hakim: I have always loved that picture. It shows the romanticized vision of a unified Scandinavia as well as where the problem with such an idea stems(Denmark in the middle I imagine would piss of the Swedes to no end and if Sweden had been in the middle it would piss of the Danes)
I just recently read a bit in a book called "The Danish Empire" about the Kalmar Union and it seems to have been the only possible time a unification would have happened. Unfortunately the events during that period also shows how impossible all the parts involved were. The danes spent more time putting down swedish rebellions than anything else and the swedes were too pissed of about not being top dog to see any permanent union as a possible outcome.
The stubbornness of the two major powers in the baltics seem to have been the natural order of things, and neither side never acknowledging the other being stronger and thus ensuring a change in the powerstruggle seems to be where the problem lies.
And to accompany Hakims picture here is a little poem by Hans Christian Andersen.
H.C. Andersen digt 1837
"Jeg er en Skandinav!"
Vi er eet Folk, vi kaldes Skandinaver,
I trende Riger er vor Hjemstavn deelt;
Men mellem Nutids store Himmel-Gaver
Er den: vort Hjerte voxer til et Heelt!
Lad være glemt, hvis os en Uret skete;
Tidsaanden, som en luttret Margarethe,
Forener os, den trefold Kraft forlener,
Selv Sproget os forener.
Paa Fjeld, i Skov og ved det natblaa Hav,
Jeg jubler høit: jeg er en Skandinav!
Kom med paa Dovre-Fjeld, hvor Jøklen ligger,
Hør Fossens Torden, Sæterpigens Sang;
Den friske Sø- og Bjerg-Luft jeg inddrikker,
Jeg gaaer, hvor Nordens Guder gik engang;
Og hvis om Kraftens Mænd jeg hører heller,
Om Olaf, Hakon, Harald man fortæller;
Til Fjelds! til Fjelds! med stærke Klippeborge
Staaer du, mit gamle Norge,
I Glands af Nordlys, ved et stormfuldt Hav;
Jeg elsker dig! jeg er en Skandinav!
Kom paa den snelle Baad, lad Dampen virke,
See Floder, store Søer er vor Vei!
Seil over Bjerget, hvor de høie Birke
Udaande Duft! O, Sverrig elsker jeg!
Herfra lød Gustav Adolfs Navn paa Jorden,
Han var den sidste Ridder her i Norden.
Lidt Barkbrød, og den svenske Bonde synger,
Ham Nøisomhed forynger;
Han synger Sangene, ham Skjalden gav;
Og vi med ham: Jeg er en Skandinav!
En frisk Bouquet af Kløver, Korn og Humle
Er Danmark! kom og see vor Bøgeskov!
Paa Sletten her sig Aandens Sønner tumle,
Det dundrer lystigt under Hestens Hov;
Til Videnskab og Kunst vi snelt udride,
Europa om det lille Land skal vide,
Ved Thorvaldsen dets Navn fra Stenen klinger,
Alt Tycho gav det Vinger.
En Rose Danmark er! syng, Skandinav,
Om Aandens Blomst midt i det barske Hav!
Lad ei den skjønne Enighed forsvinde,
Norsk, Svensk og Dansk hinanden række Haand;
De gamle Folkesange os forbinde,
I Melodien er et kraftigt Baand.
Af Enighedens Sæd kun godt man høster,
Vi skue kjækt mod Vester og mod Øster
I Fryd og Sorg! O, her er godt at være!
Her leve vore Kjære!
Fra Gran og Birk og Bøg, vidt over Hav,
Lyd Glædes Sang: jeg er en Skandinav!
English from google translate(with minor adjustments by me)
Danish to English translation
Hans Christian Andersen poem 1837
"I am a Scandinavian"
We are one people, we are called Scandinavians,
In Encouragingly kingdoms are our kindred divided;
But among today's major sky-Gifts
Is it: our heart grows to a whole!
Do not forget us if an injustice has occurred;
Spirit of the age, as a purified Margarethe,
Unites us, the triple strength impart,
Even language unites us.
On the mountain, in woods and by the nightblue Sea
I rejoice aloud: I am a Scandinavian!
Come on Dovre Fjord, where extinguished volcanoes lie
Hear the waterfall thunder mountain shepherdesses Sang;
The fresh Lake and Mountain Air I ingest,
I go where the Nordic gods once walked;
And if the Freedom of Men I hear either,
About Olaf, Hakon, Harald one tells;
The mountains! the mountains! with strong rock castles
Stand you, my old Norway
The splendor of the Northern Lights, at a stormy sea;
I love you! I am a Scandinavian!
Come on the rear set trigger boat, let the steam work,
See Rivers, Great Lakes is our way!
Sail over the mountain, where the tall birches
Breathe fragrance! Oh, Sweden I love!
From here came Gustav Adolf's name on earth
He was the last knight in Scandinavia.
Little Bark Bread, and the Swedish peasant sings
Rejuvenates him contentment;
He sings songs, minstrel gave him;
And we with him: I am a Scandinavian!
A fresh bouquet of clover, corn and hops
Is Denmark! Come and see our Bøgeskov!
On the plains here in spirit sons tumble
It blows merrily under the horse's Hey;
The Science and Art we snelt udride,
Europe on the small country must know
At Thorvaldsen its name from the stone blades,
Everything Tycho gave it wings.
A Rose is Denmark! sing, Scandinavians,
About Spirit blossom amid the harsh sea!
Let not the beautiful unity disappear
Norwegian, Swedish and Danish each row hand;
The old national songs connect us,
The melody is a strong bond.
Of Agree Hedens Seed only good you reap
We look boldly to the North and the Baltic
In joy and sorrow! Oh, here's good to be!
Here live our dear!
From Fir and Birch and Beech, far over the sea,
hear the song of joy: I am a Scandinavian!