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M arine archaeologists have uncovered the wreck of the Dannebroge, a Danish warship sunk during the Battle of Copenhagen on 2 April 1801.
The Dannebroge sat at the centre of a chain of old Danish ships of the line that had been deployed as ‘blockships’ to hold off the vast British fleet led by Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson. As the flagship from which commander Olfert Fischer was leading the Danish defence, the Dannebroge was one of Nelson’s primary targets, subjected to heavy bombardment throughout the brutal conflict, including with incendiary shells that caused fires to break out on board. By the time the battle ended, around 4pm, the vessel had drifted northwards, and around 4.30pm it exploded with a massive roar reportedly heard across the city.
In late 2025, maritime archaeologists from the Danish Viking Ship Museum were carrying out research in Copenhagen harbour in advance of the construction of an artificial island. They came upon the remains of a large wooden warship and quickly identified it as the Dannebroge.
‘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,’ said the leader of the excavation, Otto Uldum, ‘so we are stating this with a degree of certainty that borders on absolute.’
Many finds around the wreck further support this conclusion: the area is covered with cannonballs and bar shot; and underwater excavations have also revealed a wealth of smaller items, such as shoes and fragments of clothing, clay pipes, uniform insignia (pictured), and weapons. In addition, the archaeologists have found human remains believed to belong to one of the 19 members of the Dannebroge’s crew listed as ‘missing without further information’ after the battle.
These findings are the first archaeological information about an important moment in Denmark’s history, and also offer a chance to look at the Battle of Copenhagen from a new perspective.
Text: Amy Brunskill / Image: Vikingeskibsmuseet i Roskilde
