Peter Elfelt

Maria Feodorovna (1847-1928), born Dagmar, daughter of King Christian IX was in 1866 married to Alexander III (1845-1894), Czar of Russia (1881-1894). The couple often visited Denmark, where the czar found a safe harbour away from the unstable Russia.

Nikolai II (1868-1918), the last Russian czar, son of Alexander III and Dagmar. He had been in Denmark on vacation with his parents several times. The royal houses usually met in September to celebrate Queen Louise's birthday. Even after Queen Louise's death, the families still kept the tradition.

Images of a hunting party with the Swedish King Oscar II, Prince Christian, Prince Gustav, Prince Valdemar and Prince Georg. Hveen is an island in the strait 'Øresund' between Denmark and Sweden. The island was under Danish rule until 1658. It is mainly know as the site where the Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe made his internationally acclaimed observations in the years 1576-1597.

Johan Carl Joensen, a Danish colonial manager in Greenland, drives his dog sled in Copenhagen’s Fælledparken. (stumfilm.dk)

A film by Peter Elfelt.

Blowing explosives in the ocean.

Documentation of a royal visit to Bellevue.

Spirited Ukrainian trepak dance, performed by Russian soloist Wania Tartakoff. (Stumfilm.DK)

Dagmar arrives by train.

A joyful Pas de Deux, performed by Clara Rasmussen and Margrethe Andersen. Clara Rasmussen/Wieth/Pontoppidan (1883-1975) was to become one of the most famous actresses of Danish silent cinema; one of her most notable performances is in Dreyer’s 'Leaves from Satan’s Book' (1921), in which she plays Siri in the last of the four sections. (Stumfilm.DK)

Solo from 'La sylphide' (1836), ballet by August Bournonville. Performed by Ellen Price (1878-1968), soloist from 1903. Ellen Price's dancing in Hans Beck's ballet 'The Little Mermaid' (1909) was the inspiration for Edvard Eriksen's statue of the same name (1911). (Stumfilm.DK)

Military in action.

King Frederik VIII of Denmark arrives in Berlin, Germany.

This Danish film shows us a young woman doing a dance, which translates to tarantula. According to the brief bio over at the Europa Film Treasures site, this dance was "influenced" by the delirium caused by the bite of a tarantula.

Fredensborg castle in North Zealand was the base of the so-called 'Fredensborg Days' in the period 1880-1898, where King Christian IX and Queen Louise would gather the family. The tradition petered out after the death of Czar Alexander III in 1894 and Queen Louise in 1898. The images nevertheless give an impression of the relaxed atmosphere at the castle.

Swans getting handled as people watch.

A child murderess is led to her execution.

Early wrestling footage.

Two fine gentlemen battle brutishly for the favour of two fine ladies. However, one of the gentlemen forgets his suitcase at the station, and his competitor spots his chance to gain a huge lead. (Stumfilm.dk)

Alexandra (1844-1925), daughter of Christian IX, married in 1863 to Prince Edward (1841-1910), who after Queen Victoria's death in 1901 became King Edward VII of Great Britain and Ireland. She often visited Denmark.