How did Denmark's territory change over time?

Mapper Maniac

During the Viking Age, Danish rulers controlled parts of Scandinavia and even England, but they lost their influence over time. In 1397, Queen Margaret I united Denmark, Norway, and Sweden in the Kalmar Union, creating a state that stretched across much of Scandinavia.  After Sweden left the union, Norway remained under Danish rule for centuries. Denmark later lost territory to Sweden and, after siding with Napoleon during the Napoleonic Wars, was forced to give Norway to Sweden in 1814. Despite this, Iceland and Greenland remained with Denmark.  In 1864, Denmark lost Schleswig to Prussia, but a part of the region was returned after World War I. During World War II, Germany occupied Denmark, and Iceland declared full independence. Today, the Kingdom of Denmark still includes Greenland and the Faroe Islands.

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00:00How did Denmark's territory change over time? Denmark was originally inhabited by the Vikings,

00:05who were very powerful at the time. At one point, they controlled Norway and even England,

00:10but they weakened over time until 1397, when a Danish queen formed the Kalmar Union with Norway

00:17and Sweden. But Sweden later broke away, while Norway remained. Sweden later defeated Denmark

00:23in several wars, forcing it to give up territory. During the Napoleonic Wars, Denmark sided with

00:29Napoleon, but after his defeat, Denmark was forced to give Norway to Sweden. But although Iceland and

00:35Greenland were a part of Norway, they remained with Denmark. Denmark later lost Schleswig to Prussia,

00:41but after World War I, they regained a part of it. During World War II, Denmark was invaded by Germany.

00:47While it was occupied, Iceland declared independence, and Denmark couldn't stop them. After the war,

00:52Denmark was restored, and it still controls Greenland and the Faroe Islands to this day.

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