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Five
Castles on the same site
Christiansborg
Palace and "Slotsholmen"
The existing Christiansborg Palace from 1928 is
the fifth castle that has been built on the same
area inside the grounds of Slotsholmen Island -
also called the Castle Island, which is surrounded
by canals, bridges and many historical buildings.
Absalons
Castle
It was on this site the founder of Copenhagen, Bishop Absalon
built his castle between 1167 and 1176 to protect
the city against enemy attacks from the Sound and seaside. According
to the history books and other legends, Copenhagen was founded in
1167. Absalons Castle was built
of limestones from the Cliffs of Stevns and the ruin of this Castle
can be seen under the foundations of the present Christiansborg
Palace. Bishop Absalons Castle was plundered by the North German
Hanseatic League in 1369, who destroyed the Castle
and levelled is to the ground.
| The
Slotsholmen Island - also called the castle Island, where
five Castles and Palaces have been built on the same spot
since 1167. The 2 km long canal surrounds the Island and
is connected to the mainland by 8 bridges. The Arial photo
from 1957 shows the entire Christiansborg complex and
the many historic buildings on this little Isle. |
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| The
ruins of Bishop Absalons Castle from 1167 on the little
Isle “Slotsholmen” survived for almost 200
years before it was destroyed by the North German Hanseatic
League in 1369. The rest of Absalon Castle was discovered
during the excavation of the third Christiansborg Palace
and can bee seen under the present foundations. |
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Copenhagen
Castle
After the destruction of Absalons Castle in 1369
the Bishop of Roskilde ordered a new Castle to be built on the compounds
and ruins of Absalon Castle and named it Copenhagen Castle.
The Castle had curtain walls as well as a tall broad tower section
and the property was surrounded by a nearly 2 km long broad
moat with 8 bridges connected to the mainland.
In 1417 King Eric of Pomerania (King of Denmark, Sweden and Norway
from 1389-1439 claimed the rights to Copenhagen
Castle and moved into the new Royal premises.
| Copenhagen
Castle about 1730 after it was rebuilt by King Christian
VI, with the extension of the "Blue Tower",
which also was a state prison. The Castle was places on
the foundations of Absalons Castle and was reconstructed
several times by different Kings and was the Royal residence
until 1730. The ruins of this Castle can be visited under
the present Christiansborg Palace. |
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| Leonora
Christina, who was King Christian IVs favorite daughter,
was a prisoner for almost 22 years on the upper level
of the "Blue Tower" from 1663 to 1685. She was
charged together with her husband Corfitz Ulfeldt for
treason against the Danish State. The remains of the "Blue
Tower" can be seen under the foundations of the present
Christiansborg Palace. |
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"The
Blue Tower" at Copenhagen Castle
The
Castle was rebuilt several times by Danish Kings – best known
is King Christian IV (1577-1648 – ruled Denmark
and Norway 1588-1648) – the head architect and builder of
Copenhagen, who changed the tower constructions and called it the
“Blue Tower”, which also at that time had a
reputation of being a horrifying and filthy state prison. King Christian
IVs favourite daughter Leonora Christina (Countess
of Schleswig-Holstein) was kept as a prisoner for betrayal, from
1663 to 1685, behind the walls of the “Blue
Tower” by the Kings son and Leonora's half brother King
Frederik III (1609-1670 – ruled Denmark and Norway
1648-1670) and his Queen Sofie Amalie for nearly
22 years – while her husband former Councillor
of State Corfitz Ulfeldt had been hunted in exile
for treason against the Danish State. The ruins and remains of Copenhagen
Castle as well as the previous “Blue Tower” can be seen
under the foundations of the present Christiansborg Palace.
| The
first Christiansborg Palace was built by King Christian
VI as a marvelous four wing Rococo Palace, with Show Grounds
as well as a Royal Chapel - and the main Palace building
was a 6 story high complex with 348 rooms, which was completed
around 1745 - but functioned already as a Royal residence
from 1740. |
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| In
1794 the first Christiansborg Palace was ravaged by a
very heavy fire that nearly destroyed the entire four
winged Palace complex. The Royal family became homeless
and moved with their few belongings to Rosenborg Castle
and since to the vacant Amalienborg Palaces. Only the
Chapel and Show Grounds outlasted the fires. |
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The
first Christiansborg Palace
Copenhagen Castle became too small and old-fashioned for King
Christian VI (1699-1746 - ruled Denmark and Norway 1730-1746),
who after his accession to the throne in 1730 ordered
a new castle to be built, and named after the King, as a replacement
for the outdated Copenhagen Castle. The first Christiansborg
Palace was designed by leading German baroque architect
Elias David Häusser and the construction of the extremely marvelous
Rococo palace started in 1733
and most of the Royal Palace was completed around 1745
- with show grounds and a Royal Chapel.
The Bloodless Coup and Fire
It was in these Royal premises on January 8, 1772
that a dramatic coup was carried out by Crown Prince Frederik
(VI) on behalf of his schizophrenic farther King
Christian VII (1749-1808 – ruled Denmark and Norway
1766-1808) against the minister in the Danish government and the
King's doctor Count Johann Friedrich von Struensee
and his mistress - the King's Consort - Queen Caroline Matilda,
as they were both arrested in their respective bedrooms after the
season's first masquerade ball was held at the Court Theatre. The
chief charge against Struensee and the Queen was their criminal
act against the Royal Law (Kongelov) and for taking
all the power away from the King. Struensee was later condemned
to be beheaded. Crown Prince Frederik and King Christian VII were
the last sovereigns to reside permanently at any of the three Christiansborg
estates. In 1794 the Palace-buildings was raised
by a very heavy fire that destroyed all buildings with its 348
rooms - except for the show grounds and chapel.
| Crown
Prince Frederik and later King Frederik VI was the planner
of the Coup against his mother Queen Caroline Matilda
and Count Johann Friedrich von Struensee to protect his
sick father King Christian VII. He took over all of his
father's duties as a formal regent in 1784 at the age
of 16, while still holding the title of Crown Prince.
After the fire had raised Christiansborg Palace in 1794,
he never moved back to the new Christiansborg Palace,
but settled at Amalienborg Palace permanently. |
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| A
typical idyllic family scene at Christiansborg Palace
around 1771, with Queen Caroline Matilda and her daughter
Princess Louise Augusta beside Johann Struensee, who was
the little Princess's father. The mentally ill King Christian
VII, sitting on the right, had no knowledge of the affair
between the Queen and Struensee. Struensee was later arrested
for treason and executed in 1772. The Queen was sent in
exile for the rest of her life and died in 1775. |
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The
second Christiansborg Palace and new Danish Parliament
After the fire of the first Christiansborg Palace in 1794
the Royal Family became homeless and had to move to other
Royal premises like Rosenborg Castle and later
to the Amalienborg complex for temporary accommodations,
while the building of a second Christiansborg Palace was decided.
The construction of the second Christiansborg Palace stated
in 1803 and was led by the prominent architect
Christian Frederik Hansen, who had designed the new Royal residence
in French Empire Style called “classicism”.
The second Christiansborg was completed in 1828,
but the Palace had no longer King Frederik VI’s
(1768-1839) – ruled Denmark 1808-1839 and Norway 1808-1814)
interest as a Royal residence and was later only used by the Royal
family and household for banquets and entertainment.
| The
second Christiansborg Palace was built in French Empire
Style during King Frederik VI’s reign and was completed
in 1828. The Palace was never used as a permanent Royal
residence again - and the only Monarch, who resided her
frequently, was King Frederik VII. In 1849 and after the
new Danish Constitution had been signed, the elected Danish
Parliament moved in to these new Royal premises. |
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| In
1884 the second Christiansborg Palace burnt down to the
ground - just leaving some rooms and outer walls intact.
The Palace Chapel as well as the Riding Camps and Show
Grounds were saved together with other government properties
located on the Slotsholmen Island. The Danish Parliament
became homeless and had to move to temporary locations
for the next 45 years. |
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New Danish Parliament and King Frederik VII
The second Christiansborg also housed the new Danish Parliament
from 1849 - which had two parliamentary
chambers called "Landsting" and "Folketing".
The only King, who frequently resided in the second Christiansborg
Castle from 1852-1863, was the last Oldenborg
King and the first constitutional Danish monarch
King Frederik VII (1808-1863 - King of Denmark 1848-1863),
see top photo. In 1884 the second Christiansborg
burnt down to ground – leaving some of the walls and few rooms
intact. The Palace Chapel as well as the Riding Camps and Show Grounds
were saved together with other government properties located on
the Slotsholmen Island.
| From
1849 to 1953 the Parliament had two main chambers - consisting
of the Landsting and the Folketing - better known as the
Rigsdag. The revision of the constitution in 1953 abolished
the Landsting and enabled women to inherit the throne.
Here are the National Constitutional Assembly, painted
by Constantin Hansen, at their first meeting in 1848. |
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| The
new Danish Constitution signed by King Frederik VII in
1849 that finally put an ending to the absolute monarchy
from 1660 and divided the Kings power into three supreme
powers: The Executive Power - The Legislative Power and
the Judicial Power - as well as giving the Danes their
democratic and basic human rights and freedom of speech. |
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The
third Christiansborg
After
the Danish Constitution had been signed in June 5, 1849
by King Frederik VII, which put an ending to the
absolute monarchy from 1660 and divided the Kings
power into three supreme powers: The Executive Power -
The Legislative Power and The Judicial
Power, it was decided to build the third Christiansborg
with premises for the Royal Family – the National Legislature
(Parliament – founded in 1849) and the National Judiciary
(Supreme Court - founded in 1661 by King Frederik III - 1609-1670
– ruled Denmark and Norway 1648-1670). The building of the
third Christiansborg started in 1907 and was inaugurated
nearly 21 years later in 1928
- with a lot of festivities and with the presence of the Royal Family
as well as member of the Legislature Assemble.
| Excavation
work and removal of the remaining debris in 1901 after
the property was demolished by severe fires in 1884. The
picture shows the early stages of the construction site,
while preparing the building of the third Christiansborg
Palace. The erection of the building in Neo-Baroque style
started formally in 1907 and was completed 21 years later
in 1928. |
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| The
third Christiansborg Palace in 1926, as it rose from the
ground. The 106 meter high tower is under completion –
still with scaffolding around the brickwork. The Palace
was inaugurated in 1928 and was redesigned to house the
Danish Parliament in the one wing of the building - and
in the other the Royal Receptions Rooms, Supreme Court
and the Prime Minister's office. |
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Parliament
and The Royal receptions Rooms
The Palace was built in Neo-Baroque style, with the highest tower
in the city, which exceeded 106 meters. The present
Christiansborg Palace is separated into two main wings. The one
half of the Palace houses the Danish Parliament
and offices - and the other half was reserved as residential premises
for the Royal Family, with the Royal Reception Rooms,
the Queen's Library, the audience chambers,
the Sovereign in Council rooms, the Prime
Minister's Office plus the Supreme Court.
Both thrones and interior was saved, when Christiansborg Castle
was razed by the last fire in 1884. Interior with
beautiful parquet floors from the Royal Reception Rooms showing
the elegant entrance to the Great Knight's Hall. Visitors are provided
with slipper to wear over their shoes to protect the floors when
visiting these Royal premises.
| The
Throne Room is a part of the Royal Reception Rooms, where
Queen Margrethe receives foreign ambassadors and the Diplomatic
Corps. Both thrones and interior was saved, when the Palace
was razed by the last fire in 1884 together with many
other historical artifacts. The Throne Room has access
to the balcony, where Danish Monarchs are proclaimed in
public. |
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| The
main Royal entrance at Christiansborg that leads visitor’s
right up to the Royal Receptions Rooms is placed separately
at the Queens Gate on the one wing of the Palace building,
and goes through the impressive entrance hall with the
huge vault called the Guard’s Room (Drabantsalen).
The entire arch is supported by an atlas of six Atlantes
sculptures, which is carved in solid limestone. |
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The
Danish Parliament - Folketing
The Danish Parliament called "Folketing" and government
quarters is situated at Christiansborg Palace right in the heart
of Copenhagen.
The Folketing seats 179 elected members from many
different parties and governing is still based on the Constitution
from 1849, signed by King Frederik VII
that opened for the Danes democratic rights.
Visit the Danish Parliament
Anyone is welcome to visit the Danish Parliament and see the Chamber
of the Folketing as well as following the debates - when the
Folketing is in session.
| The
Chamber of the Danish Folketing seats 179 democratic elected
members from many different parties and governing is mainly
based on the Constitution from 1849. The Parliament is
placed in the one wing of Christiansborg Palace and inaugurated
in 1928. |
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| The
balcony and gallery where the public can attend the debates,
while the Folketing is in session. The statues on the
wall represents each working class from the Danish society.
The Royal Family is present every year when the Danish
Parliament officially opens
in October. |
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The
Riding Grounds and Royals Stables
The riding grounds or show grounds dates back to the first Christiansborg
Palace from 1745, is surrounded
by the Royal stables, where more than 90 horses and
170 carriages moved into the new facilities. Above
the stables the court theatre was established in 1766
and many of the room above the stables have been incorporated into
office facilities for present members of the Parliament.
| The
show grounds at Christiansborg Palace dates back to 1745,
when the first palace was built as a residence for the
Royal Family. |
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| The
main entrance to the Royal stables with the two Rococo
pavilions on each side of the Marble Bridge from 1739.
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