A day in Copenhagen, what better way to spend it than visiting military sites and museums?
Some time ago I was off doing archival research in Lund and, due to poor planning I had an extra day in Copenhagen. I decided to spend it by walking inspecting the old ramparts of the city, where the Swedish under Karl X Gustav made a failed assault in February 1659. The fortifications at Christianshavn (the outpost at "12 o'clock" in the map below) were still in pretty good condition and I had a look at them from both the ground and by climbing a church tower to survey them from up high (as one does). The 1659 attack aimed at this section was mainly just a diversion, but with the area of the main attacks mostly built up nowadays, this was the best I could aim for.
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| View towards Christianshavn from a bell tower |
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| 1659 defences. The Swedes' main attack was aimed at the bay to the north-east of the city (1.30 o'clock). |
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| A cool playground on the ramparts, which have been turned into a recreational area. I would have loved to play here with my kids! |
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| Southern edge of the Christianshavn defences. |
I continued my visit by going to the royal armoury. I was mostly interested in the 17th century stuff and, although most of this section was closed, I was happy to see some of the more rare stuff they had around.
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| First the "playground cannon" and now this! The Danes have very warlike playgrounds for their kids. |
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| Captured artillery outside the royal arsenal |
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| The Danes seem optimistic about capturing more guns in the future! |
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| Main hall of the armoury |
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| Medieval bombards cast in segments and joined together with hoops. |
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| 27 pdr demi-cannon given by Christian IV as a gift to the duke of Oldenburg. |
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| The masterfully cast barrel shows the family tree of the Oldenburgs, including blazons and all! |
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| An exceptionally long culverin called "Strong Samson" (16th - 17th century) |
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| 16th cenutry back loading piece (3/4 pound) with a gunshield |
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| Petards (for breaching gates) |
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| 50 pound (!) mortars from the 17th century |
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| Portable light mortar (17th century) |
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| Ammo rack for a ship |
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| 17th century artillery |
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| Housing to keep match dry (and possibly burning during bad weather) |
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| 1933 tank by Vickers |
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| 19th century portable bunker |
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| WW2 German Goliath demolition carrier |
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| V1 |
Finally, I visited the National Museum of Denmark. The museum had a lot of really nice stuff about sacrifices and tombs found from the pre-historic period, but I was a bit disappointed at how small the Viking section was.
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| Meteoric iron from Greenland that has been used to make tools |
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| A lot of runic stones were on display |
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| Grave offerings c. 900 BC |
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| Shields carried by seaborne raiders c. 350 BC and offered as sacrifice by the victors by sinking them into a bog |
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| Viking gold necklace. Very practical people those Vikings, as the wrought gold could be easily transported and cut off when needed to make payments. |
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| Replica of a Viking chieftain's chest |
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| Axe from a Viking chief's grave |
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| Practical Vikings: a mould for making both Thor's hammer and crucifix pendants at the same time |
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| Full armour manufactured in 1545 in Innsbruck |
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| High-quality hunting guns 16th and 17th centuries |
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| Rapiers |
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| Danish cavalry armour from the early 17th century |
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| Cuirassiers armour from the end of the 16th century |
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| 17th century caltrops |
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| Steel storming ladder (which folds!) and a partizan |
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| Details of the hinges of the storming ladder |
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| Details of the partizan |
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| Swedish assault on Copenhagen 1659 |
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| 15th century pavise |
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