Frederik IV (1671-1730) became king of Denmark and Norway in 1699. He was a popular king who supported education, the arts, and some social reforms. But he also involved Denmark in a long, costly war against Sweden.
Frederik was born on Oct. 11, 1671, in Copenhagen. He became king after the death of his father, Christian V, in 1699. Frederik governed as an absolute monarch—that is, a monarch who governs as the principal executive, legislative, and judicial authority. He was an energetic and well-meaning ruler who supported the arts and founded more than 200 schools. He abolished the legal requirements that forced many male peasants in Denmark to stay on the family’s land. In 1721, Frederik provided support for a missionary expedition to Greenland organized by the Norwegian pastor Hans Egede. Norwegians had settled in Greenland in the 900’s, but the Scandinavian settlements there died out during the 1400’s. Egede’s mission began a new period of Scandinavian colonization of Greenland.
Frederik had less success with Denmark’s foreign policy, becoming involved in a long war with neighboring Sweden. During the 1600’s, Sweden had defeated Denmark in several conflicts. The Swedes had taken over much Danish territory, including what is now the southern tip of Sweden. Frederik wanted to regain this lost land and limit further Swedish expansion. He formed an alliance with Czar Peter I (later known as Peter the Great) of Russia and King Augustus II of Poland, who also ruled Saxony. In 1700, the three allies attacked Swedish territories, beginning the Great Northern War, which lasted until 1721. King Charles XII of Sweden quickly defeated the Danes, who had to make a separate peace settlement with Sweden in August 1700. But in 1709, Russia won a major victory against Sweden at the Battle of Poltava. Frederik then joined the war again and fought until 1720. The war greatly reduced Sweden’s power in the Baltic region, and Russia became the region’s strongest nation. But for Denmark, the war brought little gain. Frederik died in Copenhagen on Oct. 12, 1730.
See also Denmark (Wars with Sweden); Northern Wars.
