The Museum of the House of Oldenborg

Sir John Lubbock says: "The Danes occupy a larger and more important place in history than they do on the map of Europe;" and he might have added that, although Denmark is one of the smallest kingdoms of Europe, yet in its matrimonial alliances it bounds the Continent. The present dynasty, the House of Oldenborg, has ruled over Denmark for nearly 450 years. Christian IX., the present King, came to the throne in 1863; his wife, Queen Louise, was a German princess; their oldest daughter, Alexandra, married the Prince of Wales; their second daughter, Dagmar, is the dowager Empress of Russia; their third daughter, Thyra, married the Duke of Cumberland (in spe, the King of Hanover). Their oldest son, Crown Prince Frederick, married the sister of Oscar II., King of Sweden; their second son, George, is now King of Greece, and has for his Queen, Olga, a Russian princess; the third son, Waldemar, called "the Sailor Prince," married Marie, Prince," married Marie, Princess of Orleans, daughter of Duc de Chartres; these, with numerous grandchildren, make up the Royal Family.

The colonial possessions of Denmark increase her territory and her wealth. She owns Greenland, as large as Germany and France combined; Iceland, as large as our New England States; the Faroe group of Islands; and three West India Islands--St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John.

The Danish Monarchy celebrated its 1000th anniversary in 1880, from its foundation under the mythical "King Gorm, the Old," whose reign is a bridge between legendary and authentic history. As men, the Danes are rather short in stature, but they spring from a brave and warlike race, and have never been subjugated by any other people. On the contrary, they conquered and ruled over England from 917 to 1041, dismembered France, and united Norway, Sweden and Denmark under one crown. These foreign powers have thrown off the Danish yoke, but they have never subjugated "little Denmark," and to-day the sons and daughters of its King form strong links in a chain that encircles the continent of Europe. To see Copenhagen and its environs is to see Denmark.

The Round Tower of Copenhagen is one of the wonderful buildings of the world. It was formerly and is still an observatory, as it affords a comprehensive view of the low-lying capital and its surroundings. The tower consists of two hollow cylinders, and between them a gradual inclined footway which leads from base to summit. Peter the Great made the ascent on horseback-in 1716. The tower is a sort of annex to Trinity Church, on whose roof is the library building of the University, so rich in its store of Icelandic Sagas.

Like all the northern capitals, its many waters from its chief beauty, its royal palaces and its museums its chief attraction. An arm of the Baltic separates the main portion of the city, on the Island of Zealand, from the less important section on the Island of Amager; fresh-water lakes and canals make islands of other portions of the city; bridges break the monotony of the streets, and masts and sails of ships everywhere enliven the perspective. The ramparts which encircle the city are planted with trees, and from many a headland the eye stretches far away to where the ocean and sky meet. Many delightful villas and tea-gardens form the environs of the city, while the Island of Zealand is interspersed with thrifty farms, clear lakes, and groves of forest trees.

The palace of Rosenborg, surrounded by beautiful gardens, grand avenues of trees, graceful foliage, statuary and fountains, is the most delightful spot in Copenhagen. The palace was built for a royal residence by Christian IV. (1588 to 1648).

In point of architecture the Rosenborg Palace is the finest building in the city, with its gables and towers, the central one being three hundred feet high. When erected, 1604, it was entirely without the city walls, surrounded by a moat, and accessible only by a draw-bridge. Christian IV., the great Art-King of Denmark, during his long reign made a valuable collection of relics, national, social and artistic, belonging to the preceding reigns from Christian I., 1448, to his own time.

Margaret, called the Semiramis of the North, Queen of Denmark and Norway, conquered Sweden in 1388 and procured the adoption of the "Union of Calmir" (1397), by which the three Scandinavian Kingdoms were united and her nephew, Eric, appointed her heir. But at her death (1411) each kingdom chose its separate ruler. In 1448 the Danes elected Christian, Count of Oldenborg, to become Christian I. of Denmark, the founder of the present royal family.

After the death of Christian IV., 1648, his son and successor conceived the idea of converting the castle of Rosenborg into a museum which should, in chronological order, illustrate the reigns of the Kings of Denmark. The collection to begin with the dynasty of Oldenborg, 1448.

The "Oldenborg Horn" is the pride of the museum, and, according to tradition, was presented to one of the ancestors of this house by the fairies. It is of solid silver and very curiously wrought, partly with embossed or cast ornaments fixed upon it and in many parts enameled; the inscription is: "Empty the Horn." It also bears the names of "Three Kings of Orient." The horn is supported upon the back of two griffins, with outspread wings, and two towers. This remarkable work of art remained in the Oldenborg Castle, Germany, until the time of Christian IV.

The various apartments of this Royal Museum are each appropriate to the reign of one king, so that the history of the country may be successively followed for four hundred years.

The "Knights' Hall" (Riddarsalen) at the summit of the castle, extending the whole length and breadth of the building (150x28x19 feet) is the richest in historical associations. The arched ceiling is richly ornamented with relief in stucco; in the center is the Danish escutcheon; in the concavity on either side is a lion being crowned by genii; down the middle line of the ceiling are four paintings by Heinrich Krock representing the four emblems of royalty,--the sword, the globe, the crown, and the sceptre,--all upheld by allegorical figures, and richly framed with entwined roses, lilies, laurel and oak leaves. On the arched sides of the ceiling are represented in relievo four acts of the Government under Frederic III. (1648-1670)--the abolition of villenage; the institution of militia, the institution of dragoons; the enrollment of seamen.

The twelve tapestries which cover the walls are a series of battle-scenes, by sea and land, from the war with Sweden. They are twelve feet high by ten feet wide, and contain many portraits, valuable as a study of dress in the time of Christian V. (1670-1699). At the end of the hall stand the silver and gold coronation-chairs. unlike any other chairs of their kind in the world. The royal font is a centerpiece of great value. It is of solid silver, three feet high, richly adorned with embossed pictures, heads of angels, foliage, etc., in the center of the dish the Baptism of Christ, and around the edge other Scriptural representations. This has been the royal baptismal font for over two hundred years, but at the ceremony a gold dish is placed within it. There are high mirrors with frames of embossed silver; there are busts of marble, and silver screens, twelve silver stands, and four silver candelabra. But the pride of this collection is the three great silver lions that guard the throne-chairs of the King and Queen. They are chased and embossed with gilded names--"Great Belt," "Little Belt," and "Sound," for the waters that protect the island kingdom. By an ancient custom the lions are always present at the coronation of the King and always appear as mourners at his funeral, accompanying the funeral cortege to Roeskilde, and are then returned to their dais in the palace.

Royal festivals were long held here, and here the solemn investiture of the royal orders, the "Order of the Elephant" and the "Danneborg Order," were held. The Seal of the Danish Kingdom, engraved on two silver plates set in bronze, has for the obverse the arms of the kingdom; three lions symbolizing Norway, Sweden, and Denmark.

There is no city which can excel Copenhagen in the systematic arrangement of its art collections.