1801 warship wreck discovered in Copenhagen

Marine archaeologists have discovered the wreck of the Danish warship Dannebroge, which was sunk by the British fleet during the Battle of Copenhagen in 1801, in Copenhagen harbour. The wreck was found about 15 metres below the surface in coarse sediment during preparatory work for the construction of the new Lynetteholm district.

The discovery was announced by the Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde on the 225th anniversary of the battle. Archaeologists recovered several artefacts from the site, including cannons, uniforms, military insignia, shoes, bottles and part of a human jaw.

The team has been excavating the large shipwreck since late last year. ‘The dimensions of the timbers exactly match the surviving drawings of the ship, and the dendrochronological dating corresponds to the vessel’s year of construction in 1772,’ said Otto Uldum, a maritime archaeologist at the Viking Ship Museum and head of the excavation.

Experts say the find may provide new insights into the course of the battle and conditions aboard the vessel during the attack.

Dannebroge was the flagship of the Danish navy and suffered severe damage during the battle. It later moved north, where it exploded.

The Battle of Copenhagen was a naval engagement between British and Danish forces on 2 April 1801, commanded by Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson. It ended in a British victory followed by an armistice.

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