maintained — paid for through higher personal and business taxes.
History
Denmark is the land of the Vikings. From 8th-11th century they travelled the world, sailing to the Caspian Sea, Greenland, North America and North Africa. In the 10th century, the country was united under King Harold I Bluetooth, after whom the Bluetooth wireless computer protocol is named.
The Danes ruled England from AD 1013-42, when Sweyn I, Canute I and Hardicanute ruled over an Anglo-Danish kingdom. Following the Danish civil wars of the first half of the 12th Century, Valdemar I reunified the kingdom.
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1157
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Valdemar I enacts Denmark's first written laws: Jutland Code
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1227
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Battle of Bornhoved: Germany wins over Denmark
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1282
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The end of imprisonment without just cause
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1350
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Bubonic plague arrives in Denmark around this time
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1360
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The first Danish Supreme Court is established
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1397
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The Kalmar Union — which unites Denmark, Norway and Sweden and their territories under a single monarch — is created to counter the dominance of the Hanseatic League, an alliance of merchant guilds with a trade monopoly and its own laws and mutual protection arrangments
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1523
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End of the Kalmar Union
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1526
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The Danish church splits from Rome, Lutheranism becomes the official religion
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1658
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Treaty of Roskilde, Denmark loses territories on the Swedish mainland
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1660
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Hereditory absolute monarchy established, prior to this they were elected by the nobility
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1665
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Colonies established on the Virgin Islands
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Frederick III passes the Royal Act, putting the sovereign beyond the law and inferior only to God
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1675-9
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Denmark at war with Sweden
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1709-20
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Denmark at war with Sweden, ended with a peace treaty
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1713
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Issue of the first Danish banknote
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1788
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The abolition of serfdom in Denmark
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1800-14
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Denmark at war with Britain and forms an alliance with France against Spain
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1813
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The State Treasury is declared bankrupt
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1814
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Kiel Peace Treaty: Denmark loses Norwegian territories to Sweden
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1848
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Frederick VII renounces absolute power
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New constitution makes Denmark a democrary with guaranteed freedom of speech
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1864
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Denmark defeated by Prussia and Austria in a war over the duchies of Schleswig and Holstein
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1873
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Child labour is banned
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1884
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The first Social Democrats are elected to parliament
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1901
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Denmark adopts a democratic parliamentary government
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1917
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Virgin Island colonies sold to the USA
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1920
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Schleswig-Holstein referendum returns the northern part to Denmark, southern part remains with Germany
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1940
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Germany invades Denmark (World War II), occupation lasts til 1945
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1943
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The Danish resistance movement ends cooperation with German forces
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1945
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Denmark recognised as an Allied Force and joins the United Nations
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1948
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Letter å added to Danish alphabet, now 29 letters
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1949
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Denmark a co-founder of NATO
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1953
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New constitution &mdash' single-chamber parliament introduced along with cognatic primogenature, which allows women to inherit the throne in their own right if there is no male heir
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1958
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Lego system of interlocking bricks patented (Patent No.92683, invented by Ole Godtfred Christiansen) — the block connection remains the same today, and its name is derived from 'leg godt' which means 'play well'
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1960
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Denmark joins EFTA
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1973
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Denmark joins the Common Market (now the European Union)
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1992
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A referendum rejects the Maastrict Treaty
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1999
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The independent institution Court Administration takes over the running of the courts from the Ministry of Justice
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2000
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Denmark rejects the adoption of the Euro (87% against)
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2007
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Ministry of Climate & Energy founded
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Copenhagen city viewer
