Frederik VI 1768-1839
King of Denmark and Norway

Born at Kristiansborg Castle, the son of Kristian VII, he was appointed regent (1784) when his father was declared insane, and became king of both Denmark and Norway in 1808. He abolished serfdom, amended the criminal code, prohibited the slave trade in Danish colonies, and promoted free trade and industrial development. During the Napoleonic Wars, the Danish fleet was destroyed off Copenhagen by Nelson (1801), and in 1807, despite Danish neutrality, Copenhagen was bombarded for three days. This forced Denmark into the arms of Napoleon I, and with the overthrow of Napoleon's empire (1814), she lost Norway to Sweden. Under his rule the Danish economy recovered from bankruptcy. He granted a new constitution with four consultative provincial assemblies (1834), which was the start of parliamentary democracy in Denmark. He was succeeded by his son, Kristian VIII.