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The Liberty Memorial
The Liberty Memorial is placed on Vesterbrogade opposite the Grand
Central Station and was erected in 1797 on its
present location, which was at that time far outside the ramparts
of the city. Five years earlier Prince Frederik
– later King Frederik VI had laid the foundation stone in
1792 as a symbolic gesture to commemorate the abolishment
of adscription in 1788. Adscription was introduced in Denmark
in 1733, binding the farmers and workers to the
estate where they were born and preventing them from leaving the
properties without the permission of the landowners.
Gift to the city from reform-seeking citizens
The Liberty monument was given as a gift in 1791
to the city from the bourgeoisie of Copenhagen and reform-seeking
citizens who wished to celebrate the formal freedom of the farmers
that were lawfully tied up with their landowners. The Liberty Memorial
was also erected by the people to honour King Christian
VII for abolishing adscription and for his efforts on supporting
agricultural reforms.
King
Christian VII and Prince Frederik (VI) celebrating the
inauguration of the Liberty Memorial in 1797 together
with citizens and farmers, who collected founds in 1791
to build this "Peasant Freedom Monument".
The erection of the monument was also the start of a
new democratic era in Denmark. |
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The
Liberty Memorial from 1797 with the four figures symbolizing
Fidelity - Justice - Virtue and Courage. The monument
is created by sculptor Nicolai Abildgaard and was
placed way outside and beyond the ramparts of Copenhagen
city - and nearly on the same spot as the monument
is placed today. |
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The
germinating democratic movement in Denmark from 1788 to 1849
Actually, the Liberty monument is also a symbol of a germinating
democratic movement in Denmark from 1788 to 1849,
which slowly turned the Danish Kingdom into a democratic
nation, in spite of being a territorial state in a strict
absolutist form during this period.
The King‘s unrestricted authority was subsequently codified
in the Royal Law (Kongeloven) of 1665,
which in general remained in force until the abolition of absolutism
in 1848 and the adoption of a democratic
constitution in 1849. This legislative achievement resulted
in the formation of the Danish constitutional monarchy and led to
King Frederik VII declaring himself as the first
constitutional King, which was codified in The Constitution of the
Kingdom of Denmark of 5 June 1849.
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Liberty Memorial was a landmark for Copenhageners -
here illustrated in 1863, with the horse driven tramcar
and tracks that ran on both sides of the monument. The
tramcar line went through the city between the Liberty
Memorial and Frederiksberg and was opened 22 October
1963. The tramcar service was operated by Copenhagen
Railway Company and was the first tramcar route in Denmark. |
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Introduction
of the Danish constitution in 1849
With
the introduction of the first Danish democratic constitution in 1849
based upon a parliamentary liberal democracy, and a national citizenship
founded on a universal set of rights and obligations, the growing
democratic movement and freedom-loving Danes had
achieved their goals in a peacefully manner.
Four Danish Kings and the new democratic era - 1788-1849
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Christian VII - 1749-1808 - King of Denmark and Norway
1766-1808. |
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King
Frederik VI -
1768-1839 - King of Denmark and Norway 1808-1839. |
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| King
Christian VIII - 1786-1848 - King of Denmark 1839-1848.
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King
Frederik VII -
1808-1863 - King of Denmark 1848-1863. |
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| Four
Danish Kings – King Christian VII –
King Frederik VI – King Christian
VIII and King Frederik VII - all from
the Royal House of Oldenborg were more or less
involved in this new democratic era starting
with the year when abolition of adscription took place in 1788,
up to the abolition of absolutism was a reality in 1848
and until the Constitution was finally signed in June
1849. |
Move 5,5 meters to new location
Due to trafficable conditions of the railway system to the Central
Station the Liberty memorial was moved 5, 5 meters towards
the Town Hall Square and inaugurated again in 1909.
In 2000 the monument was given a major overhaul
and celebrated with a ceremony.
Opening
ceremony of the Liberty Memorial at Vesterbrogade in
1909 - when the monument was moved 5,5 meters towards
the Town Hall to give place for a new railway line from
the old Central Station to the new - which was opened
in 1911. |
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The
Liberty Memorial at its final and present location in
1910 with the railway tracks to the Central Station.
The 20 meter obelisk and the four figures surrounding
the monument went through a major overhaul in 2000. |
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Brief
data
The Liberty Memorial is created in 1797 as a 20
meter obelisk in Italian and Polish marble together with
sandstone from the isle of Bornholm and surrounded by four
220 cm high figures symbolizing Fidelity
- Justice - Virtue
and Courage.
Location
The Liberty Memorial is located just opposite the Central Station
and near Tivoli and the Town Hall.
| Liberty
Memorial
Address
Vesterbrogade
Copenhagen
Busses:
10 - 15 - 26 - 30 - 40 - 66 - 2A - 5A - 6A - 250S
Trains
– Central Station |
| The
Liberty Memorial - Copenhagen |
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