Treaty Of Kiel
Treaty of Kiel
The Treaty of Kiel, known in Danish as Kieltraktaten and in Swedish and Norwegian as Kielfreden or freden i Kiel, was a pivotal agreement signed on January 14, 1814. It was concluded between the United Kingdom, the Kingdom of Denmark-Norway, and Sweden amidst the geopolitical upheavals of the Napoleonic Wars. This treaty had significant ramifications for the political landscape of Scandinavia and Northern Europe.
Background
During the early 19th century, the Napoleonic Wars reshaped boundaries and political alliances across Europe. Denmark-Norway, having aligned with Napoleon Bonaparte, found itself on the losing side as the tides turned against the French Emperor. By 1813, the Sixth Coalition against Napoleon, which included the United Kingdom and Sweden, sought to dismantle his empire and reconfigure European borders.
Provisions of the Treaty
The Treaty of Kiel compelled the King of Denmark-Norway, Frederick VI, to cede the Kingdom of Norway to King Charles XIII of Sweden. However, the treaty allowed Denmark to retain its colonies in the North Atlantic—Iceland, the Faroe Islands, and Greenland. In exchange, Sweden ceded Swedish Pomerania to Denmark, although this territory would later be transferred to Prussia as a result of the Congress of Vienna in 1815.
Impact on Norway
Despite the terms of the Treaty, Norway rejected the decision to be ceded to Sweden. This sparked the Norwegian War of Independence, also known as the Swedish-Norwegian War, in the summer of 1814. The war ended with the Convention of Moss, which led to a personal union between Sweden and Norway, allowing Norway to retain a degree of independence and adopt its own constitution at Eidsvoll.
Significance
The Treaty of Kiel marked the end of the Dano-Swedish War of 1813-1814 and led to the dissolution of the centuries-old union of Denmark and Norway. It was a significant step in the re-drawing of national boundaries in Scandinavia, paving the way for modern national identities. Moreover, the treaty's impact extended beyond borders, influencing the rise of Norwegian nationalism and setting the stage for the eventual full independence of Norway from Sweden in 1905.