grænsevilkårene

Grænsevilkårene refer to the transatlantic slave trade's exclusion zones established by Denmark-Norway in the 18th and 19th centuries. The policy effectively prohibited the trading of enslaved Africans in certain regions, particularly Denmark, Norway, and other territories under Danish-Norwegian control.

The exclusion zones were introduced during the reign of King Christian VII and his successor, King Frederick VI, who attempted to reform and secularize the Danish-Norwegian slave trade. The measures aimed to limit the buying and selling of enslaved people in certain areas, such as the coastline of Denmark, Norway, and the Danish West Indies.

Despite the intended goals, the grænsevilkårene did not bring about significant changes in the overall Danish-Norwegian slave trade. Slavery continued to thrive in the Danish West Indies until its abolition in 1848. Additionally, loopholes and exemptions in the regulations allowed for continued trading activities in other regions.

Critics argue that the policy was little more than a public relations exercise to ease pressure from European abolitionist movements and counterbalance rising anti-slavery sentiments. Others view grænsevilkårene as an effort to differentiate Danish-Norwegian practices from the more brutal slave trade carried out by European nations like Britain and France.

The complex and multi-faceted nature of grænsevilkårene underscores the gradual and sometimes contradictory pace of the abolitionist movement within Denmark and Norway during this period. Some historians have explored the reasons behind the limitations and successes of the exclusion zones, shedding light on the intricate dynamics at play during this pivotal moment in the history of the slave trade.