About the monarch:
Frederik Carl Christian VII., King of Denmark, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein and Saxe-Lauenburg was born on October 6th, 1808 at Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen as the son of King Christian VIII of Denmark and Princess Charlotte Friederike of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. After the death of his father on January 20th, 1848, he had to take over the royal crown and the corresponding office. In addition to King of Denmark, his titles also included now Duke of Schleswig-Holstein and Saxe-Lauenburg. The king was married three times during his lifetime, but these marriages remained childless. Prince Christian von Glücksburg was appointed as his successor by parliament in 1852.
The political realities of the time around 1848 (including the February Revolution in Paris) meant that the king had a basic constitution drawn up for Denmark and the duchies of Schlesig and Holstein. Unfortunately, the German-born residents of the two duchies did not agree with the proposed constitution and began a civil war with the Danish residents that was to last three years.
So while there was fighting in Schleswig and Holstein, the remaining Danes decided to accept the new Basic Law on January 5, 1849. With this, the king gave up his absolute power in favor of democratic structures and was henceforth only a constitutional monarch - the main government work was taken over by parliament.
During his time as king, the relationship with the duchies deteriorated and required amendments to the constitution. The German Confederation, to which the duchies had now joined, declared these changes to be invalid for their own region in 1858 and asked the Swedes and British for support in October 1863 - a preparatory step for the German-Danish War in 1864.
Frederik VII did not live to see the German-Danish War, however, as he died unexpectedly on November 15th, 1863 at Glücksburg Castle.
About the bust:
The bust of King Frederik VII is mounted on a concrete base about three meters high. It was unveiled on June 5, 1877 at Galgebakken near Skjern Brogaard on the 28th anniversary of the constitution. The bust was brought to the park "Anlægget" around 1909.
The following words are written on the four sides of the concrete base:
On the front:
FREDERIK THE SEVENTH
BORN OCTOBER 6, 1808.
KING 20 JANUARY 1848.
DIED NOVEMBER 15, 1863
On the north side:
JUNE 5, 1849
On the backside:
RAISED BY RESIDENTS OF THE WHOLE COUNTRY. JUNE 5, 1877.
IN MEMORY OF THE GIVER OF THE CONSTITUTION
On the south side:
THE LOVE OF THE PEOPLE MY STRENGTH
References:
- Frederick VII of Denmark (Wikipedia)
- Frederik d. VII (Skjern Udviklings Forum, danish)