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Royal Palaces. Christiansborg l'alace lies on Ihc north- weslorn side of Slotsholm (Castle-holm), on thc very same spol where Ihe castle of Axelhuus (Axelhouso) slood of old. Axelhousc, ealled afler ils founder, Ihe warlike Bishop Absalon (Axel Ilvide), was huill in 1168 as a defenee against the pirates, who Ihere infested the shores and harbours of Ihe Balhic. Thore are assuredly nol many slruelures in Europe that have undergone so many changes, for nearly every king who has reigned in Denmark from Erik IMough-penny to Chr i s t i an VIII has re- built and altered il. Wc will nol stop lo tell how olien il was demolished wholly or in part during Ihe war Willi the Ilanseatic league, but pass on lo the days of Chri st i an VI who rased the whole edifice lo the ground and built on ils site a new palacc on a most magnificient seale. Eight years, from 1732 to 1740, was the new structure in building, and cost more than two and half a millions of Higsdollars-eurrent. But although no skili, no thought, no lahour and no expenee was spared lo erect an ediliec (hat should endure for ages, before the close of that 'very same century il had dissapeared from tbc face of earlh. One single night, between the