PREVIEW

BY MARK WORGAN

Maritime archaeologists in Denmark have rediscovered the wreck of a warship that was sunk by Lord Nelson during Battle of Copenhagen in 1801.

During the battle, the Dannebroge was heavily hit, caught fire and ultimately exploded.
In the morning hours of 2 April 1801, served as a central command vessel in the Danish–Norwegian fleet’s defensive line. Just six hours after the first shots were fired, Dannebroge had sunk to the seabed of the King’s Deep.

The discovery was made by maritime archaeologists from the Danish Viking Ship Museum, which holds national responsibility for seabed archaeology in eastern Denmark.
In recent weeks, archaeologists have been excavating the wreck on the seabed of Copenhagen harbour as part of work connected to the construction of the artificial island of Lynetteholm.
Working 15 metres below the surface in near-zero visibility, divers are searching metre by metre through heavy silt, uncovering traces from one of the most dramatic days in Denmark’s past.
It was here that the ship of the line Dannebroge exploded and sank during the battle on 2 April 1801.
Otto Uldum, a maritime archaeologist at the museum and leader of the excavation, said the discovery offers a new perspective on the historic conflict.
“We are now gaining an archaeological body of sources on the Battle of Copenhagen, and that is something entirely new. It is not something that has previously been excavated or studied archaeologically,” he explained.
The Battle of Copenhagen was a naval engagement fought on 2 April 1801 in the Copenhagen Roads, a shallow anchorage outside the city.
For more than four hours, Danish sailors fought against a superior British force commanded by the then Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson, which had around one and a half times as many guns.
Within hours, the King’s Deep was transformed into an inferno of smoke, fire and cannonballs, with heavy losses on both sides.
Archaeologists say they are confident the wreck is Dannebroge, based on its size, construction and dating.
“We have no difficulty interpreting this as the remains of a large wooden warship. The dimensions of the timbers correspond exactly to the drawings of the ship that survive, and the dendrochronological dating matches the vessel’s year of construction in 1772. So we are stating this with a degree of certainty that borders on absolute,” said Uldum. “The area is littered with cannonballs and bar shot. And yes, we have found two cannons.”

Although the battle is well documented in historical accounts, archaeologists say little attention has been paid to its physical remains.

“This is the first time archaeological investigations have been undertaken that are directly linked to the Battle of Copenhagen,” Udlum added. “Although the battle is a central event in Danish history, no one, to my knowledge, has examined it archaeologically until now. That is actually quite remarkable.”

“With the excavation, we gain something physical and concrete: yes, there is a large wreck and a substantial ballast mound—but it is Dannebroge’s ballast and Dannebroge’s ship timbers. These are the remains of an entire ship of the line, and it lies there in a place where we can now touch it,” he continued.

Among ballast stones and ship timbers, archaeologists have begun to uncover smaller personal items linked to the crew.
Historical records show that 53 people died on board Dannebroge, while three later died of their injuries. Nineteen crew members were listed as missing.

“We have found a lower jaw that is without doubt human, as well as several other bones, including ribs, which could very well be human. We are far from finished sorting and analysing the material, but we are bringing everything up,” revealed Otto Uldum.

The Battle of Copenhagen is widely seen as a defining moment in Denmark’s history and national identity. The British victory was also a notable event in the cementing of Nelson’s legend, one which culminated with his victory and death at the Battle of Trafalgar four years later.

As a result of the battle, Lord Nelson was created Viscount Nelson of the Nile, while the victory was one of several that established the supremacy of the Royal Navy - a status that would last for over a century and allow the expansion of Britain’s Empire.

Discussing the importance of the finds and battle, Uldum added: “Precisely because this is such a famous event, it requires an extra level of scrutiny. Every time we say even a little something about a shoe or a bone, it matters just a bit more, because this is actually the Battle of Copenhagen.”

He hopes the new discoveries will shine a light on this important episode from Britain and Denmark’s past.