Second Battle of Copenhagen

Second Battle of Copenhagen was a major British military operation during the Napoleonic Wars. It involved a naval bombardment and subsequent land assault on the Danish capital, aimed at neutralizing the Danish Navy to prevent its potential use by Napoleonic France. The controversial preemptive strike resulted in the British capture or destruction of the entire Danish fleet and significant damage to the city. The event remains a pivotal and debated episode in the history of Scandinavia and British foreign policy.

Background

The strategic context was shaped by the Treaty of Tilsit, signed in July 1807 between Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte of France and Tsar Alexander I of Russia. This agreement effectively closed the continent to British trade and raised British fears of a Franco-Russian alliance seizing the powerful Danish Navy. The British government, led by Lord Grenville and later the Duke of Portland, viewed the Danish fleet as a critical threat if it fell into French hands. Diplomatic pressure on the neutral Denmark–Norway and its Crown Prince Frederick VI failed to secure a guarantee of the fleet's neutrality. Consequently, the British Cabinet, including Foreign Secretary George Canning, authorized a preemptive expedition under Admiral James Gambier and General Lord Cathcart to demand the surrender of the Danish fleet.

The battle

A large British armada, including over 25 ships of the line and transports carrying around 30,000 troops, arrived in the Øresund in mid-August. After the Danish refusal to capitulate, British forces landed at Vedbæk and Køge and swiftly invested the city of Copenhagen. The Danish commander, General Ernst Peymann, commanded a garrison of regulars and militia. The decisive action began on 2 September when the British fleet, positioned in the Copenhagen Roads, commenced a heavy bombardment using Congreve rockets and mortar vessels. This relentless shelling, which continued for three nights, caused widespread fires and devastation in the city, culminating in the surrender of Copenhagen on 5 September. Key engagements during the siege included actions around the city's defenses and the Battle of Køge.

Aftermath

The Capitulation of Copenhagen forced Denmark to hand over its entire naval fleet. The British captured 18 ships of the line, 15 frigates, and numerous smaller vessels, which were then sailed to British ports, notably Portsmouth. This action shattered Danish neutrality and pushed Denmark–Norway into a firm alliance with France, leading directly to the Gunboat War and the later English Wars. The bombardment caused significant civilian casualties and property damage, drawing international condemnation. In response, Denmark joined the Continental System and later engaged in the Dano-Swedish War of 1808–1809. The political fallout in Britain saw debates over the morality of the attack, though it was largely defended as a strategic necessity.

Legacy

The battle is remembered as a ruthless but successful demonstration of British naval power and the Pax Britannica doctrine of preemption. It effectively secured British naval supremacy in the North Sea and Baltic Sea for the remainder of the Napoleonic Wars, influencing subsequent campaigns like the Walcheren Campaign. The event strained Anglo-Danish relations for decades and became a national trauma in Denmark, fueling later Danish nationalism. Historians often compare it to the First Battle of Copenhagen under Admiral Horatio Nelson. The operation also highlighted the evolving nature of total war and the strategic use of naval bombardment against civilian centers, setting a precedent for future conflicts. It remains a frequent subject of analysis in military histories of the period. Category:Napoleonic Wars Category:Battles involving Denmark Category:Battles involving the United Kingdom Category:History of Copenhagen Category:1807 in Europe