Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-15
The Danish Kings.

The death OF the DANISH king comes
suddenly. but not in circumstances to
shock the world. for he had reached an
advanced age and had, moreover, been
In poor health of late. The personality
of this king has not impressed itself
upon the world at large as deeply as did
| that of his father, the late Christian IX.
who was known as 1.-The father-in-law OF
Europe" Yet Frederick VIII was per-
haps more popular even than his father.
for as crown prince during a long period
of years he made many warm personal
friends without departing from the high
standard of conduct which has marked
this house as exceptional among the royal
families of the old world. Denmark has
had a singular experience in the matter
OF her monarchs in recent years. The
last three. counting the new king, Chris
tian Y, have been middle-aged men upon
| their accession. Old King Christian, the
ninth of his name among the Danish
kings, born in 1918. was forty-five years
Of age when he assembled the throne in
1863. He died in 1905, after a reign of
forty-three years. and was succeeded by
his son Frederick, who was then sixty
three years old. The new king, Christian
Y, was born in 1870. and is now forty
two years old upon his accession. In
some respects this record Is similar to
that of England in the succession to tie
throne Of q man Of considerable years
after a long reign by the parent. In
many respects Frederick. who has just
died, was the counterpart of his brother
in-law. Edward VII Of England, while
the new king. Christian. reaches the
throne in circumstances very like those
which obtained upon the accession Of
his cousin. the present King George.
Denmark is sturdy state OF q pro-
nounced spirit Of independence and is
blessed with prosperity. The new king
Is confronted by no grave problems Of
state, and as far as known he possesses
the qualities OF good sense that have
marked his immediate predecessors. He
is the father Of two boys. the eldest just
past thirteen and the youngest not quite
twelve years of age. A popularity Of
the house Of Oidenburg, which furnished
the Danish kings from 144S to 1S4S. and
the house OF Schleswig- Holstein-S Sender
burg-Glucksburg. from which source have
come the last three monarchs, Is that. with
the exception Of King Hans. the second of
the Oldenburg line. who acceded In 1881,
there has been an unbroken alienation
OF Christians and Fredericks. Thus. Chris
tan 1 acceded in 144s. and every other
monarch since then has taken that name
to the present King Christian, while, be-
ginning with Frederick / in 1923, every
alternate Danish king has been of the
same name up to Frederick VIII, who
has just died. The change from the
house of Oldenburg to the present royal
house of Denmark resulted from the
treaty Of 1852, signed at London. when.
in anticipation OF the death Of Frederick
VII without heirs. 1t was necessary for
the powers to make provision for a con-
tinuation Of the monarchy as an indie
pendent state in the interests of European
peace Princess Louise Of Hesse Cassell,
niece of Christian VIII of Denmark. had
married Prince Christian Of Schleswig-
Holste: n Sonderburg -Glucksburg, and he
was selected, eleven years before his &C
cession. as the prospective king. While the
crown of Denmark has from earliest times
been elective a succession law which was
enacted in 1853, in accordance with the
terms of the treaty OF London. insures
the automatic accession TO the throne of
the heir of the now reigning house.