In Denmark, this is widely being referred to as "the first terror-bombing attack in history".

In 1801, the Danish navy was among the largest in Europe, although it was not fully equipped at the time of the battle. The most important result for Denmark (and Norway) of the events of 1801 and 1807 was the dissolution of the Danish-Norwegian kingdom. After the loss of the fleet, the kingdom was unable to defend the trade and lines of communication between Norway and Denmark. Denmark thus had little power to oppose the Russo-Swedish alliance, which forced Denmark to cede Norway to Sweden. This changed Denmark into a tiny country and a tiny power. It was also the beginning of Norwegian independence, although it would take another 90 years. After the loss of the fleet, the king demanded that new oak trees be planted in Denmark for the construction of a future fleet. Unfortunately, it takes about 200 years for oak trees to grow large enough to be used for shipbuilding. When the country's foresters called the Ministry of Defense in 2008 to tell them the king's oaks were ready, there was no longer any interest in the 90,000 oak trees that had been planted.

@loganw1232

25 күн бұрын

Maybe the oaks will be used again in the future in an apocalypse?

@asbjo

25 күн бұрын

Yep. Still bitter over it. The British disregard for our attempts at neutrality, as well as their paranoia and arrogance, makes their actions feel entirely unnecessary, yet those actions basically made Denmark irrelevant until the latter half of the 20'th century. Still is in many ways, but we at least hit above our weight in diplomacy.

@mp9070

25 күн бұрын

@@asbjounderstandable. The US fought two wars with the British on either side of y’all’s two conflicts. The frustrations are not dissimilar.

@goodun2974

25 күн бұрын

​@@loganw1232, old-growth oak would be a choice material for flooring and furniture-making.

@dugroz

25 күн бұрын

@@goodun2974 And just a cool forest to visit!

Britain was concerned Denmark would side with France, so Britain gave them a reason too side with France

@sfs2040

6 күн бұрын

True, buuuuut without the fleet they feared

@JB17521or

6 күн бұрын

well yes and no. Britain didnt fear denmark, they feared her fleet. So they took it and afterwards it didnt matter what denmark did

@asuka7309

3 күн бұрын

@@JB17521or They were just as concerned about Napoleon using the Danish Belts to restrict British access to the Baltic and its vital supplies for the navy. Attacking Denmark gave Napoleon those islands and convinced Russia to join the Continental System, largely cutting off those supplies from the fleet.

@CritiqueCS

2 күн бұрын

@@JB17521or Britain basically went "these guys could be trouble" almost freaking LOST to Denmark in the naval battle... Denmark was neutral and then just get attacked by the UK cause they were scared of the combined potential of the spanish, French and Danish navy (it would likely eclipse the Royal Navy). Thats the definition of being scared of someone. Also Denmark had a lot of wood to just rebuild their fleet, so they definetly wanted to at least immobilise their fleet for the duration of the war, which is why they went for a "pre-emptive strike". But England has always to some degree feared other Naval powers or superpowers (Spain and Denmark-Norway being the 2 main ones I can remember, France aswell tbf)

@vrenak

Күн бұрын

@@CritiqueCS The Dano-norwegian fleet alone exclipsed the british fleet in European waters, the problem for the UK was they were a significant power on all oceans, whereas others weren't.

My family are from Helsinør in north Sjælland. The older generations up there used the tearm 'Engelsk røver' (English Robber) to descripe a person who pretends to be good natured in order to steal from you.

I (British) was in working in Copenhagen and they brought it up, they were still mad about it. I had never even heard of it happening.

@asbjo

25 күн бұрын

Yep. We still mad about it mate. Not so much mad, but saddened it would lead to the forced dissolution of Denmark-Norway, as well as decimation of our capital and the complete eradication of Danish naval power. British unjustified paranoia leaves a bitter taste, as Denmark was only interested in not getting involved whatsoever. The arrogance and disregard is so clear in the chain of events, that we felt betrayed in many ways. We just wanted to tend to our own. This along with the loss of Schleswig-Holstein in the 1860's, cemented Denmark as one of Europe's smallest and least powerful states (though with an excellent strategic position), whereas, in the previous centuries we had been a trading powerhouse. We never really recovered. Fun side note. The British destruction of the Danish fleet, prompted the king to order a new plantation of oak to pe plated so we could rebuild our fleet. It's not that long ago (2005-2015 i think), the then Queen of Denmark was informed that her trees were ready for harvest and ship-building.

@goodun2974

25 күн бұрын

​@@asbjo, that old-growth oak, although not in demand for shipbuilding these days, might be a valuable export commodity now, for flooring and furniture.

@thkempe

25 күн бұрын

Maybe you also like to learn about HMS Saint George and HMS Defence, which were stranded on the Danish coast near Thorsminde in 1811. Both ships had taken part in operations against Copenhagen.

@yorkshire_tea_innit8097

25 күн бұрын

​@@asbjo But nobody knows if it was uncalled for because the potential outcome was prevented.

@goodun2974

25 күн бұрын

@@asbjo , What the British did to Denmark was kind of like what the Japanese did at Pearl Harbor and I'm not surprised that some Danes are still a little aggrieved about it.

Zapp Branigan was right! "With these neutrals, you don't know where they stand."

@arthas640

13 күн бұрын

There are reasons why Machiavelli cautioned against being neutral in conflicts. Both sides will expect your support, both sides will view you as a potential enemy as they think "they must not be joining us because they're planning on siding with the enemy", and both sides will consider if it's worth invading you to to keep you from joining the enemy and so they can use you against the enemy. Countries like Switzerland get away with it because they're either too hard to invade or they're too powerful to threaten.

@kightsun

7 күн бұрын

​@@arthas640TBF fuck them neutrals

Thank you, THG for sharing this "dark side" of the Napoleonic wars. It is tempting to think that war in the early 19th was only between armies, but frequently it did affect civilians. Great visuals, too.

@JohnsonPadder

2 күн бұрын

What is the light side?

There is ALWAYS something to be learned with The History Guy. A man who deserves to be remembered!!

When researching for a paper on Danish reactions to the defeat against Prussia and Austria in 1864, which crippled the country, I came across plenty of diaries and letters from elderly Danes at the time, who still considered the Germans as a lesser evil than the British, despite having fought two wars against them within 15 years.

@Jens-Viper-Nobel

4 күн бұрын

Not surprisingly so. The British called the attack and act of self defense. SELF DEFENSE is attacking a neutral country? Let me convey a little secret to you Brits. Britain is an ally now, but we have never forgotten what they did in 1801 and 1807. Nor will we ever forget. And we will never completely trust them when they can attack us and call it self defense. And don't think I'm anti British. I have British ancestry and have visited your country several times. We just don't trust you. And for good reasons. When you look at Great Britain now and then, They haven't changed their habit of promising this and that and not keeping it. Nor have they significantly changed their habit of putting up demands to gain a goal, yet not being entirely truthful about their reasons or the actions they will take if not met. Actions perhaps being less deadly now, but nevertheless still in a vein that they would never accept being exposed to themselves. So, in essence, the British government is still the same as then and not really to be trusted.

Wellington had a horse named Copenhagen. It's mother was in the British Expeditionary Force at this battle and the foal was named in commemoration. After a failed career as a racehorse it was subsequently acquired by Wellington, and remained in his ownership until it died in 1836 at the grand old age of 29.

this one of the best descriptions of the event - and as a dane its great to see the whole thing from a more english perspective. We danes often see it as a national catastrophe. Denmarks navy was part of our national pride and losing it meant lossing someting essential your the way we understand ourselvs as a nation of sailors. Fun fact: During the bombardment of 1807 a book in the old university library at Trinitatis Church was hit. Ironically enough the book was called "Defensor pacis" - meaning defender of the peace.

Good morning from Connecticut, fellow classmates. For once I was early, waiting for the doors to open! Have a great Friday!

@jamesfracasse8178

25 күн бұрын

Beacon Falls CT reporting for class 5:57

@stuartriefe1740

25 күн бұрын

@@jamesfracasse8178 Greetings, fellow Nutmegger!

@RetiredSailor60

25 күн бұрын

Ft Worth TX checking in. Tardy for class. I'll do some extra credit homework.

@stuartriefe1740

25 күн бұрын

@@RetiredSailor60 You are excused my friend. We’ve chatted before!

@michaelmailhot5275

25 күн бұрын

Night school in Wallingford

Great vlog as always! The building «Børsen» the Danish exchange burned in the Ides of March. They were doing renovation and fire started and there will be no party this fall to commemorate the classic 400 yr old structure. That is history worth remembering.

Thanks so much on the history of Denmark. My mother was born and raised in Copenhagen. My grandfather worked for the Danish underground getting Jewish people out of Denmark to Sweden . my mother was born in 1932 and lived thew the war she was 8 or 9 when the Germans took her girlfriend out of school and shot her in the street I can see why my mother was a little bit troubled her whole life. My dad married my mother during the Korean way he was stationed in Denmark and Germany thanks for all you do Sir 👍👍👍😎

The first battle of Copenhagen in 1801 involved a British fleet led by Admiral Hyde Parker with Horatio Nelson as his subordinate. Since the entrance to Copenhagen was shallow Nelson took a dozen shallower draft sail of the line to engage the Danish ships and forts. 3 of his ships ran aground and Parker could see them but not the main engagement. gave the order for Nelson to withdraw. He figured if Nelson needed to retreat he would and if he didn't he would ignore the signal. Nelson held the telescope to his blind eye and said 'I really don't see the signal."

History that deserves to be remembered, indeed. Sad and disgusting that small nations are often ground into dust between the so-called "great" powers in their wars and ambitions. So it was at the turn of the 19th century, and so it is today. Britain greatly wronged Denmark; to Denmark it was a memorable defeat and humiliation. To Britain, it was a minor incident in their war aims, hardly worthy of mention. Humans, this exactly is what is wrong with us! Small nations and tiny humans are just "collateral damage." Until we learn better, we are no better than the combatants of centuries past.

You learn something new every day! Thanks, Professor! 😊

Congreve Rockets were manufactured at the Royal Arsenal Woolwich. The rockets were notorious for accidents during manufacture. It is said they did more damage to the town of Woolwich, than they ever did to the enemy.

I feel like the Continental System could have survived with liberal trade terms. France could have effectively founded the EU 175 years earlier, and they could have been trade peers with the existing British Empire rather than adversaries. Too bad Napoleon was doing the same old wealth-extraction-from-client-states model. If everyone was making money, no one would have complained.

@walideg5304

8 күн бұрын

You have also to understand that France was financially in a terrible situation mainly because of the blockade done by the British. We should not reverse the responsibilities, as the British do. It’s the wars financed by British gold that pushed France to develop that model of client state and then to try to implement the continental system which push Napoleon to 2 bloody wars in Spain and in Russia. If Napoleon did one error it’s probably after the Peace of Amiens where he should have be more open towards the British merchants but at that time France was incapable to be competitive economically after a decade of embargo.

@ZS-rw4qq

4 күн бұрын

I don't see how that would be advantageous to France

@taxirob2248

4 күн бұрын

@@ZS-rw4qq avoiding war and doing trade? How would it not? Establishing spheres of influence was maybe too advanced of a concept for Napoleon, and you too apparently.

@ZS-rw4qq

4 күн бұрын

@@taxirob2248 not all trade is good

@taxirob2248

4 күн бұрын

@@ZS-rw4qq understood but stability is worth a fortune on its own

One curious history. One very large problem of loosing the fleet, was to find pine trees of sufficient size for the masts of the vessels. So, an admiral called Von Langen, ordered the planting of a considerable number of suited pine trees in the wood north of Copenhagen. It is said, that in the mid 1980'ies, the forest administration called the Ministry of Defence, and told them "Your pine trees are ready" The answer is unknown. But Von Langes Pine Trees (Von Langes Graner) can still be found in the wood, north of Klampenborg

@goodun2974

25 күн бұрын

Several other people commenting here said similar things about the planting of *Oak* trees in the 1800s to make timber for future ships; ships which are no longer made of wood. That makes a bit more sense if the story relates to oak trees because they're quite slow-growing compared to pines, which are pretty quick-growing by comparison.

@user-gl5dq2dg1j

15 күн бұрын

@@goodun2974 The US Navy still maintains an oak forest for the maintenance of USS Constitution.

The Brits have a way with their neighbors...Napoleon brought that out in them.

@davidmrenton

25 күн бұрын

understandable when you neighbours with France

@theboyisnotright6312

25 күн бұрын

The French are a grouchy bunch

@neilbuckley1613

24 күн бұрын

@@davidmrenton Agree, look at the history Spain, Italy and Germany had with regularFrench invasions. Prior to 1870 the rest of Europe regarded France's relationship wih the German states as a bully.

What a coincidence. I devour historical fiction and have for many years. I just started Sharpe's novels by Bernard Cornwell, and one of the early books covers the siege of Copenhagen. I have to be careful I've recently gotten back into historical miniature wargaming with World War 1 airplanes, and now I'm itching to do Napoleonics as well.

@DrivermanO

23 күн бұрын

If you enjoy Sharpe, you would probably enjoy the books by RIchard Woodman about Nathaniel Drinkwater. One of the books is called "The Bomb Vessel". This is based on the 1801 battle, but the series starts with "The Eye of the Fleet", from 1782. The story then has a gap (Drinkwater was on the Royal George when it sank, and his midshipman's papers were lost before he got his commission) and restarts in about 1797/8 from memory. Similar sort of stuff to Sharpe, but naval. they are very good imo.

Then Denmark went bankrupt in 1813. And lost Norway to Sweden in 1814.

I have heard of this story before and was delighted to learn many of the details concerning it. Well done, my friend and kudos to you! 😊

I've never heard about this historical event before, interesting story. That's what I love about this Channel, you learn something new every day(or night). Great video, informative as always THG

I appreciate you and thank you for making content.

Yeah, wasn't this episode "Sharpe's Prey" or something? In the book series?

@MrEFMinecraft

25 күн бұрын

Yessir, finished the book yesterday hah

Perfidious Albion, very similar to Mers-el-kebir... then it always the other side total fault of course, how they dare to have their own personal interest in having fleets and to protect their own lands... well the english started basically as pirates against the Spanish Empire in the 16th century and continued robbing every colony they could until they did the same or worst than Napoleon in India (even before him! Wellington started his carreer there)... History is really much more interesting that the usual clichés about the good ones and the bad ones...

Bernard Cornwell set one of his Sharpe novels around this event.

Always interesting. Happy Friday.

A funny sidenote of the rocket bombardment of Copenhagen in 1807, was that during, and a short time after, WWII, many British claimed that London was the first Capitol to be bombarded with rockets. Even it actually was Copenhagen - and done by the brits themselves :D Yes, it was hard on the Danish, and especially on the Norwegian people (Norway was part of Denmark for many centuries) who were dependent on the Danish to deliver food. But without a fleet, that was not possible, so Norway had to be given to Sweden who were able to not only deliver food by ship, but also overland.

Wow. Way to turn a friend into an enemy. Tragic.

i think it would be useful to indicate the time lapse in these thigs. They are not picking up the phone or send a Tweet. How long does all this communication and movement of troops Take?

Hello from Greece, you are a great professor.

Perfidious Albion!

@christopherdenniston9013

7 күн бұрын

'The Irish, tongues of Silver, Hearts of Black'

The description seems accurate. Much later the English would demand the French fleet at Mers-el-Kébir not leaning that an agreement could be made that would be more acceptable- such as returning the ships after the war? Letting sailors join the English or similar. In Mers-el-Kébir they again killed potential allies and damaged ships.

@kevinobrien2311

25 күн бұрын

Perfidious Albion!

@taxirob2248

25 күн бұрын

100% Gensoul's fault. He had standing orders that included the option of moving the fleet to US waters.

@johnallen7807

25 күн бұрын

@@kevinobrien2311 Seem to be a lot of Hitler fans on KZread.

@johnallen7807

25 күн бұрын

Darlan refused to negotiate despite being given virtually the whole day to decide. Looking at how quickly the French collapsed Somerville had no choice.

@taxirob2248

25 күн бұрын

@@johnallen7807 Darlan wasn't even there. Agree Somerville had no choice though.

Thanks

@TheHistoryGuyChannel

24 күн бұрын

Thank you!

Just finished sharpes prey yesterday & saw this video today lol wild

Right after the king ordered oaks to be planted in both the royal forrests as well as some large private own forrests in order to get building materials for a new fleet. Today the former royal forrest is now state forrests managed by the minister of culture. A few years ago he formed a letter to the minister of defense, that the oaks where now ready to be cut and used for shipbuilding....... :-)

Many places in Copenhagen, there are cannonballs embedded in the walls of houses as a reminder of the bombing. At least one baby girl born during the bombing was given the name "bombardine".

Thanks!

@TheHistoryGuyChannel

26 күн бұрын

Thank you!

We have not forgotten. We feel somewhat redressed by our liberation 1945, but still.

I went to Copenhagen, there's a museum that exhibits Colt revolvers, a gift from Abrahm Lincoln, kindly suggesting the Danes to stop raising toll on the Sonde (passage through to Baltic sea).

A nice summary… from the British perspective.

As a Brit I think you have missed one important factor in relating this story. You did not directly mention . . . The Armed Neutrality of The North" . . . This organisation had previous "form" from 30 years earlier , when it assisted the North American insurgents during The American War of Independence. The memory of this, plus Denmarks previous commitment to it, must have heavily coloured British military thinking. I really enjoy your posts, thank you.

Me as a Dutchman I can feel the same pain. We as well had many wars/fights with the brittish who where trying to be the mightiest country. Thats just the way how people play the game of empire

The Danes in Copenhagen were known to have a swollen lower lip, causing them to spit often into a can.

@sarge4455

25 күн бұрын

😂

Incendiary Congreve rockets were the fire starters. Many thousands were fired, including the biggest types. The largest weighed up to 300 lbs

When it comes to other nation's warships falling into the hands of a dominant continental land power, the British did not mess around. #copenhagen #merselkebir

My Danish wife always calls the famous admiral Lort Nelson (who is popularly misattributed for having giving the bombardment order). Google translate for what lort means. Stealing the Danish ships led to Denmark joining the side of Napoleon, when they were previously neutral. Bit of an own goal from my British perspective. I currently live in a part of Denmark where many of Napoleon's troops were stationed. People here are shorter-legged and darker-haired than the Copenhagen region for some reason 8D. Suits me as it's about the only place in Denmark I can buy a pair of jeans in the right size. I did a translation recently about the star-shaped Citadel you can see on the map at 6.35 which featured a fairly extensive section about the bombardment and subsequent land engagements.

A casual check of the subsequent commentary posts talk around the formation of a future Daanish fleet by the planting of trees, but no reference to Great Britain ever returning any Danish vessels after Waterloo and the supposed end of hostilities therein. Given the Napoleonic era's penchant for Royal Navy 'prizes' of captured vessels, I suppose not-a-one was ever repatriated to Copenhagen. Is this assumption correct?

@emilandersen2195

5 күн бұрын

Nope. Because Denmark was forced out of neutrality due to the attack. And since it would be weird to side with the country, that had just bombed your capital, they were pushed to join with France instead. Fast forward the end of the wars and Denmark was on the losing side, so repairations needed to be paid = no fleet + no Norway.

More unfortunate events in history.

And then we bought Europas first Ironclad

This sad moment in British history is rarely mentioned in the uk for obvious reasons. In ww2 it was the attack on the French navy for the same reasons.

So did they ever find the weapons of mass destruction in Copenhagen?

@gargoyle7863

2 күн бұрын

😂 They camouflaged the bio-labs as mobile pastry shops! Trust me bro.

@tekha1977

2 күн бұрын

@@gargoyle7863 Maybe the pastries were weapons of mass destruction???

FYI: he's saying 'Landværn' not the german 'Landwehr'

@Spacemongerr

Күн бұрын

Yeah, they way he said it it sounded very German. But Danish can be pretty hard to pronounce if you're both: - not familiar with the language and - not currently trying to swallow a tennis ball

It was the first use off rockets in a war, and was seen as one off the reason for the many fires in Copenhagen!

@Spacemongerr

Күн бұрын

The first use of rockets in war was almost 600 years earlier, likely in 1232 in China. Chinese documents from the mid-1200s describe internal-combustion rocket propulsion. By the mid-1300s the Chinese Navy was using multistage rockets, and India had also started using rockets in war. By 1450, the Koreans were using multiple-launch rocket artillery systems. And so on :)

Norway became largely independent in 1814, because Denmark-Norway was on the losing side of the final Napoleonic Wars. When Norway went from being a posession of Denmark to being in a union with Sweden in 1814, Norway got its own constitution, its own parliament and own Prime Minister, own political parties, control of its own currency etc - almost complete independence, really. The average Norwegian citizen even had more democratic rights than the average Swedish citizen during the Union, because of the relatively progressive Norwegian constitution. For example, a higher % of people could vote in Norway than in Sweden. Basically the only thing Norway did not have control over was foreign affairs. As well as the appointment of the King - though he needed the approval of both prime ministers. Norways refusal to grant approval of the new king in 1905 is what directly led to Norway leaving the Union. Norways struggle to establish its own consular/diplomatic system and the Swedish denial of this was a main factor in what led Norway to refuse the new king. The events of 1814 is celebrated yearly in Norway as Constituion Day, by far the biggest celebration of the year. In contrast, the full independence in 1905 is much less talked about, and barely celebrated, if at all.

The Danes failed to Gaard their hometown 🤷

@Spacemongerr

Күн бұрын

Funny :p (Thought ackkkshually, gaard/gård means small farm/housestead)

🤨 Oh! Wicked wicked men! Oh!

Did seethenhagen also get bombed?

Is this where Nelson turned a "blind eye"?

@surters

25 күн бұрын

Nope that was the first attack in 1801.

@TheHistoryGuyChannel

25 күн бұрын

That was in 1801. kzread.info/dash/bejne/oX6tkryGaN2foLA.htmlsi=OV0pxj8bakM4-TBb

@gayprepperz6862

25 күн бұрын

@@surters Thanks 😉 Been quite awhile since I've read about that. Cheer!

@MrEFMinecraft

25 күн бұрын

Nelson was dead by the bombing of Copenhagen

@maynardcarmer3148

25 күн бұрын

@MeEFMinecraft No, Nelson was killed at Trafalgar, years later

As a dane I appreciate you telling this story.

I’m still annoyed

During the bombardement a girl was born. Afterwards when christenings could happen again her father named her raketta bombardina.

Admiral Gensoul should have studied British naval history.

Do you have a choice about the theme or the organization of the commercials that are posted with your videos? I really don't want to see Trump or his family asking for money to support his legal bills that he has incurred.

Feeding the algorithm…

This was the British revenge for the Vikings raids

Hey History Guy and fellow Classmates,🤓 I have a question for you. What kind of candy are you?

@harryshriver6223

25 күн бұрын

Sour apple 🍎 😊

@constipatedinsincity4424

25 күн бұрын

@@harryshriver6223 Sour Apple 🍎 what brand name?

@harryshriver6223

25 күн бұрын

@@constipatedinsincity4424 Jolly Rancher

@constipatedinsincity4424

25 күн бұрын

@@harryshriver6223 I was wondering it could be Now or Laters ! Tasty

@VespasianJudea

25 күн бұрын

Maple Nuts

After Britain surprise attacked the Danes destroying their fleet 1801, with noi real reason excpet "we don't like big fleets we don't control" GB made Denamrk way more pro French than needed...

Weird they chose the French when the French couldn’t hurt them but the British could.

Our good friends the Britains and their peaceful "special military operation".

It will be my joy to "enter" the Commercial Township community as the incoming pastor of Mauricetown & Haleyville United Methodist Churches in July 2024.

I always thought that Britain should have taken more from Denmark in terms of territory - Greenland, Iceland, Spitzbergen and Faroes would make fine British Overseas Territories.

The Russians seemed to have learned tactics from the British, only their explosives are more powerful.

@DrivermanO

23 күн бұрын

Hardly. Circumstances are completely different

Yep, the British empire did gave it's usual gifts...😒

When Nelson had shelled it, the people greeted him as a conquering hero. I never understood why, until it clicked that Denmark was Protestant while Danish government was backing Catholics.

@steffenb.jrgensen2014

8 күн бұрын

What are you talking about?

@whssy

2 күн бұрын

@@steffenb.jrgensen2014 It's gibberish. There's a reason he's known as Lort Nelson.