User:Henrik/sandbox/Dano-Swedish War (1658-1660)

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Dano-Swedish War (1658-1660)
Part of Northern Wars
Date 5 August 1658 - 26 May 1660
Location Denmark
Result Danish victory
Belligerents
Sweden Denmark
Netherlands
Commanders
Charles X Gustav
Carl Gustaf Wrangel
Gustaf Otto Stenbock		 Frederick III
Hans Schack
v • d • e
Dano-Swedish Wars

Dano-Swedish War (1658-1660) was a war between Denmark and Sweden. It was a continuation of an earlier conflict which had ended just months earlier, after Sweden and Denmark brokered a peace agreement in Roskilde in 1658. The Swedish king, Charles X Gustav, had after the end of the Dano-Swedish conflict set his eyes upon Brandenburg and Austria to enable a campaign against Poland. However, the Swedes believe that the Danes aren't sincere in their desire for peace and Charles X Gustav and the privy council decide upon a quick attack to conquer Denmark and vanquish it as a sovereign nation in order to be able to wage a campaign in Europe without fearing a Danish attack in the back.[1]

The Swedish army surrounded Copenhagen hoping to starve it into submission. This failed however when the Dutch joined the conflict on the Danish side and a relief fleet managed to smash its way through the Swedish naval forces in Oresund. Charles then tried a decisive attack, hoping to conquer the city and win the war—the plan failed however. Seeing their enemy weakened, Brandenburg, Poland and Austria joined the war against the Swedes.

Charles X Gustav of Sweden
Charles X Gustav of Sweden
Frederik III of Denmark
Frederik III of Denmark

Contents

[edit] Events

In June 1658 the Swedish decision to attack is taken. On the 6th of August 1658 a fleet of 70 ships with 5700 men and 18 pieces of light artillery embark upon a journey to Denmark. Since the previous war, Jylland is still occupied by Swedish troops and there are troops on Fyn. In addition, field marshal Gustav Otto Stenbock has assembled additional troops in Scania.[1]

The plan is for the Swedish army to march on Copenhagen.

[edit] Siege on Copenhagen

On August 11, 1658 Charles X of Sweden his forces reached Valby hill (now Fredriksburg) from where they could see into the danish capital. His arrivial was not unexpected, Fredrik III had already ordered every building outside the city walls burnt, which had housed a third of the population of he city. That same day the city gates were closed, they would not open again for another 22 months. A Swedish fleet of 28 ships blocked the harbor.[2]

When the Swedish king arrived to find half the city in flames and the Danes willing to put up a fight he had a difficult decision to make, whether to press forward immediately or lay siege on the city and try to starve it. His advisers were divided, and the king ultimately decided on the latter route. The wisdom of this decision has been questioned, the Danish defenses were in poor shape initially. However, the population of Copenhagen rallied behind Frederick III and the walls, moats and other defensive structures of the city were quickly improved. A large number of cannons were brought into the city from ships anchored in the harbor and placed along likely attack routes. The city also had plenty of defensive materiel: 50 tonnes (110,000 lb) of lead, 4000 muskets, and a staggering 810 kilometres (500 mi) of slow match.[3]

The Swedish siege army consisted of 11 brigades and 16 squadrons with 4000 infantrymen, 2000 cavalrymen and 50 cannons. [4]

Over 200 heated shot a day were hurled into the city, and several large howitzers were brought to bear on the Danish capital, including 300-pounder "Eric Hansson" who earlier had been used in the siege on Krakow.[5]

(191- 204)

[edit] Kronborg captured

It was expected that the Dutch would intervene in the conflict, and from a Swedish point of view it was essential to establish naval supremacy in Oresund to keep the Dutch out. Kronborg Castle sits near the narrowest part of Oresund, the sound is only four kilometres wide, hence giving the castle a supreme strategic importance. Fredrik III had appointed the colonel Poul Beenfeldt as the commander of the castle, and he had been ordered to defend it at all costs. And should he fail in that, Kronborg was to be blown up to prevent the Swedes from using it.[6]

On the August 16 the Swedes arrived at Helsingor and took shelter in the city and started bombarding the castle with artillery. The Danes fired back, attempting to set the city on fire — destroying a dozen houses, but the fire did not consume the city. Danish artillery rained continually on the Swedish soldiers. However, the Swedish force still managed to advance, taking the outer line of defenses. The mood in the castle darkened, and Beenfeldt's courage wavered. The Swedish commander, Karl Gustav Wrangel, resorted to subterfuge and spread the rumor that Copenhagen had fallen and the Swedish soldiers started a false celebration. Discouraged and demoralized, the Danes capitulated. The fall of Kronborg was a blow for the Danish, 77 captured cannons were quickly put to use in the siege and with the castle in Swedish hands, it was hoped the Dutch would have a difficult time to come to aid.[7]

[edit] Battle of the Sound

The Battle of the Sound, October 29, 1658. Drawing by Willem van der Velde (the elder)
The Battle of the Sound, October 29, 1658. Drawing by Willem van der Velde (the elder)
Main article: Battle of the Sound

The Swedish fears that the Dutch would enter the conflict were justified, on October 7, 1658 the dutch fleet set sail from Vlie. Two weeks later, on October 22 it anchored northwest of Helsingor, unable to proceed due to the wind conditions for 6 more days. Wrangel suggested the Swedes should attack, but Charles X Gustaf still wanted to avoid provoking the Dutch.[8]

On October 29 at eight in the morning a shot was heard from the Dutch flag ship. It was the signal to advance and to smash the Swedish line. The Dutch fleet was divided into three squadrons. Vice admiral Witte de With on the 54-gun ship Brederod and his 11-ship squadron led the charge, followed by admiral Jacob van Wassenaer Obdam on the 72-gun Eendracht with 13 ships in the squadron. The last squadron, led by Pieter Florizzon had 11 ships. In total, the Dutch fleet consisted of 35 ships with 1 270 cannons and 4 000 sailors. Following the warships, many transports with food and supplies as well as 28 regiments of experienced soldiers followed. Standing against them were a Swedish navy consisting of 43 ships, with 1 605 cannons and 4 055 sailors. The Swedes also had great hopes that the coastal artillery of Kronborg would inflict great damage, and Charles personally fired the first sharp shot at Kronborg. However, it fell short — the Dutch had wisely chosen to sail closer to the Swedish side, where there were fewer guns. Sweden had more guns, but the Dutch had the advantage of the wind. In the narrow straits of Oresund, more than a hundred warships now battled.[9]

The engagement was confusing for both sides, and the view was soon obscured by gun powder smoke. Many ships on both sides were badly damaged, and around 2 000 men killed or wounded. Towards the end, a squadron of Danish ships met up with Dutch and escorted them into the harbor of Copenhagen. The Swedish fleet had failed&emdash;much needed reinforcements and supplies had reached the beleaguered Danish town. The combined Danish and Dutch fleet now had control of the seas, forcing the Swedish fleet in harbor in Landskrona.[10]

[edit] Attack on Copenhagen

Charles faced a dilemma, had he tried to sue for peace now the conditions would have been worse than the last peace. The other option was an all out attack on Copenhagen, hoping that conquering the city would end the war.[11]

(216 - 232)

[edit] The Allies invade Fyn

(233-247)

[edit] Battle of Nyborg

(248-254)

[edit] Insurgencies

(255-263)

[edit] Peace

(264-271)

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b Sundberg
  2. ^ Isacson, p. 191
  3. ^ Isacson, pp. 192-196
  4. ^ Isacson, p. 197
  5. ^ Englund, p. 615
  6. ^ Isacson, p.204
  7. ^ Isacsson, pp.204-207
  8. ^ Isacson, p. 208
  9. ^ Isacson, pp. 208-212
  10. ^ Isacson, pp. 212-215
  11. ^ Isacson, p. 216

[edit] References

[edit] Further reading

  • Ulf Sundberg: Svenska krig 1521-1814, Stockholm 1998.
  • Björlin, Gustaf: Sveriges krigshistoria i bilder, vol. 2, Stockholm 1917.
  • Holm, Torsten: Översikt över Sveriges krig under 1600-talets senare hälft, Stockholm 1927.
  • Kjærulff Hellesen, Jette; Tuxen, Ole: Historisk atlas. Danmark, Köpenhamn 1988.
  • Stade, Arne (red.): Carl X Gustaf och Danmark, Kristianstad 1965.
  • Svenska flottans historia, vol. 1, Malmö 1942.
  • Weibull, Martin; Höjer, Magnus: Sveriges storhetstid, från år 1611 till år 1718, Stockholm 1881.


Category:Wars involving Denmark Category:Wars involving Sweden Category:1660s Category:17th century conflicts