- German-Danish War - Origins of the conflict
- history of Sweden - Pan-Scandinavianism
- Pan-Scandinavianism
- Hanseatic League - Danish War (1368–70)
- Second Northern War
- history of Sweden - Swedish warfare through the mid-17th century
- history of Denmark - Parliamentary democracy and war, c. 1900–45
- history of Denmark - The Schleswig-Holstein question
- Sweden - Pan-Scandinavianism
- German-Danish War - Danish constitutional reforms and German backlash
- Scanian War
- history of Sweden - Swedish foreign policy (1918–45)
Why did Denmark believe it might receive support from Sweden in 1863?
Denmark’s belief that it might receive support from Sweden in 1863 was rooted in the rise of Pan-Scandinavianism, a 19th-century movement advocating for cultural and political unity among Scandinavian nations.1
During the 1840s and 1850s, this ideal gained significant traction among students and intellectuals. Crucially, the Swedish Crown Prince Charles—who ascended to the throne in 1859—was an enthusiastic proponent of this movement. Upon becoming king, he assured the Danish monarch of Sweden's solidarity and explicitly promised Swedish military support to defend the Eider River frontier, which served as the southern boundary of Schleswig.23
Encouraged by these high-level pledges, the Danish government pursued a policy that led to the German-Danish War of 1864. However, when the conflict erupted, the Swedish government ultimately refused to honor the king's promise, leading to the collapse of the Pan-Scandinavian movement as a guiding force in Swedish foreign policy.23