Alternate Frederik 7 of Denmark – no Schleswig War 1848

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Having a chat at work the other day one colleague suggested that if Frederik 7 hadn't been eager to get rid of the obligation of ruling as King and had resisted the Grundloven/Constitution 1848 we might not have seen the Schleswig War that year or at least another outcome and hence another Denmark resulting.

Quite an interesting thought.

Frederik 7 is quoted as saying as the Constitution had been granted ”now I'll be able to sleep all morning.”

One of the main issues driving the Ritterschaft rebellion in Schleswig-Holstein was the unrest in Copenhagen during the first half of March with politicians demanding a Constitution. There was actually serious unrest though that part have been downplayed for decades in the official history.
If the King had been strong an authoritarian as his predessors Frederik 6 and to a lesser extend Christian 8 – who had granted Norway its first Constitution during his tenure as vice-roy 1813-14 and elected King – the Schleswig-Holstein Ritterschaft wouldn't have had the excuse of the King being held captive by rebellion.

There is a number of ways such might have changed – Frederik 6 had two sons both named Christian 1791 and 1797 who died shortly following their births.
Another way would be Christian 8 having an alternate Christian Frederik who died 1807 on the day of birth or another son who became Frederik 7.
The brother of Christian 8 – Ferdinand – I don't dare become King at the moment as he would probably have been as eager to shake off the Royal obligations as was Frederik 7.
Any of these might have lived till 1848.
Christian 8 and Ferdinand were descendants of the second marriage of Frederik 5 and became King as Frederik 6 didn't have any live male issue.

With another Prince Christian succeeding Frederik 6 or another Frederik succeeding Christian 8 the unrest during the days preceeding 21 March 1848 i.e. since 11 March culminating 18 March is severely quelched by Police, Guards Infantry and Hussar's.

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The situation:
Already 18 March 1848 the Holstein and Schleswig Estate Councils held a meeting at Rendsburg and sent off a delegation to Copenhagen to ask the King to call up the Estate Councils for drawing up a Constitution of the United Duchies and their joining the German Confederation and the formation of a Citizens Militia.
The Commanding Officer of the Duchies General Lützow already 16 March 1848 telegraphed Army Command of the unrest in the City due to the ongoing Revolutions and advocating sending off 5,000 Danish Troops to reinforce the Garrison.
The King continue autocratic rule and the events at Copenhagen is relayed by Telegraph to Kiel deterring the support of the Gottorp Dukes for the Revolution for fear of Royal dislike!

There may still be a call for revolution in the Duchies but with much less aristocratic among these the Gottorp Dukes – and thus local political – support, out of fear of Royal reaction.
Thus the coup 24 March 1848 (OTL by the Prince of Nøhr – one of the Gottorp Dukes) to secure the Rendsburg Fortress for the revolution fails as the Garrison bar access to the Fortress.
The Danish Army is mobilized moves into the Duchies brushing aside the revolutionaries and German Turner reinforcements to relieve Rendsburg Fortress. One of the politicians who OTL became Minister of War A.F. Tscherning is recalled to service as Artillery Commander of the Main Army in Jutland.
The swift Danish reaction to the Schleswig-Holstein rebellion is possible as there is no time wasted setting up a new Government so the King can order off the Army on short notice.

The Schleswig-Holstein rebellion is chrushed before the German Confederation is able to recognize the rebels as the new government of S-H as the Danes are not only moving troops into Jutland north of Schleswig but also lands troops at Kiel commanded by Captain Læssøe, teacher at the War Academy and regarded as the premier Tactician of the Army, to as quickly as possible by use of the Kiel – Rendsburg train line relieve Rendsburg Fortress Garrison.

As the rebellion fizzle out within a few weeks Prussia and other German States simply doesn't have the incentive and more importantly time to settle their own internal problems and discuss the Schleswig-Holstein question; the Tsar immediately back the Danish King and his position as Duke of Schleswig-Holstein. With Russia willing to commit troops in suppressing the revolutions Prussia are deterred from attacking Denmark.

By mid-April 1848 Royal power have been reestablished throughout Schleswig-Holstein.

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Looking ahead:
It is only a decade ago 1839 that the autocratic King Frederik 6 died. Without the more educated and progress friendly Christian 8 on the throne then Denmark would have continued the autocratic rule.
Though there had been Estates Assemblies since 1831 in the Kingdom, Slesvig and in Holstein these were only of advisory status though the members wanted to influence the rule of the Kingdom and Duchies and expected the new King to listen to them.
Which Christian 8 did as he 1847 asked the opinion of the foremost Jurist P.G. Bang on how to abolish the Kongeloven(Kings Law) and what substitution to draw up. Bang wanted to do a draft for a Constitution though the death of Christian 8 20 January 1848 stopped this work.
The new King Frederik 7 announced a Constitution in which Holstein would be on an equal footing with the Kingdom of Denmark – something the politicians wouldn't accept which led to the March unrest at Copenhagen.

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Then:
If a son of Frederik 6 survives to adulthood to succeed his father he may well be influenced by autocracy to reject drawing up a Constitution.
If Christian 8's son is of other stock than to be Frederik 7 the draft of Constitution may still serve in whatever form Bang would decided upon – though it seems Bang in case of more autocratic rule continued would not change too much though would work on the rights of the individual and not give the Estate Assemblies legislative powers.

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Schleswig-Holstein:
The foundations of a rift from the Kingdom of Denmark had been laid during 1830 with the effects of the Revolution which makes the German Confederation advocate a Holstein Estate Assembly according to the stipulations of the Vienna Conference stipulations. The Vienna Conference stipulations had been ignored by autocratic Frederik 6.
This GC advocation made King and his Government fear the development of events within the Duchies.
The writing of Uwe Jens Lornsen this year demand a free Constitution for the Duchies as one state.
This last is a deviation from the Vienna Conference which stated that Holstein and Saxe-Lauenburg would be members of the GC – but no Schleswig/Slesvig.

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Thus:
At sometime in the future the King would continue stressing the Kingdom of Denmark – Slesvig relationship and probably regard Holstein and Saxe-Lauenburg a bargaining chip in relation to the GC.

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1849:
The Schleswig-Holstein rebellion had been a wake up call to King Christian 8 (son of Frederik VI born 1797 – as he is so he will become Christian 8 upon death of his father 1839 instead of OTL cousin Christian son of the brother of Frederik VI) who declared that even though the Holsteiners had rebelled upon their rightfull and legitimate Duke he would abide by the Vienna Conference stipulations of giving Holstein an Estates Assembly.
The Holstein Estates Assembly would – like his other Estates Assemblies within the Kingdom of Denmarks be of advisory status. The King looked forward to receive the new Holstein Estates Assembly during 1850.

The German Confederation at Frankfurt a.M. Was protesting this but was in no real way able to convince the Princes to intervene in Schleswig-Holstein; everybody feared the Danish Army that had so swiftly and forcibly reacted to the rebellion and anyway the Princes had by now seen enough of Revolution in other parts of German Confederation so had no need of supporting that in continueing.

Thus Christian 8 was left to himself to continue ruling Denmark and the Duchies with the wise council of P.G. Bang.
Following the proclamation on the Holstein Estates Assembly (advisory) Christian 8 asked Bang to hand the filling out the blanks to the German Chancellery (Min. of German Affairs including Schleswig and Saxe-Lauenburg) which should also have an overhaul as Christian 8 wanted the administration of Schleswig/Slesvig separated from the German Chancellery to signal within the Royal Government that things had changed.
As German Chancellery had been responsible for Foreign Relations that was to be narrowed to Relations with the German Confederation and other Foreign Relations would be handled by a new Foreign Office.
Bang much lauded the clear vision of his most Autocratic Majesty in handling the Governmental Affairs.

Having delt with the Administration of his Empire the King turned to the real matters of Empire – the Armed Forces of Army and Navy.

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(a short but necessary detour)

N.F.S. Grundtvig:
Danish theologian, writer and debater became most influential on Danish society regarding popularizing some ancient myths like that of Queen Thyre rebuilding Dannevirke Rampart which served to the disastrous Politic insistence of holding that at the Prussian – Austrian attack 1864.
Without OTL Christian 8 and more so his wife and Queen Caroline Amalie who remained a staunch supporter of Grundtvig and thus secured his influence on Danish society Government will be less bound in some ways.

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Army and Navy:
As his father the King had an interest in the Armed Services but looked more to balancing the two as his father had had the Army closer to hearth.

The Navy
Had more or less finished rebuilding since the robbing of the Navy by Britain 1807.

Strength 1848
6 Ships of the Line(66/84/94 Guns), 8 Frigate (40-48), 3 Corvette (26), 3 Brig (12), 4 Schooner (8), 15 Row Gunboats (2-3) and a Cutter.
The Navy was going Steam with 11 Paddle Steamers (6-12) – one a Royal Yacht. These had been instrumental in fast transporting the troops to Kiel at the outbreak of operations.
Even if requiring import of Coal the future seemed to be in Steamers – the Alecto/Rattler tug of war had demonstrated the superiority of the Screw vs the Paddle and such was wanted by the Navy for procurement though the economy seemed at the moment to favour Paddle and it would be only two years before the first Screw propulsed Navy ships plowed the waves in order to test this. Within ten half the Navy Ships would be propulsed by screw.
Generally the Navy had provided sterling service mainly at the swift troop transport.

The Army
Had been reorganized 1842 to save on budget.
The Cavalry had been reorganized from 10 Regiments to 6 Dragoons Regiments mainly though with a mixed Guards Regiment of Cuirassiers and Hussars – all of 4 Squadrons.
The Infantry had been reorganized from 1 Guards Battalion, 26 Infantry and 4 Jäger Corps/Battalions to 1 Guards, 17 Infantry, 5 Jäger. The reserve had been more structured to easier mobilize providing a Reserve Battalion to each Regular.
Artillery had been cut back 6 Batteries to 12, the Rocket Troops abolished but the Espinol Battery retained. Part of Engineers had moved to Artillery to provide bridging.
Engineers still consisted of 2 Coy's.
2 Cavalry and 4 Infantry Brigade HQ's had been set up.

War operations if few had showed that the newly introduced Infantry Brigade HQ's had worked well though 5 Battalions seemed the max. establishment to handle. Brigade HQ's had been in the mothball's since 1813 but proved well and would stay.
Cavalry Brigade HQ's was used little and was more of an administrative formation as Cavalry Regiments/Squadrons were usually attached to Infantry Brigades. Cavalry still posh but really Brigades was overdoing it. They were retained as wartime formations for the time being.
Only few reserve formations had been mobilized due to the swift operations with little real fighting but it was realized that the Infantry needed some attention. The Jäger openorder tactics had worked well and some Infantry Battalions had been considered reorganized for this though lack of operational time and time for training had been made into Light Battalions instead given Rifled Muskets. This would be continued with Muskets converted to Rifles as possible but also to provide at least limited openorder tactical training to all Infantry.
The main proponent of the latter was Captain Læssøe Commanding Officer Kiel Force relieving the Rendsburg Fortress in a swift march utilizing the Railroad. Captain Læssøe being the premier Tactics teacher at the War Academy was a man listened to; being a hero of swift action even more so.

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Læssøe:
In light of the swift operations Captain Læssøe – now a Colonel due to war merit – internally argued that had he faced a GC Corps matters would have been quite worse.
Læssøe argued that no Reserve formations had finished refresher training before operations finished – their activation had to be re-thought.
The Infantry needed Rifles to keep Cavalry off it. Rifles was a gamechanger from Napoleonic line of thought.
Cavalry Brigade HQ's was a waste of precious Officers that would do better raising Reserve formations or strengthening the Field force.
Fortifications: Læssøe argued for only using the most needed parts of Dannevirke Rampart for a southern defences though with much more important fortified positions to the south of the Rampart in the hilly countryside dominating the access to Dannevirke and Schleswig City from the south.
Læssøe also considered a mobile defence of Schleswig south of the Rampart and Hills – initially based on the Ostsee Canal but rejected it due to the small size of the Danish Army.
Instead he concentrated on the various river valleys in the East of Jutland dominated by hills and the communications lines which latter was scarce in West Jutland making it difficult to move off the few and sustain a substantial force in the area.
He also advocated defences on the periphery of the Jutland Peninsular – well recognized by the Army – but also advocated at least minimal works undertaken at such to sustain defences and serve as jump off points for smaller operations against an occupier (German) of Jutland. That would make for at least reasonable Ports to be built and storehouses. Both would also see use in peacetime for ex- and import of the area.
The real crux of the matter was that Læssøe recognized the need to cooperate with the Navy should such operations be undertaken to ensure that both parties understood its role; suffice to say the Navy understood its part as the Minor player and were reluctant in playing along though some Transportboats able to move into shallow waters were built with such operations in mind.

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Duchies Army Brigade(Part of the German Confederation Army):
This was to be reestablished when suitable numbers would be available following necessary wetting. Rebels of course didn't need apply.
As the Ritterschaft had abstained from Revolution it was still elegible for service though some wetting would be done too.
The Prince of Nøhr, Duke Frederik, was a hot potato – everybody knew he and his older brother Christian would have jumped at Rebellion had circumstances at Copenhagen been different. Neigher Duke would hold any office.

It was pondered if the Artillery of the Brigade should be supplied by the Danish Army; however as the Officers cadre was the Ritterschaft it was decided against – the King also wanted to show that loyalty would be rewarded.

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Seeds sown:
As early as 1830 as already recounted the seeds for separation had been sown in the Duchies.
True the establishment of the Estate Assemblies had gone a long way and many a good farmer was reluctant to demand more. In the cities however visitors from mainly German States would frequently arrive if only because of the many shipping firms established in Kiel and Altona.
Thus thoughts thought in Germany came to the knowledge of the Citydwellers and the young men would learn more as they would travel the many roads of German States for their Vocational education extended as always by being on the road or ”paa valsen” which meant continueing practical training in foreign areas.
It wasn't just young German men doing this paa valsen is a Danish term meaning the like and these Danes and other Scandinavians would be known as Naver in foreign lands.
Of course it wasn't just artisans being party to the development of thought – academia also played its part with visiting Professors at Kiel University that would give lectures but also engage in various dicussions much so at the various inn's and other public houses following their lecture.

The separation of Slesvig/Schleswig from Holstein had angered the Ritterschaft but its members acknowledged the outcome of the fight and was actually happy they hadn't taken part in it.
Now their sons would carry on the torch though Schleswig had been lost.
The Ritterschaft members felt it be a matter of time before Holstein – Saxe-Lauenburg would leave Denmark and enter the German Confederation on its own.
Such would need preparation as the Ritterschaft still wanted it prerogatives – Duke Christian VIII more than anybody else as he wasted no time in showing off.

The Ritterschaft taking no part in the Revolution of 1848 hadn't been forgotten by the Citydwellers or the Farmers. Neighter could think of independent Holstein – Saxe-Lauenburg ruled by those traitors. Some thought of violent overthrow of the Ritterschaft though others wanted Democracy.
For the time being neighter party had the means and only the Ritterschaft the economic powers to do much except discuss and plot.

Slesvig:
Even this Duchy didn't go unscated by the 1848 events. Almost half the Army Battalions and Cavalry Squadrons had been disbanded due to German troops not wanting to take part in the subdueing of the rebellion. None of those men would be elegible for office or public positions.
The Language Prescript of 1849 state that the official language of Slesvig is Danish however everybody is entitled to speak his language. The language of Court, Church and Estates Assembly is Danish.
This is a radical change since 1844 when the language was German at the Estates Assembly with Court and Church dependant upon the majority language of the area making for North Schleswig being Danish speaking – central Schleswig a mix and south Schleswig German speaking.
This new policy make for much unrest in central and south Slesvig though the Ritterschaft well know it had painted itself into a corner advocate the change.
Even the King is amazed at this.

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Slesvig:
Even this Duchy didn't go unscated by the 1848 events. Almost half the Army Battalions and Cavalry Squadrons had been disbanded due to German troops not wanting to take part in the subdueing of the rebellion. None of those men would be elegible for office or public positions.
The Language Prescript of 1849 state that the official language of Slesvig is Danish however everybody is entitled to speak his language. The language of Court, Church and Estates Assembly is Danish.
This is a radical change since 1844 when the language was German at the Estates Assembly with Court and Church dependant upon the majority language of the area making for North Schleswig being Danish speaking – Central Schleswig a mix and South Schleswig German speaking.

This new policy make for much public unrest in Central and South Slesvig though the Ritterschaft well knowing it had painted itself into a corner advocate the change as it also know it can't advocate rebellion in the name of the Peoples and would throw all away doing it in their own name.
Even the King is amazed at this.