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Understanding Danish history is key to passing the Indfødsretsprøve. Here are ten essential facts you should know:

1. The Viking Age (circa 800-1050)
Denmark played a major role in the Viking Age. Danish Vikings raided, traded, and settled across Europe. They established the Danelaw in England and ruled parts of Ireland and France.

2. The Jelling Stones (10th century)
King Harald Bluetooth erected the Jelling Stones around 965. The larger stone proclaims Denmark as a Christian nation. These stones are often called “Denmark’s birth certificate.”

3. The Kalmar Union (1397-1523)
Denmark, Sweden, and Norway were united under one monarch. Queen Margrethe I was the driving force behind the union. Sweden later left, ending the alliance.

4. The Reformation (1536)
Denmark officially became a Protestant country in 1536 under King Christian III. The Danish Lutheran Church replaced Catholicism. Monasteries were closed, and church lands were seized by the state.

5. The Absolute Monarchy (1660-1849)
Denmark introduced absolute monarchy in 1660 under King Frederik III. This meant the king ruled without a parliament. The system ended in 1849 with the adoption of a democratic constitution.

6. The Napoleonic Wars and the Loss of Norway (1814)
Denmark allied with France during the Napoleonic Wars. After Napoleon’s defeat, Denmark was forced to cede Norway to Sweden in 1814. Greenland, Iceland, and the Faroe Islands remained under Danish rule.

7. The 1849 Constitution
Denmark adopted its first democratic constitution on June 5, 1849. This created a constitutional monarchy, limiting the king’s power. June 5 is now celebrated as Denmark’s Constitution Day.

8. The German Invasion (1940-1945)
Nazi Germany occupied Denmark from April 9, 1940, to May 5, 1945. The Danish resistance movement sabotaged German operations. In 1943, Danes helped thousands of Jews escape to Sweden.

9. Joining the EU (1973)
Denmark became a member of the European Economic Community, now the EU, in 1973. Unlike most EU countries, Denmark has kept its own currency, the krone.

10. Women’s Right to Vote (1915)
Women gained the right to vote in Denmark in 1915. This was part of a broader movement toward democracy and equality. Today, Denmark is known for gender equality in politics and society.

These ten facts cover key moments in Danish history. Master them, and you’ll be well-prepared for your citizenship test.

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