Axel Harms – författare

Christian VI ruled Denmark-Norway from 1730 until his death in 1746. As King he was enthusiastic about construction projects - he built the first Christiansborg Palace, Hirschholm Palace, and the Hermitage Palace. As an adherent of the Pietist religious movement, he believed it was sinful to enjoy oneself and life at his court was reminiscent of life in a monastery. He took a number of measures to combat a long-lasting economic slump, one of which was the introduction of the hated system of adscription known as the stavnsbånd. As the first Danish absolute monarch to do so, he managed to avoid war throughout his entire reign. This book is part of the Crown Series, a series of small books on the Danish monarchy and related subjects published in cooperation with the Royal Danish Collection.

Frederik V reigned over Denmark-Norway from 1746 until his death in 1766. For the most part he was a ruler in name only however, as he had developed a pattern of alcohol abuse as a young man that rendered him unable to administer his power in an independent fashion. He therefore had to transfer power to competent ministers and in particular to his High Court Marshal, Adam Gottlob Moltke, who functioned as the real head of state throughout Frederik V's entire reign. The kingdom experienced a general economic upswing during this period, and the court came to be characterised by elegant splendour, while trade and industry benefitted from Denmark-Norway's policy of neutrality toward warring parties. Moltke organized the Construction of the palace quarter of Amalienborg and Frederiksstaden in honour of the King.This book is part of the Crown Series, a series of small books on the Danish monarchy and related subjects published in cooperation with the Royal Danish Collection.

Christian VII was King of Denmark-Norway from 1766 until 1808, although we was unable to rule because of mental health problems. He acceded to the throne when he was just sixteen, and his accession was followed by a few years of scandal and drama at the royal court. The physician J.F. Struensee took complete control of Christian VII at the start of his reign while at the same time beginning an affair with Queen Caroline Mathilde. Struensee was executed in 1772, and the King subsequently had to accept being controlled by members of his own family - first by Dowager Queen Juliane Marie and Hereditary Prince Frederik, and then by Christian VII's own son, Crown Prince Frederik (VI).This book is part of the Crown Series, a series of small books on the Danish monarchy and related subjects published in cooperation with the Royal Danish Collection.

Frederik VI ruled as King of Denmark from 1806 until 1839. Before that he had ruled as Crown Prince on behalf of Christian VII after having seized power by means of a coup d'état in 1784. Frederik began his long regency by implementing far-sighted measures, including the great agricultural reforms, in cooperation with competent advisors. In contrast, the Napoleonic Wars, which for Denmark meant the Battle of Copenhagen of 1801, the Bombardment of Copenhagen in 1807, and the relinquishing of Norway in 1814, did not go well for Frederik VI. Frederik VI did not care for revolutions, but he reigned in an age in which absolute monarchy became controversial, and as King he had to take action to confront contemporary demands for social reforms. This book is part of the Crown Series, a series of small books on the Danish monarchy and related subjects published in cooperation with the Royal Danish Collection.

The foremost symbols of the Kingdom of Denmark - the crown, the sceptre, and the orb - have been kept at Rosenborg Castle since the 1680s. Here one can also see a number of the monarchy's other central objects: the baptismal font that has been used by the royal family since the 17th century, the silver lions, as well as the collection of crown jewels founded by Queen Sophie Magdalene in the mid-18th century, and which are still worn by the Queen on major occasions.This book is part of the Crown Series, a series of small books on the Danish monarchy and related subjects published in cooperation with the Royal Danish Collection.

Christian VIII ruled Denmark from 1839 to 1848 as the country's last absolute monarch - in 1814 he was also briefly Norway's first constitutional king, and he took the initiative to introduce the constitutions of both Norway and Denmark.Christian VIII and Queen Caroline Amalie lived during a time that was characterised by political unrest but also by cultural richness, and their circle of acquaintances included Hans Christian Andersen, N.F.S. Grundtvig, Bertel Thorvaldsen, C.W. Eckersberg, Adam Oehlenschläger, and H.C. Ørsted.This book is part of the Crown Series, a series of small books on the Danish monarchy and related subjects published in cooperation with the Royal Danish Collection.