DiplomacyWar
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February 1816 · The Shattered Congress
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In the distant year of 1460, the Treaty of Ribe was signed between the Danish king and nobles from Holstein. In this treaty, King Christian I of Denmark gained rulership of the duchies of Schleswig and Holstein. These territories were to be under Danish authority, but not formally part of Denmark. And notably, dat se bliven ewich tosamende ungedelt. "That they remain undivided forever." And so it was, for the next 300 years and more, did Schleswig and Holstein exist in personal union with Denmark.
And yet, everything changed when Napoleon came. Forced into an alliance with a weakening Emperor, Denmark lost Norway following Napoleon's downfall. And yet, Schleswig and Holstein remained undivided. Only when Prussia and Russia broke with the Conference of Vienna and plunged Europe into another war did this finally change.
As Sweden continued to expand their borders and Prussia victorious in an initial battle with Britain, King Frederick IV decided to throw his lot in with the British. The Danish army bravely fought in Hanover, pushing back the Prussians with the British. And yet, ground was lost as the Prussians performed a sudden attack in Holstein. Fortunately, a combined British-Danish naval invasion managed to retake Norway.
When the time came for peace, the Prussians kept their territory in Holstein while Denmark had Norway returned to us rightfully. For the first time in over 300 years, Schleswig was broken away from Holstein. No longer were these two Duchies bound together. They have been divided! Holstein is now an independent German nation, while Schleswig would be fully annexed into Denmark.
This agreement at the end of the war did not go over particularly well in Schleswig or Holstein, but after a few riots, tensions were quelled. The Danes in Schleswig have been particularly happy with the agreement. Regardless, the Treaty of Ribe has been superseded by the Treaty of Munich.
