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The naval Battle of Copenhagen (Danish: '''''Slaget på Reden''''') was fought on April 2 , 1801 by a British fleet under the command of Admiral Sir Hyde Parker , against a Dano-Norwegian fleet anchored just off Copenhagen . The main attack was led by Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson , who famously disobeyed Parker's order to withdraw and destroyed many of the Dano-Norwegian ships before Denmark-Norway agreed to a truce. BACKGROUND The battle was due to multiple failures of Diplomacy in the latter half of 1800 and the beginning of 1801 during the Napoleonic Wars . One of Great Britain 's principle advantages against France was naval superiority and its ability to control sea traffic to France. The eccentric Russian Tsar Paul , after having been a British ally, arranged an Armed Neutrality of the neutral northern European countries in Scandinavia , Prussia , and Russia to enforce free trade. This was perceived by the United Kingdom to be a serious threat to her existence. In early 1801, the British government assembled a fleet at Great Yarmouth , with the goal of intimidating or forcing Denmark-Norway into withdrawing from the Armed Neutrality before the Baltic Sea thawed and released the Russian fleet from its bases at Kronstadt and Reval (now Tallinn ), which could then be combined with the Swedish and Dano-Norweigan fleets to form a formidable force of up to 123 Ships-of-the-line . The fleet sailed under the command of Admiral Sir Hyde Parker with Vice-Admiral Lord Nelson in second-in-command on 12 March and reached the Skaw (Danish: ''Skagen'') on 19 March. There they met a British diplomat who told them that an ultimatum had been refused. The Admiralty had instructed Parker to appear off Copenhagen and demand that Denmark withdraw from the Armed Neutrality, enforcing this if necssary. He was a cautious person and had moved slowly. He wanted to blockade the Baltic despite the danger of the combination of fleets; Nelson wanted to ignore Demark and sail to the Baltic to fight the Russians. In the end Nelson was able to persuade Sir Hyde to attack the Danish fleet currently concentrated off Copenhagen. Planned naval support from Karlskrona , in Sweden, could not show up because of adverse winds. The Prussians had only minimal naval forces and could not be expected to assist. An attack on the Danish fleet would be difficult as they had been arranged in a very strong position. Most of the Danish ships were not fitted for sea and arranged with some hulks (old ships, no longer in service at sea, but still powerfully armed) as a line of floating batteries off the eastern coast of the island of Amager , in front of the city. The northern end of the line terminated at the Trekroner (''Three Crown'') forts armed with 68 guns (equal to the armament a large ship-of-the-line). North of there, in the entrance to Copenhagen harbour, were two ship-of-the-line, a large frigate, and two brigs, all rigged for sea, and two more hulks. The water between the Danish line and the shore was covered by batteries, and the channel further out to sea was narrow owing to a large shoal, the Middle Ground. Captain Hardy spent most of the night of the 31st March taking soundings in the channel up to the Danish line. Fixed batteries had a significant advantage over maritime ones owing to their greater stability, and the Danes were able of reinforce their ships during the battle (including the replacement of a captain at one point). THE BATTLE Nelson wanted a pre-emptive show of force, but was overruled by Parker and demands made by a single frigate. The Dano-Norwegians refused to negotiate. Parker had given Nelson twelve ships-of-the line, those with the shallowest drafts, and all the smaller ships in the fleet and he stayed with the remainder of the fleet to the north-east of the battle, screening it from external interference. One of Nelson's ships, the ''Gratton'' was commanded by William Bligh of the ''Bounty'' fame. Nelson's plan was for the British ships to approach from the south in a line parallel to the Danish one. As the foremost ship drew alongside a Danish ship, it would anchor and engage that ship. The remainder of the line would pass outside until the next ship drew alongside the next Danish ship, and so on. A frigate with small gun-brigs would would rake the Danish line from the south, and a force of frigates, commanded by Captain Riou of the ''Amazon'', would attack the northern end of the line. The Trekroner fortress would be attacked with troops once the line had been subdued. Bomb vessels would sit outside the British line and bombard the Danes over it. With a southerly wind on the 1 April, Nelson picked his way through the shoals. However, the ''Agamemnon'' ran aground before entering the channel, and took no part in the battle, and then the ''Russell'' and ''Bellona'' also ran aground, requiring hurried changes in the line, resulting in a weakening of its northern end. The Danish batteries started firing at 10.40a.m. and took palce over four hours. Once the British line was in place there was very little in the way of manoeuvre. The British ships anchored by the stern about 200 yards from the line of Danish ships and batteries, and broadsides continued until a ship ceased firing. The bombardment from both sides was very heavy. Parker could not have any part in the battle owing to the wind direction. He would have been able to see little of the battle owing to gun smoke, though he could see two British ships flying distress signals, and another aground. Thinking that Nelson might be being fought to a stand-still, but would not feel able to retreat without orders (the Articles Of War demanded that all ranks do their utmost against the enemy in battle), he said to his Flag Captain Parker told his Flag Captain '' 'I will make the signal of recall for Nelson's sake. If he is in condition to continue the action, he will disregard it; if he is not, it will be an excuse for his retreat and no blame can be imputed to him' ''. Nelon ordered that the signal be acknowleged, but not repeated. He turned to his flag Captain, Foley, and said '' 'You know, Foley, I only have one eye- I have the right to be blind sometimes' '', and then holding his telescope to his blind eye, said '' 'I really do not see the signal!' ''. One effect of Parker's signal was for Riou (who could not see Nelson's flagship, the ''Elephant'') to withdraw his force, then attacking the Trekroner fortress. This exposed them to heavy fire, in which he was killed. It was at this time that the battle had swung decisivly to the British as the southernmost Danish ships started to fall silent owing to the damage sustained, and the fighting moved northward. In addition, the reinforcements of the ships from the shore batteries were causing the latter to become ineffective. The ''Nyborg'' tried to leave the line with the ''Aggershuus '' in tow, but both sunk. The frigate ''Hjaelperen'' successfully left. The Danish commander, Olfert Fischer, moved northwards with the battle from the ''Dannebrog'' to the ''Holsteen''. Once the ''Infødsretten'' immediately north of the ''Holsteen'', had struck its colours at about 1.30p.m., he moved on to the Trekroner fortress. By 2.30p.m. most of the Danish ships were silent. Perhaps because of inexperienced crews, several Danish ships fired on British boats sent out to them after their officers had signalled their surrender. Rather than send in fireships to burn these ships, Nelson sent a note on a boat carrying a flag of truce to the Dano-Norwegian regent, Crown Prince Frederik , who was watching the battle from the ramparts of the Citadel. The note read: ''To the Brothers of the Englishmen, the Danes:'' ''Vice-Admiral Lord Nelson has been commanded to spare Denmark, when she no longer resists. The line of defence which covered her shores has struck to the British flag: but if firing is continued on the part of Denmark, he must set on fire all the prizes he has taken, without having the power of saving the men who have so nobly defended them. The brave Danes are the brother, and never should be the enemies, of the English.'' Though no British ships were lost, many were severely damaged. The Trekroner fortress was still very much active, and a withdrawal under its fire with badly damaged ships and difficult navigation would have been very difficult. When Crown Prince Frederick sent an aide-de-camp, Hans Lindholm, asking for the reason for Nelson's letter, and offering a twent-four hour truce, Nelson was pleased to take it, writing: ''Lord Nelson's object in sending the Flag of Truce was humanity; he therefore consents that hostilities shall cease, and that the wounded Danes may be taken on shore. And Lord Nelson will take his prisoners out of the Vessels, and burn and carry off his prizes as he shall see fit.'' ''Lord Nelson, with humble duty to His Royal Highness the Prince of Denmark, will consider this the greatest victory he has ever gained, if it may be the cause of a happy reconciliation and union between his own most gracious Sovereign, and His Majesty the King of Denmark.'' In the end only one ship, the ''Holsteen'' was seized by the British. At 4.30p.m., the Danish flagship, the ''Dannebrog'' exploded, killing 250 men. On their way out from the channel, three further British ships were grounded, including the ''Elephant''. The Dano-Norwegian ships had been partly manned by volunteers, many of whom had little or no naval experience, so it is not clear what the exact Dano-Norwegian casualties figures were, but estimates vary between 1,135 to 2,215 killed and wounded. The official report by Olfert Fischer estimated the Dano-Norwegian casualties to be between 1,600 and 1,800 killed and wounded. According to the despatches from Nelson and forwarded by Parker to the Admiralty, British casualties were 264 killed and 689 wounded. AFTERMATH The next day, Nelson landed in Copenhagen to open negotiations. Colonel Stewart, a commander reported that '' 'the population showed an admixture of admiration, curiosity and displeasure.' '' OIn a two-hour meeting with the Crown Prince, Nelson was able to secure an indefinite armistice and tried to convince the Prince of British protection against the Russians. Negotiations continued by letter and on the 8th April Nelson returned in person with a formal agreement. The one sticking point was a sixteen week armistice to allow action against the Russians. At this point one of the Danes turned to another and said in French (perhaps thinking that he would not be understood) that disagreement might lead to a renewal of hostilities. '' 'Renew Hostilities!' '' responded Nelson, and turning to his interpreter said ''' Tell him that we are ready in a moment; ready to bombard this very night!' ''. Agreement was reached with the armistice reduced to fourteen weeks, and signed the next day. In the final hour of negotiations, the Danes found out (but not the British) that Tsar Paul had been assassinated, which made the end of the League Of Armed Neutrality very likely. The final peace agreement was then signed on 23 October 1801. As a result of this action, Lord Nelson was created Viscount Nelson of the Nile. This was not to be the end of Dano-Norwegian conflict with the British. In 1807 similar circumstances led to another British attack, in the Second Battle Of Copenhagen . SHIPS INVOLVED The United Kingdom Nelson's squadron ''Polyphemus'' 64 (Captain John Lawford) ''Isis'' 50 (Captain James Walker) ''Edgar'' 74 (Captain George Murray) ''Ardent'' 64 (Captain Thomas Bertie) ''Glatton'' 54/56 (Captain William Bligh ) ''Elephant'' 74 (flag, Captain Thomas Foley) ''Ganges'' 74 (Captain Thomas Francis Fremantle) ''Monarch'' 74 (Captain James Robert Mosse) ''Defiance'' 74 (2nd flag of Thomas Graves, Captain Richard Retalick) ''Russell'' 74 (Captain William Cuming) ''Bellona'' 74 (Captain Thomas Boulden Thompson) ''Agamemnon'' 64 (Captain Robert Devereux Fancourt) ''Désirée'' 36 (Captain Henry Inman) ''Amazon'' 32/38 (Captain Henry Riou) ''Blanche'' 36 (Captain Graham Eden Hamond) ''Alcmène'' 32 (Captain Samuel Sutton) ''Jamaica'' 24 (Captain Jonas Rose) ''Arrow'' (ship-sloop, Captain William Bolton) ''Dart'' (ship-sloop, Captain John Ferris Devonshire) ''Cruizer'' (brig-sloop, Captain James Brisbane) ''Harpy'' (brig-sloop, Captain William Birchall) ''Discovery'' (bomb) ''Explosion'' (bomb) ''Hecla'' (bomb) ''Sulphur'' (bomb) ''Terror'' (bomb) ''Volcano'' (bomb) ''Zebra'' (bomb) ''Otter'' (fireship) ''Zephyr'' (fireship) Parker's reserve''' ''London'' 98 (flag, Captains William Domett and Robert Walker Otway) ''St George'' 98 (Captain Thomas Masterman Hardy ) ''Warrior'' 74 Captain Charles Tyler) ''Defence'' 74 (Captain Henry Paulet) ''Saturn'' 74 (Captain Robert Lambert) ''Ramillies'' 74 (Captain James William Taylor Dixon) ''Raisonable'' 64 (Captain John Dilkes) ''Veteran'' 64 (Captain Archibald Collingwood Dickson) Denmark-Norway Fischer's division (order north - south. Only ''Siælland'' and ''Holsteen'' were in good condition) ''Prøvesteenen'' 52/56 (3-decker battleship) ''Wagrien'' 48/52 (2-decker battleship) ''Rendsborg'' 20 (pram) ''Nyeborg'' 20 (pram) ''Jylland'' 48/54 (2-decker battleship) ''Sværdfisken'' 18/20 (radeau) ''Kronborg'' 22 (frigate) ''Hajen'' 18/20 (radeau) ''Dannebrog'' 60 (flag, 2-decker battleship) ''Elven'' 10 '' Grenier's Float/Floating Battery No. 1 '' 20 ''Aggershus'' 20 (cavalry transport) ''Siælland'' 74 (2-decker battleship) ''Charlotte Amalia'' 26 (East Indiaman) ''Søehesten'' 18 (radeau) ''Holsteen'' 60 (battleship) ''Indfødsretten'' 64 (2-decker battleship) ''Hielperen'' 16 (frigate) Steen Bille's division ''Elephanten'' 70 ''Mars'' 64 ''Sarpen'' ''Nidelven'' ''Danmark'' Trekroner (fortress) 69 ''Iris'' ''Nykøbing'' ''Aalborg'' ''Christiansund'' ''Arendel'' ''Langesund'' ''Odense'' ''Flensborg'' ''Stege'' ''Stavaern'' ''Viborg'' ''Naskau'' REFERENCES
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