Editing Christian IX (section)

==Later reign==
===Constitutional struggle===
[[File:Christian IX af Henrik Olrik.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.8|Portrait by [[Henrik Olrik]], 1871]]
The defeat of 1864 cast a shadow over Christian IX's rule for many years and his attitude to the Danish case—probably without reason—was claimed to be half-hearted. This unpopularity was worsened as he sought unsuccessfully to prevent the spread of democracy throughout Denmark by supporting the authoritarian and conservative prime minister [[Estrup]], whose rule 1875–94 was by many seen as a semi-dictatorship. However, he signed a treaty in 1874 that allowed Iceland, then a Danish possession, to have its own constitution, albeit one under Danish rule. In 1901, he reluctantly asked [[Johan Henrik Deuntzer]] to form a government and this resulted in the formation of the [[Cabinet of Deuntzer]]. The cabinet consisted of members of the [[Venstre Reform Party]] and was the first Danish government not to include the conservative party [[Højre]], even though Højre never had a majority of the seats in the [[Folketing]]. This was the beginning of the Danish tradition of [[parliamentarism]] and clearly bettered his reputation for his last years.{{sfn|Scocozza|1997|pp=185–88}}

Another reform occurred in 1866, when the Danish constitution was revised so that Denmark's upper chamber would have more power than the lower. Social security also took a few steps forward during his reign. Old age pensions were introduced in 1891 and unemployment and family benefits were introduced in 1892.
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===Last years===
In spite of the King's initial unpopularity and the many years of political strife, where the king was in conflict with large parts of the population, his popularity recovered towards the end of his reign, and he became a national icon due to the length of his reign and the high standards of personal morality with which he was identified.{{sfn|Scocozza|1997|p=188}} The celebration of the [[golden wedding anniversary]] of King Christian and Queen Louise in 1892 thus became a great and authentic tribute from the people to the king and queen which contrasted profoundly with the sober marking of their [[silver wedding anniversary]] in 1867.{{sfn|Bramsen|1992|p=166}}

In 1904, the King became aware of the efforts of [[Einar Holbøll]], a postal clerk in Denmark, who conceived the idea of selling [[Christmas seals]] at post offices across Denmark to raise badly needed funding to help those afflicted with [[tuberculosis]], which was occurring in alarming proportions in Denmark. The King approved of Holbøll's idea and subsequently the Danish post office produced the world's first Christmas seal, which generated more than $40,000 in funding. The Christmas seal portrayed an image of his wife, [[Louise of Hesse-Kassel|Queen Louise]].<ref name=ostler35-38>[[#ostler1947|Ostler, 1947]], pp. 35–38</ref>

===Death and succession===
[[File:Kong Christian 9.s bisættelse 16._februar_1906.jpg|thumb|left|King Christian IX's [[funeral procession]] at [[Christiansborg Palace Square]] on 16 February 1906.]]
Queen Louise died at age 81 on 29 September 1898 at [[Bernstorff Palace]] near [[Copenhagen]]. King Christian IX survived his wife by 7 years, and died peacefully of old age, at age 87, on 29 January 1906 at his residence, [[Christian IX's Palace]] at [[Amalienborg Palace]] in Copenhagen, after a reign of 42 years and 75 days. After [[lying in state]] at the [[Christiansborg Palace Chapel|chapel]] at [[Christiansborg Palace]] in Copenhagen, he was interred on 16 February 1906 beside Queen Louise in ''[[Roskilde Cathedral#Christian IX's Chapel|Christian IX's Chapel]]'' in [[Roskilde Cathedral]] on the island of [[Zealand]], the traditional burial site for [[List of Danish monarchs|Danish monarchs]] since the 15th century.

After his death, a competition was announced for a double [[sarcophagus]] for him and Queen Louise to be placed in ''[[Roskilde Cathedral#Frederick V's Chapel|Frederick V's Chapel]]''. The competition was won by the artist [[Jens Ferdinand Willumsen]], but his proposal was deemed too controversial and was not accepted. Instead, two completely different artists were assigned the task, the Dano-Icelandic sculptor [[Edvard Eriksen]] and the Danish architect [[Hack Kampmann]]. They created a large sarcophagus in white [[marble]] flanked by three graceful sculptures symbolizing ''Remembrance'', ''Love'' and ''Grief''.

Upon King Christian IX's death, Crown Prince Frederick ascended the throne at the age of 62 as King [[Frederick VIII of Denmark|Frederick VIII]].

{| style="margin:auto"
| [[file:Denmark Christmas Seal, 1906 issue.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85|Christian IX appeared on a Denmark [[Christmas seals|Christmas seal]], issued the same year as his death in 1906]]
| [[File:Denmark, First Christmas Seal, 1904.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85 | [[Louise of Hesse-Kassel|Queen Louise]] on the Danish Christmas seal of 1904, the world's first [[Christmas seal]] ]]
|}