Editing Christian X (section)

===Easter Crisis of 1920===
{{Main|Easter Crisis of 1920}}

In April 1920, Christian instigated the Easter Crisis, perhaps the most decisive event in the evolution of the Danish monarchy in the twentieth century. The immediate cause was a conflict between the King and the cabinet over the reunification with Denmark of [[Schleswig]], a former Danish [[fiefdom]], which had been lost to [[Prussia]] during the [[Second War of Schleswig]]. Danish claims to the region persisted to the end of [[World War I]], at which time the defeat of the Germans made it possible to resolve the dispute. According to the terms of the [[Treaty of Versailles]], the disposition of Schleswig was to be determined by two [[plebiscite]]s: one in Northern Schleswig (Denmark's [[South Jutland County]] 1971–2006), the other in Central Schleswig (today part of the German state of [[Schleswig-Holstein]]). No plebiscite was planned for Southern Schleswig, as it was dominated by an ethnic German majority and, in accordance with prevailing sentiment of the times, remained part of the post-war German state.

In Northern Schleswig, seventy-five percent voted for reunification with Denmark and twenty-five percent for remaining with Germany. In this vote, the entire region was considered to be an indivisible unit, and the entire region was awarded to Denmark. In Central Schleswig, the situation was reversed with eighty percent voting for Germany and twenty percent for Denmark. In this vote, each municipality decided its own future, and German majorities prevailed everywhere. In light of these results, the government of Prime Minister [[Carl Theodor Zahle]] determined that reunification with Northern Schleswig could go forward, while Central Schleswig would remain under German control.

Many Danish nationalists felt that at least the city of [[Flensburg]], in Central Schleswig, should be returned to Denmark regardless of the plebiscite's results, due to the sizeable Danish minority there and a general desire to see Germany permanently weakened in the future. Christian X agreed with these sentiments, and ordered Prime Minister Zahle to include Flensburg in the re-unification process. As Denmark had been operating as a [[parliamentary democracy]] since the [[Cabinet of Deuntzer]] in 1901, Zahle felt he was under no obligation to comply. He refused the order and resigned several days later after a heated exchange with the King.

[[File:Before Danish Royal Palace, 1920 LCCN2014710621.tif|thumb|Demonstrations against the king at [[Amalienborg Square, Copenhagen|Amalienborg Square]] in 1920]]

Subsequently, Christian X dismissed the rest of the [[Zahle II Cabinet|cabinet]] and replaced it with a ''de facto'' conservative [[Liebe Cabinet|caretaker cabinet]]. The dismissal caused demonstrations and an almost revolutionary atmosphere in Denmark, and for several days the future of the monarchy seemed very much in doubt. In light of this, negotiations were opened between the King and members of the [[Social Democrats (Denmark)|Social Democrats]]. Faced with the potential overthrow of the Danish Crown, Christian X stood down and dismissed his own government, installing a [[Friis Cabinet|compromise cabinet]] until elections could be held later that year.

To date, this is the last time a reigning Danish monarch has attempted to take political action without the full support of parliament. Following the crisis, Christian X bowed fully to his drastically reduced status, and spent the last quarter-century of his rule as a model constitutional monarch.