with parts of the statue as a backdrop as a backdrop When crown prince Frederick ascended to the Danish throne in 1848, following the death of his father, he became the ninth
absolute monarch of Denmark since 1660. On 21 March 1848, a demonstration with 10,000 people gathered on the plaza in front of Christiansborg Palace, demanding a new government and democratic reforms. The king immediately agreed and the
Constitution of Denmark was signed on 5 June 1849. The statue was created on the initiative of a committee chaired by
Carl Ploug to commemorate the monarch's role in ensuring Denmark's transition from absolute to constitutional monarchy. It was financed through contributions from the Danish state, the City of Copenhagen and private donations.
Herman Wilhelm Bissen was charged with the design of the statue which was later completed by his son
Vilhelm Bissen. It was cast by Parisian bronze casters at Vilhelm Bissen's workshop at
Carlsberg. The monument was unveiled on
6 October 1873. It survived the fire of the
second Christiansborg Palace in 1894. ==See also==