Kommercekollegiet (The Board of Trade or The Trade Authority), also Kommercekollegium, was a central executive agency for commercial, marine and industrial affairs under the

absolute monarchy Absolute monarchy (or Absolutism as a doctrine) is a form of monarchy in which the monarch rules in their own right or power. In an absolute monarchy, the king or queen is by no means limited and has absolute power, though a limited constitut ...

Denmark ) , song = ( en, "King Christian stood by the lofty mast") , song_type = National and royal anthem , image_map = EU-Denmark.svg , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Danish Realm, Kingdom of Denmark ...

. It functioned with variations in scope and under different designations on and off during the period of 1668 to 1816. After the dissolution of an initial agency at the end of the 1680s, its re-establishment in 1704 was specifically to advise the

Danish monarch This is a list of Danish monarchs, that is, the kings and queens regnant of Denmark. This includes: * The Kingdom of Denmark (up to 1397) ** Personal union of Denmark and Norway (1380–1397) * The Kalmar Union (1397–1536) ** Union of Denmar ...

on trade and industrial matters.

History

Kommercekollegiet was first set up in 1668 in accordance with the wishes of Copenhagen's leading merchants. With the development of international trade, it was intended to help Denmark compete with the

Dutch Republic The United Provinces of the Netherlands, also known as the (Seven) United Provinces, officially as the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands (Dutch: ''Republiek der Zeven Verenigde Nederlanden''), and commonly referred to in historiography ...

but was dissolved at the end of the 1680s, failing to achieve any progress. In 1704, a new Kommercekollegium was established, known from 1708 as ''Politi- og Kommercekollegiet'' (Police and Trade Authority), which also oversaw the commercial interests of Copenhagen. From 1724, the authority came under Copenhagen's Magistracy, only to be dissolved in 1731. Four years later, ''General-Landets Økonomi- og Kommercekollegium'' (Authority General for Rural Economy and Trade) was established, functioning until 1768. After matters of trade had been rather dispersed for a number of years, in 1773 ''Generallandøkonomi- og Kommercekollegiet'' (The Authority General for Rural Economy and Trade) was formed, gaining considerable importance as widespread international trade began to flourish. In 1816, it was merged with ''Generaltoldkammeret'' (General Chamber of Customs and Excise) and in 1848, its resources were shared between the Ministry of the Interior and the Foreign Ministry. Although there were interruptions and changes, the organization existed from 1668 to 1848. Kommercekollegiet was part of the collegial administration under the absolute monarchy. It was at different times combined with other branches of the central administration, such as police, customs, and rural administration. At least from 1735, Kommercekollegiet had its own subsidiaries through which matters of trade, factory and industrial operations were treated before they were submitted for its rulings. ''Kommercekollegium'' became the joint designation for ''General-Landets-Økonomi- og Kommercekollegiet'' (1735–68), ''General-Kommercekollegiet'' (1768–71), ''Kommercedeputationen'' (1771–73), and ''Generallandøkonomi- og Kommercekollegiet'' (1773-1816).

Notable members

Influential members of Kommercekollegiet have included: *

Iver Rosenkrantz Iver Eriksen Rosenkrantz (5 December 1674 – 13 November 1745) was a Danish statesman and landowner. Education and early career Iver Rosenkrantz was born at Rosenholm Castle (''Rosenholm Slot'') in Hornslet, Denmark. He was the son of Erik R ...

(1674–1745) *

Johan Frederik Classen Johan Frederik Classen, frequently also J. F. Classen, (11 February 1725 – 24 March 1792) was a Danish-Norwegian industrialist, major general, landowner and founder of Det Classenske Fideicommis. He served as chancellery adviser to King ...

(1725–1792) *

Heinrich Carl von Schimmelmann Heinrich Carl von Schimmelmann (13 July 1724 – 16 February 1782) was a German-born merchant, banker, nobleman, planter and politician. During the Seven Years' War, he speculated heavily on currency debasement in close association with his bu ...

(1724–1782) *

Christian Ditlev Reventlow (1710–1775) Christian Ditlev, Count of Reventlow (10 March 1710 – 30 March 1775) was a Danish Privy Councillor, nobleman and estate owner. Reventlow was the third son of Christian Ditlev Reventlow and his wife Benedicte Margrethe von Brockdorff; as suc ...

Carsten Anker Carsten Tank Anker (17 November 1747 – 13 March 1824) was a Norwegian businessman, civil servant, politician and one of the Fathers of the Constitution of Norway. He was the owner of the manor house in Akershus at which the original National As ...

(1747–1824) * Christian Ditlev Frederik Reventlow (1748–1847).

References

{{authority control Government agencies of Denmark 1668 establishments in Denmark 1848 disestablishments in Europe