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Our Danish Difficulty, 1864. Artist: John Tenniel
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Our Danish Difficulty, 1864. Artist: John Tenniel
Our Danish Difficulty, 1864. Here we see John Bull with the Danish Princess of Wales on one side, and Princess Victoria, daughter-in-law of the King of Prussia, on the other. This cartoon refers to the Schleswig-Holstein question. In the fifteenth century, the two duchies were joined with the Danish kingdom. Holstein and south Schleswig were by now German-speaking, and north Schleswig was mainly Danish. It was becoming more difficult for a compromise to be reached. The question of succession was also causing problems with Frederick VII having no male heir. The Danish kingdom allowed a female heir, whereas the duchies recognised only the male line. The problems came to a head when Frederick died in November 1863, and the succession was given to his nearest male heir, Christian IX but the situation did not resolve to the satisfaction of either faction and Bismarck suggested that the duchies become part of the kingdom of Prussia. From Punch, or the London Charivari, February 13, 1864
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Media ID 14830646
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Alexandra Alexandra Of Denmark Empress Frederick Of Germany Heritage Image Partnership Holstein John Bull John Tenniel Princes Princess Princess Alexandra Princess Alexandra Of Denmark Princess Of Wales Princess Royal Queen Alexandra Schleswig Schleswig Holstein Sir John Tenniel Tenniel Treaty Victoria Allegorical Figure Danish
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EDITORS COMMENTS
Our Danish Difficulty, 1864" is a thought-provoking print by John Tenniel that captures the complexities surrounding the Schleswig-Holstein question. In this cartoon, we see John Bull, symbolizing Britain, caught between two influential women: the Danish Princess of Wales and Princess Victoria, daughter-in-law of the King of Prussia. The artwork alludes to the historical background of the dispute. During the fifteenth century, Schleswig and Holstein were united with Denmark. However, as time passed, Holstein and south Schleswig became predominantly German-speaking while north Schleswig remained mainly Danish. This linguistic division made it increasingly challenging to find a compromise. Adding fuel to the fire was Frederick VII's lack of a male heir. While Denmark allowed for female succession in its kingdom, only male lineage was recognized in the duchies. When Frederick died in November 1863 and his nearest male heir Christian IX assumed power, neither faction found satisfaction in this resolution. Enter Bismarck who proposed incorporating the duchies into Prussia—a suggestion that further complicated matters. Tenniel's illustration serves as a visual commentary on these intricate political dynamics during this period. It highlights how Britain found itself entangled amidst conflicting interests and allegiances represented by these powerful women. This print from Punch magazine offers us insight into an era marked by territorial disputes and questions of succession—an era where diplomacy struggled to navigate through cultural differences and competing claims for power.
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