Christiansborg Palace (2nd)
Encyclopedia
The second Christiansborg Palace was a new main residence for the Danish Monarch built from 1803 to 1828 in Copenhagen
as a replacement for the first Christiansborg Palace
which had been destroyed by fire in 1794. The new palace was constructed on Slotsholmen
, on the ruins of its predecessor, and designed by royal masterbuilder Christian Frederik Hansen
. By the time the palace was completed, King Frederick VI
had found himself comfortable at his temporary residence at Amalienborg Palace
and decided he did not want to live in the new palace after all. He only used the royal premises for entertainment. The palace also housed the Parliament and administrative services. Frederik VII was the only monarch to live in the palace. This was between 1852 and 1863.
and later moved to Amalienborg Palace
. Christian Frederik Hansen
, until then master builder in Altona
, was called upon to resurrect the palace. Construction started in 1803 but was slow as a result of the difficult times compounded by the Napoleonic Wars
and the national bankruptcy in 1813.
was happy with his temporary residence at Amalienborg and decided he did not want to live in the new palace after all, using it only for entertainment. Frederik VII was the only monarch to live in the palace.
Christiansborg became a focal point for many of the events which led up to the transition from absolute monarchy to democracy in 1849. After large crowds had gathered in front of the palace in March 1848, the Constitution of Denmark
was adopted on 5 June 1849. The king ceded some of his chambers to the new Parliament, Rigsdagen, which from January 1850 had sessions in the wing where Folketinget meets today.
Other parts of the palace continued to be used by the royal family. Frederick VII was the only monarch to live in the palace, between 1852 and 1863.
The third and current Christiansborg was built between 1907 and 1928 by Thorvald Jørgensen in a neo-baroque style that pays lip service to the first Christiansborg. The building is used by the Danish parliament.
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
as a replacement for the first Christiansborg Palace
Christiansborg Palace (1st)
The first Christiansborg Palace was built in Copenhagen by Christian VI of Denmark as a new main residence for the Danish monarch to replace the antiquated Copenhagen Castle which had assumed a monstrous appearance and started to crumble after several extensions...
which had been destroyed by fire in 1794. The new palace was constructed on Slotsholmen
Slotsholmen
Slotsholmen is an island in the harbour of Copenhagen, Denmark, and part of Copenhagen Inner City. Bishop Absalon constructed the city's first castle on the island in 1166-67 at the site where Christiansborg Palace, the seat of the Danish Parliament lies today...
, on the ruins of its predecessor, and designed by royal masterbuilder Christian Frederik Hansen
Christian Frederik Hansen
Christian Frederik Hansen , known as C.F. Hansen, was the leading Danish architect between the late 18th century and the mid 19th century, and on account of his position at the Royal Danish Academy of Art the most powerful person in artistic circles for many years...
. By the time the palace was completed, King Frederick VI
Frederick VI of Denmark
Frederick VI reigned as King of Denmark , and as king of Norway .-Regent of Denmark:Frederick's parents were King Christian VII and Caroline Matilda of Wales...
had found himself comfortable at his temporary residence at Amalienborg Palace
Amalienborg Palace
Amalienborg Palace is the winter home of the Danish royal family, and is located in Copenhagen, Denmark. It consists of four identical classicizing palace façades with rococo interiors around an octagonal courtyard ; in the centre of the square is a monumental equestrian statue of Amalienborg's...
and decided he did not want to live in the new palace after all. He only used the royal premises for entertainment. The palace also housed the Parliament and administrative services. Frederik VII was the only monarch to live in the palace. This was between 1852 and 1863.
Construction of the new Christiansborg
After the fire in 1794, the royal family initially took up temporary residency at Rosenborg CastleRosenborg Castle
Rosenborg Castle is a renaissance castle located in the centre of Copenhagen, Denmark. The castle was originally built as a country summerhouse in 1606 and is an example of Christian IV's many architectural projects...
and later moved to Amalienborg Palace
Amalienborg Palace
Amalienborg Palace is the winter home of the Danish royal family, and is located in Copenhagen, Denmark. It consists of four identical classicizing palace façades with rococo interiors around an octagonal courtyard ; in the centre of the square is a monumental equestrian statue of Amalienborg's...
. Christian Frederik Hansen
Christian Frederik Hansen
Christian Frederik Hansen , known as C.F. Hansen, was the leading Danish architect between the late 18th century and the mid 19th century, and on account of his position at the Royal Danish Academy of Art the most powerful person in artistic circles for many years...
, until then master builder in Altona
Altona
Altona may refer to:* Altona, Hamburg, Germany** Altona-Nord, Hamburg, Germany*Altona, Illinois, United States*Altona, Indiana, United States*Altona, Manitoba, Canada*Altona , New York, located in Clinton County or...
, was called upon to resurrect the palace. Construction started in 1803 but was slow as a result of the difficult times compounded by the Napoleonic Wars
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
and the national bankruptcy in 1813.
Second Christiansborg's short life, 1828–1884
By the time the palace was completed, King Frederick VIFrederick VI of Denmark
Frederick VI reigned as King of Denmark , and as king of Norway .-Regent of Denmark:Frederick's parents were King Christian VII and Caroline Matilda of Wales...
was happy with his temporary residence at Amalienborg and decided he did not want to live in the new palace after all, using it only for entertainment. Frederik VII was the only monarch to live in the palace.
Christiansborg became a focal point for many of the events which led up to the transition from absolute monarchy to democracy in 1849. After large crowds had gathered in front of the palace in March 1848, the Constitution of Denmark
Constitution of Denmark
The Constitutional Act of Denmark is the Kingdom of Denmark's constitution, or fundamental law. Originally verified in 1849, the last revision was signed on 5 June 1953 as "the existing law, for all to unswerving comply with, the Constitutional Act of Denmark".-Idea and structure:The main...
was adopted on 5 June 1849. The king ceded some of his chambers to the new Parliament, Rigsdagen, which from January 1850 had sessions in the wing where Folketinget meets today.
Other parts of the palace continued to be used by the royal family. Frederick VII was the only monarch to live in the palace, between 1852 and 1863.
Fire of 1884
The second Christiansborg burned down in October 1884. Hansen's chapel and the building linking the palace to the chapel were left undamaged as were the showgrounds, court theatre and pavilions. These had also survived the fire of 1794.The third and current Christiansborg was built between 1907 and 1928 by Thorvald Jørgensen in a neo-baroque style that pays lip service to the first Christiansborg. The building is used by the Danish parliament.