Copenhagen is the capital city of Denmark, situated on the islands of Zealand and Amager. With a population of 1.2 million people, it is the country’s most populous city. In 2000, the transnational Oresund Bridge was completed, connecting Copenhagen to the Swedish city of Malmo. Together, the two cities make up a large metropolitan area with a growing population of almost two million people.
First Settlements
The founding of Copenhagen is commonly dated to the construction of Bishop Asalon’s castle on the small island of Slotsholmen in 1167. Today, the site is occupied by Christiansborg Palace. Recent archeological finds indicate that by the 11th century, Copenhagen had already grown into a small town with a large estate, a church, a market, at least two wells and many smaller habitations spread over a fairly wide area. It is also believed by many historians that Sweyn I Forkbeard may have founded the town in the late Viking Age. 1176 traditionally marks the foundation of the town after Bishop Absolon’s completed the city’s fortification.
Absalon’s Town
Copenhagen’s harbor stimulated growth, as the city became an important center of trade and commerce, however it did not become the nation’s capital until the mid 15th century. The city’s origin as a harbor and a place of commerce is reflected in its name. Its original designation, from which the contemporary Danish name is derived, was Køpmannæhafn, meaning “merchants’ harbor” or “buyer’s haven”. Under the rule of Bishop Absalon the town grew tenfold in size. Churches and abbeys were founded. Copenhagen’s economy blossomed as a result of the hugely prosperous herring fishery trade, which provided large parts of Roman Catholic Europe with salted herring for Lent.
Renaissance
It was repeatedly attacked by the Hanseatic League as the Germans became aware of its expansion. In 1254, it received its charter as a city under Bishop Jakob Erlandsen.
By the time of Christian IV’s coronation in 1596, Copenhagen had become rich and powerful. The new king decided to make the town the economic, military, religious, and cultural center for the whole of the Nordic region. The king established the first trading companies with sole rights to trade with lands overseas. In order to restrict imports, factories were set up so that as many goods as possible could be manufactured at home.
By the time of Christian IV’s death in 1648, Copenhagen had become Denmark’s principal fortification and naval port, and the town formed a framework for the administration of the Danish kingdom and as a center of trade in Northern Europe. Between 1658 and 1659 the city withstood a severe siege by the Swedes under Charles X Gustav.
The 1700s
In July 1700, Copenhagen was attacked by the British-Dutch-Swedish navy but did not suffer much damage. From June 1711 to March 1712, it was haunted by the plague, which killed about a third of the population.
During the fire of 1728 about a third of the city, 1,600 houses and five churches burned down in the course of four days. Christian VI tore the old Copenhagen Castle down in 1731 to replace it with Christiansborg Palace, and during the reign of Frederick V Frederiksstaden, the most distinguished district of Copenhagen, with Amalienborg Palace at its center, was developed.
The 1800s
In 1807 the British bombarded Copenhagen, killing nearly 2,000 civilians and destroying most of the city. The next 25 years became a period of poverty. Surprisingly science, literature and art blossomed. Following the July Revolution of 1830 the Danish liberal and national movement gained momentum, and after the European Revolutions of 1848 Denmark became a constitutional monarchy on June 5, 1849. On January 1, 1840, the city was given a new municipal constitution, which was expanded on March 4, 1857.
The 1900s
During World War II Copenhagen was occupied by German troops along with the rest of the country from April 9, 1940, until May 4, 1945. In August 1943, when the government’s collaboration with the occupation forces collapsed, several ships were sunk in Copenhagen Harbour by the Royal Danish Navy to prevent them being used by the Germans. On 8 May 1945 Copenhagen was officially liberated by British airborne troops who supervised the surrender of 250,000 German armed forces across Denmark of which nearly 30,000 were situated around the capital.
COPENHAGEN 