Frederick VI, king of Denmark and Norway

Frederick VI, 1768–1839, king of Denmark (1808–39) and Norway (1808–14), son and successor of Christian VII Christian VII, 1749–1808, king of Denmark and Norway (1766–1808), son and successor of Frederick V. Shortly after his accession his mental illness made him dependent on his physician, Struensee , who in 1770 caused the dismissal of minister of foreign
..... Click the link for more information. . After the court party had executed Struensee, expelled Frederick's mother, Caroline Matilda, and imposed their will on the demented Christian (1772), Frederick grew up under the guardianship of the dowager queen. In 1784 by a peaceful coup he established himself as regent. He made Andreas Peter Bernstorff Bernstorff, Andreas Peter (ändrā`äs pā`tər bĕrns`tôrf)
..... Click the link for more information. minister, and liberal reforms were instituted. Except for a short war with Sweden (1788), peace reigned in a prosperous Denmark until the close of the century. Denmark clung to its neutrality in the French Revolutionary Wars, but its opposition to the British ruling on neutral shipping resulted in an English attack on the Danish fleet (see Copenhagen, battle of Copenhagen, battle of, 1801, an important incident of the French Revolutionary Wars . In Dec., 1800, Denmark joined Russia, Sweden, and Prussia in declaring the armed neutrality of the northern powers in the French Revolutionary Wars and in announcing that they would
..... Click the link for more information. , 1801). Again, in 1807, England attacked neutral Denmark Denmark (dĕn`märk), Dan. Danmark, officially Kingdom of Denmark, kingdom (2005 est. pop.
..... Click the link for more information. and bombarded Copenhagen. Frederick thereupon allied himself with Napoleon I and was punished at the Congress of Vienna (1814–15) by the loss of Norway to Sweden. As compensation he received the island of Rügen and Swedish Pomerania, which he exchanged with Prussia for the duchy of Lauenburg. Frederick had no male issue; his cousin Christian VIII succeeded him.