Today 11 February is anniversary of the assault on Copenhagen in 1659 during the Second Northern War.
After a prolonged siege, the Swedes attempted one last desperate assault to take the city, but the Danes successfully repulsed the attack!
Read this thread for context! 🧵
After a prolonged siege, the Swedes attempted one last desperate assault to take the city, but the Danes successfully repulsed the attack!
Read this thread for context! 🧵
The roots of this war go back to 1657. At the time, Swedish army was bogged down in Poland.
Frederick III of Denmark-Norway saw an opportunity to recover the territories lost to Sweden in 1645. He decided to attack his neighbors and declared war.
But this was a big mistake!
Frederick III of Denmark-Norway saw an opportunity to recover the territories lost to Sweden in 1645. He decided to attack his neighbors and declared war.
But this was a big mistake!
King Charles X of Sweden reacted by moving the bulk of his army from Poland to attack Denmark.
He was greatly helped by the cold winter as the Great Belt and Little Belt straits were frozen.
The mighty Swedish army crossed the frozen belts from 30 January-15 February 1658!
He was greatly helped by the cold winter as the Great Belt and Little Belt straits were frozen.
The mighty Swedish army crossed the frozen belts from 30 January-15 February 1658!
Charles X patiently waited for the belts to freeze. The patience paid off during the cold winter months.
The impressive campaign became known as the March Across the Belts.
The Danes, who had counted on their navy to stop the Swedish invasion, were taken by complete surprise!
The impressive campaign became known as the March Across the Belts.
The Danes, who had counted on their navy to stop the Swedish invasion, were taken by complete surprise!
Charles X observes his mighty army crossing the frozen belts!
His elite veteran troops are hardened by many battles and greatly feared!
Danish resistance is crushed along the way, powerless to stop the Swedish onslaught.
Denmark trembles with fear!
His elite veteran troops are hardened by many battles and greatly feared!
Danish resistance is crushed along the way, powerless to stop the Swedish onslaught.
Denmark trembles with fear!
The Swedes win a series of victories along the way in minor battles.
Frederick III of Denmark-Norway wanted to meet the Swedish army in one big decisive battle but his advisors warned him this was too risky. He signed the humiliating Treaty of Roskilde on 8 March 1658 instead.
Frederick III of Denmark-Norway wanted to meet the Swedish army in one big decisive battle but his advisors warned him this was too risky. He signed the humiliating Treaty of Roskilde on 8 March 1658 instead.
The territories in yellow color were ceded to Sweden.
It was a devastating defeat for Denmark-Norway!
But the King of Sweden was not yet satisfied with this majestic victory.
He wanted more!
Charles X was determined to wipe Denmark off the map of Europe!
It was a devastating defeat for Denmark-Norway!
But the King of Sweden was not yet satisfied with this majestic victory.
He wanted more!
Charles X was determined to wipe Denmark off the map of Europe!
The Swedes launched another attack on Denmark in August of 1658!
Charles X was determined to deliver the final blow to his hated rivals so that he could concentrate on wars on other fronts in the future without fearing Danish attacks.
The way to Copenhagen was open.
Charles X was determined to deliver the final blow to his hated rivals so that he could concentrate on wars on other fronts in the future without fearing Danish attacks.
The way to Copenhagen was open.
The Danes prepare the defenses of Copenhagen!
They burned every building outside of the city walls even though these housed a third of population of the city.
But the morale was strong and they were willing to defend the city!
The Swedes decided to try and starve out the city.
They burned every building outside of the city walls even though these housed a third of population of the city.
But the morale was strong and they were willing to defend the city!
The Swedes decided to try and starve out the city.
But there was a wild card in this conflict, the Dutch.
In a 1649 treaty the Dutch had pledged to defend Denmark against unprovoked aggression.
The Swedes hoped that the Dutch would not get involved.
But the Dutch didn't want total Swedish control of the Baltic and intervened!
In a 1649 treaty the Dutch had pledged to defend Denmark against unprovoked aggression.
The Swedes hoped that the Dutch would not get involved.
But the Dutch didn't want total Swedish control of the Baltic and intervened!
Charles X and the Swedish garrison of Kronborg castle powerlessly observe the Dutch fleet passing them!
The Swedes had recently conquered this important stronghold of Kronborg. Victory over Denmark seemed close.
But the entry of the Dutch to help Denmark complicated things...
The Swedes had recently conquered this important stronghold of Kronborg. Victory over Denmark seemed close.
But the entry of the Dutch to help Denmark complicated things...
The Dutch decisively defeated the Swedish fleet at the Battle of the Sound on 8 November 1658!
King of Sweden Charles X had seen the whole battle from the nearby Kronborg castle.
The Dutch broke through the Swedish blockade and were able to unite with the trapped Danish fleet.
King of Sweden Charles X had seen the whole battle from the nearby Kronborg castle.
The Dutch broke through the Swedish blockade and were able to unite with the trapped Danish fleet.
The Dutch fleet arrives to besieged Copenhagen!
The Dutch were now able to supply the city from the sea.
The Swedish plan to starve Copenhagen failed. The Dutch-Danish forces now had the superiority on the sea.
The only chance the Swedes had was to take the city by force.
The Dutch were now able to supply the city from the sea.
The Swedish plan to starve Copenhagen failed. The Dutch-Danish forces now had the superiority on the sea.
The only chance the Swedes had was to take the city by force.
On 11 February 1659 the Swedes decided to launch one final desperate assault on Copenhagen, hoping to end the war and force another favorable peace treaty.
They had around 9000 troops. They were all professional soldiers and hardened veterans of war led personally by their king.
They had around 9000 troops. They were all professional soldiers and hardened veterans of war led personally by their king.
The Danish defenders were a mixture of professional soldiers, city militia and civilians.
But they were highly motivated and outnumbered the Swedes, numbering about 10,000.
They also prepared their defenses well and had good information about the enemy.
But they were highly motivated and outnumbered the Swedes, numbering about 10,000.
They also prepared their defenses well and had good information about the enemy.
Haunted by the memories of the March Across the Belts, the Danes cut holes in the ice and widened the ice-free moats to prevent another massive military crossing.
The ice was thick and this required a lot of work but it paid off.
They were well prepared for the Swedish assault!
The ice was thick and this required a lot of work but it paid off.
They were well prepared for the Swedish assault!
The Swedish army assaults Copenhagen in one last desperate attempt to conquer the city and win the war!
But the determined resistance, chopped-up ice and enemy artillery inflicted great casualties on them.
The Swedes had no choice but retreat, losing around 1700 men!
But the determined resistance, chopped-up ice and enemy artillery inflicted great casualties on them.
The Swedes had no choice but retreat, losing around 1700 men!
The morning after the assault on Copenhagen.
Danish king Frederik III observes the aftermath of the battle.
After a night of vicious fighting, the Danes won a decisive victory with the help of the Dutch.
Copenhagen and Denmark were saved.
Danish king Frederik III observes the aftermath of the battle.
After a night of vicious fighting, the Danes won a decisive victory with the help of the Dutch.
Copenhagen and Denmark were saved.
It was the turning point of the war.
Later that year, Swedes would suffer more defeats at the hands of the allied forces.
On 11 November 1659 Danish, German, Polish and Dutch troops led by Hans Schack landed at Kerteminde to inflict a devastating defeat on the Swedes at Nyborg.
Later that year, Swedes would suffer more defeats at the hands of the allied forces.
On 11 November 1659 Danish, German, Polish and Dutch troops led by Hans Schack landed at Kerteminde to inflict a devastating defeat on the Swedes at Nyborg.
These defeats followed by death of King Charles X on 13 February 1660 forced the Swedes to negotiate.
The Treaty of Copenhagen was signed on 27 May 1660 to end the Second Northern War.
The treaty laid the foundations for the modern day borders of Denmark, Norway and Sweden.
The Treaty of Copenhagen was signed on 27 May 1660 to end the Second Northern War.
The treaty laid the foundations for the modern day borders of Denmark, Norway and Sweden.
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