| Jørgen Jørgensen's Revolution | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part ofAge of Revolution | |||||||||
 Reykjavíkc. 1820, by commissioner Count E.C. Ludwig Moltke | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
 Denmark-Norway United Kingdom | .svg) Revolutionaries | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
Christopher Trampe Alexander Jones |  Jørgen Jørgensen James Savignac Samuel Phelps | ||||||||
| Units involved | |||||||||
| HMSTalbot | ClarenceMargaret and Ann | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
| 1 vessel | 2 vessels 8–12 men 10 guns[1] | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| None | 1 ship[2] | ||||||||
 | |||||||||
TheJørgen Jørgensen's Revolution (Icelandic:Byltingin 1809) other spelling includes,Jørgen Jürgensen's Revolution andJørgen Jorgenson's Revolution)[3] was a revolution onIceland, instituted by theDanish adventurerJørgen Jørgensen during theAge of Revolution. His intent was to establish a liberal society in the spirit of those emerging inthe Americas and Europe at the time. The events have also been referred to as theRevolution of 1809.[4]
Since theAge of Enlightenment, revolutionary ideas andreformism spread first toAmerica andFrance, but soon also to the rest of the world, including the twin realms ofDenmark–Norway.[5]
"You will be surprised to hear me talk of liberty; yet the Norwegians appear to me to be the most free community I have ever observed."
Denmark-Norway was during the 18th century an ideal enlightened absolutist state.[6] And turned the revolutionary ideas down by reforming the country, under the leadership of privy councillor,Johann Friedrich Struensee, and the youngprince regent and later king,Frederick.[6][7] During his earlier reign, Frederick abolishedSerfdom in 1788,hanging as a capital punishment in 1789 andtransatlantic slave trade in 1803.[7]
InNorway revolutionary ideas were bigger, yet still small in contrast to the French.Norges Skaal, was banned byDano-Norwegian officials in 1772,[8] and was labelled "theNorwegianMarseillaise".[9] On the other hand, according toMary Wollstonecraft Norway appeared to enjoy all aspects of freedom.[10]
Themelting pot of Danish and Norwegian revolutionary and reformative ideas layCopenhagen, where Jørgensen was born on 29 March 1790.[11][12] On his return from a global expedition, Jørgenson witnessed his home city of Copenhagenbeing embroiled in theNapoleonic Wars.[12][13]
In response to the Battle of Copenhagen, Denmarkdeclared war on theUnited Kingdom.[2] Jørgensen enlisted in theDanish navy and was made captain of the privateer brig, theAdmiral Juel (English: Admiral Jawl)[2][14] Jorgensen'sseafaring background quickly paid off, and in a couple of months he had captured threeprizes.[2][14] However,he was intercepted off the coast ofScarborough and was brought to London.[14]
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In England, Jørgensen learned about the impact of the war in Iceland from Icelandic merchants. Since the loss of the Danish fleet,Norway,Iceland andGreenland couldn't receive their needed supplies from Denmark.[2][15] This, including the recently endedDanish trade monopoly over Iceland, and avolcanic eruption in 1783 where over nine thousandIcelanders died,[16] led to a weak Iceland which Jørgensen saw to exploit.[2]
"I laid out my plan without saying a word to anyone preferably, and as the following day was a Sunday, I went in land with 12 of my sailors as soon as I had seen that the whole town had gone into the church. I went straight there to the governor's house, split my little troop into two groups and posted six in front and six behind the building with orders to fire on anyone who tried to interrupt me. Then I opened the door and entered in armed with a couple of pistols. His Grace, there rested on a sofa, was somewhat surprised my sudden appearance. He was alone in the house except for the cook, who was busy making prepare the dinner, a couple of servants and a Danish Lady."[4][17]
On 29 December 1808, atLiverpool harbour, Jørgensen accompanied and financed by James Savignac and Samuel Phelps, with the additional help ofSir Joseph Banks, embarked for Iceland with supplies for the starving population.[2][15][14]
Their vesselClarence met hostile resistance from the Danish government atReykjavík, since it displayed theUnion Jack[14] Nevertheless, Jørgensen forced an agreement to bring thehumanitarian aid ashore.[14] Though, Jørgensen, Phelps, and Banks' humanitarian efforts faced challenges in Reykjavik, as the city's population of around 300 residents were predominantly linked to the colonial Danish government and enjoyedprivileged status.[15] This population did not represent the rural Icelanders in need of assistance that the three sought to reach.[2]
In an attempt to recoup some of the merchants' losses from the first expedition, Jørgensen made a second expedition on the shipMargaret and Ann.[14] Local governor,Frederich Christopher Trampe, Count of Trampe had been absent from the island, when the trade agreement with Jørgensen had been made and immediately scrapped the agreement.[14][2] When Jørgen found out, he made a secret plan to overthrow the local government.[4] He besieged the governor's house andimprisoned him while the rest of the city were in church.[4]
"Unless some more bookish historian can cite an example, I don't know of one revolution in the annals of any nation which has passed more supple, more peaceful, or more resolute than this. The whole government of the island was changed in an instant. I was quite aware of the mood of the population before I made my plan, and knew that I was on safe grounds"[4][18]
Jørgensen envisioned an Iceland characterized bysocial democracy andliberty, drawing inspiration from the revolutionary movements inAmerica and France.[15] He also attempted to restore the ancientAlthing.[2][15] Jørgensen disrupted the exploitative practices and monopolies of the Danish colonists, including Count Trampe, by selling grain at significantly reduced prices. He conveyed his intentions through a series ofproclamations, gradually adopting a more regal tone.[15][14][2] He adopted the titleProtector of Iceland.[14] Jergensen's two-month-rule was harsh against the previous Danish rule and commanded that all guns, swords and ammunition should be handed over to Jørgensen and his crew and all representatives ofDenmark should stay inside.[1] If these commands were not followed, there would be capital punishment.[1] Despite his brutal anti-Danish laws, the Icelanders were supportive of the revolution and enlisted in Jergenson's army.[1] A defensive fort, called Fort Phelps was established.[19]
Jørgensen's successful revolution would not last long though, and on 22 August 1809, the British corvetteTalbot, under the command of captain Alexander Jones arrived at the island. Not as an act to support Denmark, but rather because Jørgen had broken his promise, as aPrisoner of war, not to leave theBritish Isles.[1][4] Thus Jørgen Jørgensen was imprisoned, and the Danish government was re-established on the island.[4][1][15]
With a shortIcelandic independence from Denmark proved the big changes in the 19th century for themultinationalDanish Realm,[4] Five years later, Norway would too revolt against the provisions atKiel. And forty years later, thenational revolutionsspread toSchleswig and Holstein.[4] Jørgen Jørgensen was sat before theEnglish court[20] and would later settle inTasmania, participating in theBlack War.[2]
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